We Make a Difference Worldwide

According to The World Bank, one out of seven people in the developing world lacks safe transportation access to essential services. We work closely with Fika (formerly Bridges to Prosperity) and rural communities to build footbridges where impassable rivers make it dangerous or impossible to reach schools, clinics, markets and jobs. Fika means “to arrive” in Kiswahili, Zulu and several other African languages, with the connotation of arriving safely.

For two weeks each year, our team members work side-by-side with Fika’s in-country staff and local community members to build a footbridge for a community in need. Individual projects are guided by a context-sensitive design provided by Fika that is tailored to the job site and the rugged terrain of the region. Together, project teams accomplish every aspect of bridge superstructure construction, from prepping the job site to setting the main cables to installing the decking and fencing. In addition to dramatically improving mobility, these new bridges help to greatly reduce the number of injuries that are caused each year as a result of residents attempting dangerous crossings through flooded rivers.

A core value that defines Michael Baker International is that “We Make a Difference” daily in the communities we serve, helping to make them safer, more accessible, more environmentally sustainable, and more livable. Our partnership with Fika is just one way that we can affect change around the world for those who need it most.