Support bridge building in Nepal

More Information About this Project

Project Needs and Beneficiaries

12 million Nepalese live in the Himalayan foothills where rivers are hazardous obstacles. Limited access denies many children an education, discourages proper health care, and increases the cost of goods. To cross more than 10 meters, there have been only two alternatives: an extremely dangerous cable 'tween' wherein a makeshift trapeze or wooden box hangs from a pulley that often crushes the user's fingers, or an expensive suspended walking bridge.

Activities

Since 1998 34 gondola-like WireBridges have been built over dangerous rivers in Nepal at a quarter the cost of suspended bridges. Only two to four months are needed to complete each bridge.

Funding Information

Total Funding Received to Date: $2,884
Remaining Goal to be Funded: $1,115
Total Funding Goal: $4,000

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources

Why this Project is Important

Potential Long Term Impact

In more than 1,000 Nepalese communities, schoolchildren and others want "to reach the other side" safely. Village children and adults have used the 34 WireBridges more than 3.2 million times with no accidents. Requests for bridges are overwhelming.

Project Message

WireBridges are not just structures. They also are symbols of cooperation. Every client community has put a 'bridge' above politics and despite the regional conflict, no bridge has ever been harmed.
- David Sowerwine, Co-founder

Who is Running This Project

Contact

David Sowerwine
Managing Director
999 Olive Street
Menlo Park, California 94025
United States
650-380-5008
Email:

Project Sponsor

The Tech Awards

Organization

VillageTech Solutions (VTS)
999 Olive Street
Menlo Park, CA 94025
United States
650-853-1713
http://www.villagetechsolutions.org

Learn more about VillageTech Solutions (VTS) and the project team.

VillageTech Solutions (VTS)'s Current Projects on GlobalGiving

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Latest Update from the Field

Jagare Phant's schoolchildren need you!

By David Sowerwine - Advisor, October 16, 2009 03:43 PM

The 35th WireBridge in Nepal will serve many schoolchildren who now either miss school during the monsoon season, or risk serious injury or death when crossing on this bundle of bamboo poles. As is often the case, news of another WireBridge came to this village, from which representatives soon traveled to see for themselves what had been constructed.

The bridge will cost about 16 thousand dollars, of which about 12 thousand dollars has already been contributed. The best construction time runs from November to May. The goal is to finish before the monsoon returns in June. Details of the bridge are given in the attached Jagare Phant Contract.

Links:

Building the Sukaura WireBridge

Pictures:

Attachments:

Jagare Phant Proposal (PDF)

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Build Bridges for Health, Education & Hope - Nepal

Support bridge building in Nepal

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Received $2,884 from 81 donations from people like:

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