Since 2016, SYSTRA has been associated with Bridges to Prosperity (B2P), a US non-profit organisation that builds bridges and footbridges to open up populations in rural and remote areas. The aim is to improve their mobility and access to essential needs (health, education, employment, services) with robust structures, which SYSTRA employees from all over the world come to help build alongside B2P and local contributors. SYSTRA and its teams have completed several projects in Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Rwanda.

Since 2022, the B2P/SYSTRA collaboration has been formalised with the support of the Sustainability Department and the International Production management teams. Each year, SYSTRA provides an international, multi-disciplinary team to work on these projects, which have a major impact on local communities. The latest project, construction of the Rusumo bridge in Rwanda, built in November 2023.

THE PRINCIPLE: BUILD BRIGES BETWEEN CULTURES AND POPULATIONS

The projects carried out as part of this partnership resonate with the SYSTRA Group’s sustainability ambition: to make a difference and have a positive impact on communities and territories. The works carried out together have enabled several thousand people to benefit from optimised, safe, and sustainable access to schools, health services and markets. 

These bridges link villages and even districts that are separated by natural obstacles, and which these bridges help to unite by meeting essential mobility needs. Initiated in 2016 by SYSTRA International Bridge Technologies employees with projects in Latin America, and then integrated since 2022 as a Group initiative with around twenty volunteer employees involved each year from the four corners of the world, these projects represent unique human experiences. It is an opportunity for SYSTRA employees, whether engineers or support staff, to share their experience and know-how with local communities.

A POSITIVE IMPACT

Built in remote and disadvantaged areas, these bridges have a direct positive impact on communities. 

Children, who account for more than a third of users on average, can reach their schools in complete safety. Communities can have quick access to medical facilities, especially pregnant women, and farmers can more easily transport their produce to market. On average, the income of local residents rose by 30% one year after the bridges were built.

PROJECTS ALL OVER THE WORLD  

The Bridges to Prosperity initiative is an emblematic example of what SYSTRA can do to make a difference and bring safe and sustainable solutions to isolated populations in order to change their daily lives. It illustrates the values of sustainability in several ways: as projects that serve local communities, as the sharing of human experience, and as a catalyst for strengthening the links between our connected teams around the world. Last but not least, these are projects that reflect our values and make us proud.

Christelle Chichignoud, Sustainability Director, SYSTRA

The Bridges to Prosperity team is deeply grateful to SYSTRA for the mobilisation and generosity shown by its team during the construction of this bridge. Your action has had a significant impact on the lives of 7,000 people. Working with B2P means having a direct influence on achieving 10 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the most important of which is access to mobility.

Nicola Turrini, Global Corporate Partnerships Manager,
Bridges to Prosperity

Helping people to improve their living conditions is totally in line with my personal values. Having taken part in the construction of the Shyagari bridge in 2022, the aspect that struck me most was that we all had the same desire, the same motivation, and the same enthusiasm, regardless of our professional or personal backgrounds!

William Blondel, Bridges to Prosperity partnership coordinator,
SYSTRA