Building a safe river crossing to connect isolated communities
An eight-person team of Cornell Engineering students is building Engineers in Action’s (EIA) first student-led suspension bridge in Eswatini. Working as the Cornell chapter of EIA — a nonprofit partnering with rural communities to build critical infrastructure in underserved areas — the students are creating the Hlanganani suspension bridge to serve the Emfasi and Buhleni communities. About 3,000 people live in these areas, where seasonal flooding periodically makes rivers impassable and has led to multiple injuries and deaths in recent years.
Guided by EIA’s Bridge Corps of professional engineers, the team prepared for the seven-week summer project by learning construction and design principles, project planning and cultural awareness. In Eswatini they will work alongside community leaders and volunteers and receive technical support from in-country EIA partners to build the bridge and train residents in its upkeep. They hope the new crossing will support safer travel and improve access to essential resources, healthcare and education. Back at Cornell, the team will draw on this experience to plan and mentor future student teams for upcoming builds.
Building a safe river crossing to connect isolated communities
An eight-person team of Cornell Engineering students is building Engineers in Action’s (EIA) first student-led suspension bridge in Eswatini. Working as the Cornell chapter of EIA — a nonprofit partnering with rural communities to build critical infrastructure in underserved areas — the students are creating the Hlanganani suspension bridge to serve the Emfasi and Buhleni communities. About 3,000 people live in these areas, where seasonal flooding periodically makes rivers impassable and has led to multiple injuries and deaths in recent years.
Guided by EIA’s Bridge Corps of professional engineers, the team prepared for the seven-week summer project by learning construction and design principles, project planning and cultural awareness. In Eswatini they will work alongside community leaders and volunteers and receive technical support from in-country EIA partners to build the bridge and train residents in its upkeep. They hope the new crossing will support safer travel and improve access to essential resources, healthcare and education. Back at Cornell, the team will draw on this experience to plan and mentor future student teams for upcoming builds.
- Hadas Ritz, Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell Engineering
- Lauren Stulgis, Student Project Teams, Cornell Engineering
- Community Partner: Engineers in Action
- Hadas Ritz, Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell Engineering
- Lauren Stulgis, Student Project Teams, Cornell Engineering
- Community Partner: Engineers in Action
Providing seed support for a wide range of community-engaged learning projects