Bridging the Gap Africa
About The Location & History
Bridging the Gap Africa (BtGA) is a registered NGO working in Kenya that provides life-saving access for isolated, rural communities by building safe, reliable pedestrian footbridges.
These pedestrian footbridges open access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities, especially during the rainy season when rivers become dangerous or impassable.
In many communities, bridges enable women to participate in their local economy for the FIRST time, children to learn and grow healthily, and communities to come together.
BtGA began in the mid-1990s with a vision to connect communities and reduce preventable injuries and deaths. With over 85 bridges built, the building process is rooted in the community from day one.
Who Are We Partnering With?
Harmon Parker, visionary Founder and CEO, is an international development footbridge leader driven by a lifelong commitment to make a tangible difference in the world. Under his leadership, BtGA has brought together skilled local teams and international support to create lasting impact through every bridge built. Harmon is a skilled mason and his passion for safety, access, and empowerment continues to guide BtGA’s mission. Harmon is a CNN Hero, TEDx Orange speaker, CNN Hero Helping Heros.
What Is The Initiative?
BtGA partners with communities and encourages their active participation throughout the bridge work. This fosters ownership and pride in the project. A key component is training community members in construction techniques. This creates jobs and develops skills that can be applied to other activities.
BtGA’s mission deeply aligns with ImpactHope’s focus on development that supports sustainable solutions, providing vulnerable populations with a better future.
BtGA’s Impact
Beneficiaries
Nearly a half million people in Kenya have benefitted from safe, year-round access with BtGA’s bridges that allow
- Children to attend school regularly
- Mothers to reach medical clinics
- Farmers to access markets
- Women to be part of the local economy
- Entire communities to stay connected even during floods
Community First
The community is the reason why BtGA builds bridges. BtGA partners with communities to support their needs.
- Each bridge starts with a community request
- The community submits an application with the help of the field team
- Community leaders, women, and young people provide inputs on the location, design, and materials
- The community provides workers and in-kind support like bags of cement
- Workers get trained including maintaining the bridge
- A handover ceremony celebrates the community’s new bridge
Sustainability Built in from the Start
Sustainability is weaved into each part of BtGA’s work—from community engagement, local authority partnership, design and construction, and maintenance. This ensures safe, lasting bridges for future generations including
- Each bridge starts with innovative, site-specific designs
- Design incorporates the community’s requirements and considers the contours of rugged landscapes
- Durable materials are sourced locally, to the extent possible
- Repurposing materials where possible, like steel rope
- Long-term, trusted supplier partnerships provide cost-effective, quality materials that will last
With the community involved in each step of the process, they are empowered to manage the investment and ensure it lasts. BtGA also works with local authorities. BtGA’s nearly 30-year presence in Kenya demonstrates that it is a partner that is here to stay, that communities can engage and authorities can trust to deliver quality, safe infrastructure that benefits rural communities.
Stories of Impact
“Before the bridge, we couldn’t go to school when it rained. Now we can cross safely every day.” – Miriam, age 10, Kitale
“This bridge saved lives. My wife was able to reach the clinic when she went into labour during the flood.” – James, father and farmer, West Pokot
“There are bridges and there are bridges. Some transport children to school daily as with our partnership with BtGA…but bridges are more than that. They are stories of hope, stories of dreams—magical walkways to the future. Thank you for your unbelievable team.” – Dereck Joubert, award-winning film maker and photographer
More stories of impact here.
How You Can Get Involved
With your support, ImpactHope will help fund upcoming bridge projects that include worker training. A single bridge can cost around $65,000 CAD—providing decades of impact.
Donation: Your monthly or one time donation will go directly to building a bridge and training workers.
Be a champion: Be a champion in your community, workplace, and family. Get in touch with BtGA to partner, share the story, and raise support. We want your heart!
ImpactHope is honoured to come alongside Bridging the Gap Africa—partnering for lasting change in Kenya.
