Fika 2024 Build
Matovu Trail Bridge
Rwanda
The completion of the Matovu (ma-toe-voo) Trail Bridge, a 103-meter hybrid suspension bridge, will dramatically improve the lives of a community of 5,538 people. In 2024, a team of Alberici and Flintco employees from across North America went to the Muhanga (ma-hung-ga) District in Southern Rwanda to complete the Matovu Trail Bridge.
FACES OF THE MISSION
Hope starts with the people who help.
Earl Ming
Project Lead
Daniel Oates
Construction Lead
Jonathan Monzyk
Safety Manager
Teresa Williams
Logistics Lead
Abby Cook
Communications Lead
Quinton Brown
Supporting Team Member
Tim Gross
Supporting Team Member
Phillip gunderson
Supporting Team Member
Alicia Corona
Supporting Team Member
Paul Cupit
Supporting Team Member
Follow the Journey
Every bridge has a story worth telling.
February 17-March 2, 2024
Arrival
After a long 48 hours of travel, our group finally arrived in Rwanda and was welcomed with big smiles—even at 9 p.m. We loaded our 25+ bags into three cars (every inch full!) and made our way through the incredibly busy streets, where cars and motorcycles filled every space. Rwanda truly is the “land of 1,000 hills,” and we felt it on every turn. We arrived safely at the hotel, grabbed a quick bite, and headed to bed.
Travel Day
We started the morning with a walk to the Kigali Convention Center, where the Tour de Rwanda was underway—teams from around the world racing through hills lined with cheering children and camera crews. After lunch with our B2P guide, Zura, we visited the market before heading toward the community we’ll call home for the next two weeks. The farther we drove from Kigali, the more waves and smiles we got.
02/19
We set out for the job site full of excitement, despite delays from road closures, traffic, and friendly locals wanting to greet us. After arriving two hours late, we jumped into stretch and flex, then got to work in perfect 75-degree weather. Even with a strict 4 p.m. cutoff, the team hand-cut 164 pieces of rebar, made major progress on the tower, and nearly finished the scaffold.
02/20
Today was full of progress and teamwork as we hit a major milestone—raising the tower. The rebar team finished all 206 pieces for the bridge swings, each bent entirely by hand using simple, locally made tools. With every bend needing precision, consistency became key. Meanwhile, the tower team divided into safety and wrenching crews and lifted the massive tower into place. Cheers from locals and children erupted as the final bolt was tightened. The momentum pushed everyone through the afternoon, and we ended the day with another round of big smiles and waves on the drive home.
02/21
Today brought the toughest physical challenge yet—cable day. At sunrise, we watched the hills glow as we reached the site for our morning song and stretch. Working together, we dragged five 3,000-lb cables across the river and up steep banks, learning Kinyarwanda commands to stay coordinated. The first cable was exhausting, but the team regrouped and powered through the remaining four. After lunch, we continued bending rebar and set the cable sag, cheered on by local workers keeping rhythm with every pull. Our debrief celebrated improved communication, stronger teamwork, and new connections with locals, ending the night with laughter and a competitive UNO game.
02/22
Excitement filled the air as we visited a local school. Hundreds of children ran to greet us, and the headmaster shared the school’s history and deep gratitude for the bridge. In the courtyard, over 700 students sang “Welcome, welcome visitor,” moving many of us to tears. We joined the children for songs, poems, and traditional dances, holding hands and laughing together. Each team member received a handmade drawing as a gift. This unforgettable visit left us inspired and energized, providing the perfect motivation to continue our work on the bridge.
02/23
Friday focused on preparing for Monday and finishing swing and decking work. The east side crew carried 80-lb decking pieces over the river and up the hill, inspired by the locals’ effortless technique, then laid them down once a rhythm was found. After work, the team embarked on a seven-hour drive to Akagera National Park for a weekend getaway and safari. The team reflected on the week’s accomplishments, the red dust covering everyone, and the joy of being halfway through the project ahead of schedule.
02/24 – 02/24
The team enjoyed a well-earned break with a safari in Akagera National Park. Packed lunches in hand, we explored the trails, spotting zebras, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, elephants, and more. Waking refreshed the next morning, we reflected on reaching the halfway point of the bridge project and the months of preparation behind us, grateful for this chance to recharge before returning to work on Monday.
02/26
East and West teams raced to lay decking, with locals helping carry rocks to backfill the East abutment. Tea-time, a Rwandan cultural tradition, turned into a spontaneous dance party in the rain. Later, a small crew assembled the stabilizing pipe, marveling at the locals’ strength and teamwork. Despite a few hiccups, both sides made strong progress toward the middle of the bridge. By the end of the day, only a few decking pieces remained, setting the stage for the exciting finish tomorrow.
02/27
The decking race concluded, and we pulled support and fencing cables through each swing while the concrete crew—assisted by 20 locals—mixed and carried cement up the hill in a seamless operation. A midday storm paused work, giving the team a chance to eat lunch and rest. In the afternoon, tasks stacked up and the team regrouped and planned a more efficient approach for tomorrow, finishing the day with strategy and determination.
02/28
The team executed the plan crafted the night before, moving systematically from East to West. Piping, deck bolting, U-bolts, and handrails were completed efficiently, with flexibility to switch areas as needed. After tea-time, fencing and the first coats of paint on the East side were finished. Returning to accommodations, a power outage didn’t slow the team—they pulled out headlamps and enjoyed a candlelit dinner on plastic tables and chairs.
02/29
The day before the bridge inauguration, we hosted a huge BBQ to honor the local workers’ incredible efforts. After finishing fencing and dirt work, we shared plates of food, sitting together on the ground, laughing and reflecting on the past two weeks. Music and dancing soon took over, with locals singing joyfully in the rain—a blessing, as our guide said. Exhausting yet unforgettable, this experience tested us physically and emotionally, but finishing the bridge alongside this amazing team and community was a moment we’ll never forget.
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