Build Bridges for Health, Education & Hope - Nepal

In July a repair team from VillageTech Solutions travelled in the middle of the monsoon to a village in Nawalparasi, Nepal to repair a WireBridge built eight years ago. A photographer friend went along and captured moments of this difficult journey (3 days to cover what would be less that one day in the dry season). This restoration trip was inspired by a Colorado STEM magnet school's 4th grade class. They had studied the construction of WireBridges (TarPul) in a module provided by Boston's Museum of Science in their Engineering is Elementary series. The students thought so highly of these bridges that they organized their own fundraiser, which provided the seed capital for this repair trip.

Approximately 60 students use this WireBridge to reach their school, but of course the villagers benefit as well, being able to get to their fields across the river safely. VTS provided drawing materials, which the students used to illustrate a view of their world--the homes, school, river--and TarPul.

The cost to build and to maintain a bridge serving the entire community is about the same as we pay for a personal vehicle: $22,000 to 25,000 to build, about $ 3,000 for a major overhaul, and then about $600/year to maintain. Until the local government is willing and able to provide these maintenance funds, the villagers will depend upon us to keep the wheels turning. VTS is working with local social entrepreneurs to persuade the government to take responsibility for maintenance so that our efforts can be on construction of bridges to serve isolated communities.