We are very happy to report that the most recent bridge, made by the people with Goonj, has come up in Kerala, the state where we only started working after floods late last year. This is at the back of hundreds of bamboo/wood bridges made, over the years, by people for themselves, mobilized and motivated by Goonj.
In Konnathady village in Idukki, Kerala, as work on this bridge making was stuck for more than a year, people of the area went through a lot of hardship crossing over on the makeshift bridge. The students had to take up the risky journey to go to the school on the other side while food for mid-day meals was also reached with a lot of difficulties. In health emergencies, carrying the patients over the bridge was a further risk to them.
While mobilizing and motivating people here Goonj Team faced some initial reluctance but sharing of stories of many other village communities making bridges on their own won over the people here. Using only locally available resources, over 30 residents built a new 10-meter long bridge reducing the distance to almost 6 km. The bridge also passed its final test- a jeep was able to cross it! The residents beamed with pride as their children walked safely onto the bridge. All participants were rewarded with carefully made Goonj Family Kits with basic essentials, for their efforts!
Goonj is extensively working across Kerala, after the recent floods. To know more click: https://goonj.org/rahat
