In mid-February, a community of 8,000 people in Butare, Rwanda, gained safe access to school, markets, and healthcare when Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) and the CH2M Foundation joined forces. The team was selected in December. They prepared for 10 weeks with regular conference calls with B2P staff and traveled February 3-17. Their mission was to build a 97-meter suspended bridge in 12 days – they did it in 10 – and involve the community for ownership and technology transfer. The impact? Now 2,000 kids can get to school; communities are connected; 720 farmers and 80 small businesses can get to markets; and the community can access three health clinics. 
The team was composed of 12 volunteers (primarily from the Transportation Business Group, plus two corporate volunteers); the foundation program officer; and a videographer. They lived in the community, renting two houses for 2 weeks. Construction finished in 10½ days.
In 2015, CH2M Foundation made a $120,000 grant to B2P to cover costs of two 2016 builds. In addition, the company covers all expenses for the traveling team members’ expenses, which range from $30,000-$40,000 per team. CH2M employees donated nearly $4,000 in gift cards for B2P to purchase tools needed for construction.
CH2M selected B2P as a community partner 3 years ago given that its alignment to our core business and our Foundation focus area, building sustainable communities, aligns with our brand promise of “helping lay the foundation for human progress by turning challenge into opportunity.” B2P provides meaningful skills-based volunteer opportunities for employee engagement. CH2M Foundation has elected to fund/build one bridge in Rwanda and one in Nicaragua each year (dependent on funding availability). Our fifth bridge team recently left for La Brisa, Nicaragua, to construct a 56-meter suspension bridge that will impact 650 people.
