Ngayake Footbridge
Gakenke, Rwanda
Client
Fika (formerly Bridges to Prosperity)
Programme
2025
Design Team
Knight Architects, Fast + Epp
A new era of connectivity
Fika (formerly Bridges to Prosperity) envisions a world where poverty caused by rural isolation no longer exists.
In Rwanda, the 'land of a thousand hills', rural communities' access to health facilities, schools, government services, markets, and farms can be an everyday challenge. This is even more acute in the rainy season where trails and river crossings become dangerous.
In November 2025 a team of volunteers from Knight Architects and Fast + Epp joined Fika and local engineers to build a new pedestrian suspension bridge. Together, the team completed not only the 65m-span crossing but also helped build skills amongst the local community to support the bridge's ongoing maintenance. It was a life-changing experience for both the volunteers and - more importantly - the local community, with the enthusiasm and pride in their new crossing evident now and for generations to come.
Today, the Ngayake Footbridge is more than infrastructure, it’s a vital lifeline, connecting the community to opportunity, education, and healthcare:
- 895 households now benefit from safer access to markets, supporting a 30% increase in annual income.
- More than 1,500 children can now safely reach school every day.
- Over 400 additional women now have access to essential maternal healthcare.
Share
“Life has become easier. I had to take my child to the health center twice last month, and I used to cross a risky river. Now, this bridge gives us safety and access.”
“I used to sell my goods across the river, but it took me almost two hours to get there. With this bridge, I will expand my business, and customers can now reach me more easily.”
