Bridges to Prosperity, embody our beliefs “This bridge has transformed the everyday livesof numerous school pupils, workers, and traders, making the river crossing safer. Being involved in this project alongside an international and multidisciplinary team has been particularly rewarding. But the biggest reward are the smiles on faces of the residents who A technical and human challenge cross the bridge every day.” The partnership with Bridges to Prosperity illustrates the beliefs we hold as a company In November 2023, ten SYSTRA volunteers from François Mortier and the individual commitments made by seven different countries travelled to the Rulindo Communications Officer, Group our employees. By helping to build bridges that district in Rwanda to help build this footbridge. have a positive impact on the daily lives of It is the seventh bridge that the Group’s employees “This project started off as a way for us to give, thousands of people, their professional expertise have helped to build. They spent two weeks but we ended up receiving a great deal in return. takes on a whole new meaning. We take working alongside the construction team and I loved sharing fun moments with the children, a look at these very human experiences. people from local communities. This 59-metre particularly during visits to the school.” suspension bridge was opened in November, Dipak Jadav Facilitate access to essential services and it means that 4,000 people can now safely Lead Engineer Water Infrastructure, India Throughout the world, huge numbers of people cross the Nyirakibuye river. are deprived of access to safety and essential services – because of a lack of transport “Given the major difficulties that these residents infrastructure. Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) has are up against, it was important to take action and share our expertise. It was very rewarding to live a positive impact on their everyday lives and and work alongside members of the local team who their more long-term future. By the end of 2024, helped build the bridge, and to learn about their 220 bridges will have been built by B2P in culture, as well as their language and their traditions. Rwanda, safely and reliably connecting some Rwanda, Shyagari Bridge: It was also fantastic to work with SYSTRA colleagues 660,000 people to essential services. a look back at the 2022 edition from all over the world, linking our teams together.” In Rwanda, the river that the Shyagari Nizar Awad Bridge crosses floods on a regular basis, Technical Director, United Kingdom making it impossible or extremely dangerous to cross for the residents. Now, an 80-metre footbridge, opened “Building a suspension bridge was a first for me. in November 2022, is being used by As an engineer, I am accustomed to managing teams, more than 2,600 members of communities but not installing the main cable, pouring concrete throughout the rural Muhanga district. or crossing the rebars manually on a bridge project! The bridge connects them to the nearest We all learned a lot from one another. This project hospital, as well as to administrative involved a combination of civil engineering knowledge, services, markets, and schools. The result? interpersonal skills and a sense of solidarity.” 965 more pupils can now go to school safely, 271 more women have access to Camille Le Pen Sénéchal maternity care, and the average income Bridge Engineer, France for women is up by more than 30%. 2023 Sustainabil ity Report | 15