2024 Rwanda Bridge Build: A Q&A on Pre-trip Insights

Why did you want to take part in this trip?

I’ve always been drawn to civil engineering because of the magnitude of large infrastructure and buildings. I’m also passionate and very active in community service and cultural exploration. The bridge build is an incredible opportunity to merge my interests and utilize the knowledge I’ve gained in my career to make a positive impact.

What do you hope to get out of it?  

I get excited thinking about the necessity and future use of the Mutumba Trail Bridge. I’m looking forward to getting hands-on construction experience that I don’t usually get in my project management role. Working on a team and completing a physical task together creates a special kind of bond that I’m hoping to form with the Jacobs team and Rwanda team members. 

Have you done any volunteering or similar trips in the past? 

I went to Nicaragua with an organization called Amigos for Christ as part of a civil engineering team building water distribution systems in rural communities. My favorite memories from that trip were being immersed in a new culture, visiting schools and homes and celebrating with the community.

Why is it important for Jacobs to support trips like this?  

Jacobs has such a wealth of knowledge amongst its employees. Programs like Bridges to Prosperity allow us to share our abilities with the world in an equitable and people-centric way that aligns with Jacobs’ core values. 

What do you hope to bring back to Jacobs?

I hope to bring back an energy that motivates my colleagues and friends to seek similar opportunities to make meaningful change in the world. 

What are you most excited about?  

I’m most looking forward to celebrating with the community on the bridge inauguration day.

Why did you want to take part in this trip?

In 2022, I completed a motorcycle trip from Ireland to South Africa. I struggled to traverse sub-Saharan Africa and can attest to the importance of transportation infrastructure. It is undeniably critical to healthcare, equity, economic opportunity and resilience. 

I remember one particularly alarming moment on a rural dirt road in Tanzania. A mother on the back of a motorbike passed me. The only way a mother would risk taking her newborn on that broken road, at that speed, would be in an emergency. I was dismayed to find that three  out of ten  children die before the age of five in East Africa. It was 2022 and that statistic was very real.

What do you hope to get out of it?  

Good memories, good friends and a sense of accomplishment. 

Have you ever done any volunteering or similar trips?

This is a first for me and will no doubt be lifechanging. 

Why is it important for Jacobs to support initiatives like this?  

Millions of people around the world don't have safe access to critical resources like health care, education or employment due to an impassable river. With a single footbridge, Jacobs and Bridges to Prosperity can impact households across multiple dimensions. 

What do you hope to bring back to Jacobs?

A firsthand account of how important solutions like the ones we create at Jacobs are to our communities. From my desk, I often feel far-removed from the result. 

What are you most excited about?  

To work with colleagues and the local community to build something meaningful. Plus, I’m sure it’s going to be an incredible adventure!

Why did you want to take part in this trip?

I thought this project would be the perfect opportunity to leverage my engineering and leadership skills, high energy levels and dedication to social value in a project that tangibly improves lives. It’s a dream come true. Building a footbridge in Rwanda means not only connecting over 7,000 people to essential services but embodying the values of empowerment, and contributing to a cause far greater than any individual achievement.

What do you hope to get out of it?

To immerse myself in the unique cultural and environmental contexts of Rwanda, learning from the local community and the diverse team of volunteers from Jacobs, and experiencing the profound human connection that comes with projects of this nature.

Have you done any volunteering or similar trips?

I’ve volunteered with associations related to water engineering and women in engineering. However, this trip with Bridges to Prosperity will be my first volunteering endeavour of this magnitude and my first visit to such a beautiful continent as Africa.

Why is it important for Jacobs to support trips like this?

Initiatives like this underscore Jacobs' commitment to make a positive, lasting impact and empowering local communities. It showcases our dedication to tackling the challenges of rural isolation and poverty, reinforcing Jacobs as a leader in both engineering excellence and corporate social responsibility.

What do you hope to bring back to Jacobs?

I hope to bring back a deeper understanding of sustainable project delivery in challenging environments and a richer appreciation for cultural diversity. By sharing the story and success of this project, I aim to inspire more colleagues to engage in similar initiatives, fostering a broader impact across the company and the communities we serve. Additionally, I aspire to motivate more women and girls to venture into engineering and STEAM fields, showcasing our critical role in forging sustainable solutions.

What are you most excited about?

I’m excited about the prospect of directly contributing to a project that will have such a direct impact in peoples’ lives. I’m particularly looking forward for the moment the community first walks across the completed bridge, symbolizing not just a physical connection but a gateway to opportunities and empowerment.

Why did you want to take part in this trip?

I’m a person who finds the greatest joy in helping others and giving my time and effort for a bigger purpose, aligning with my values as a Christian. I have always dreamt of participating in a mission like this, allowing me to contribute to a project with a larger impact. 

What do you hope to get out of it?

I believe Bridges to Prosperity will provide me with a deeper understanding of Africa's unique challenges and opportunities. I’m excited about the prospect of being a part of positive change.

Have you done any volunteering or similar trips?

I am the co-lead for Jacobs OneWorld Network in Poland and have been involved in organizing and participating  numerous charity events, for example open data mapping with Missing Maps, where we mapped Salvador and Africa. I have also travelled to Ukraine to help export food and support refugees.

Why is it important for Jacobs to support trips like this?

Getting involved in activities like this one brings new possibilities for employees to develop. Charity work brings the best out of people and makes us more creative, empathetic, and compassionate. 

What do you hope to bring back to Jacobs?

I hope this experience will enrich my world view and I’ll come back with new knowledge, both technical and interpersonal skills. I hope it makes me look at the world even more enthusiastically, knowing there are no challenges that we cannot overcome as a group. 

What are you most excited about?

The most exciting aspect of the trip is the possibility of supporting and discovering more about the local community. Being with other people and making things happen is always a driving factor for me.