When we first moved to Cazale in 1998, there was no bridge over the river. Everyone—children, parents, merchants—had to cross on foot. During the dry season it was manageable, but when the river rose, it became dangerous or impossible to pass.

Eventually, a simple footbridge was built, making it easier and safer for people to walk across. After severe flooding washed away most of it. A small portion remained, and for years, that was all the community had. Any rain made crossing risky again—especially for the elderly, schoolchildren, or anyone carrying goods.

Then in 2009, during a major road construction project nearby, a permanent concrete bridge was built—strong enough for both foot traffic and vehicles. This bridge has been a lifeline. It allows merchants to transport goods, families to access medical care, children to get to school, and everyone to travel more safely.

It also made something else possible: clean water access. The new bridge allowed us to run a main water line across the river to reach more people in need. Before that, we tried several times to run the line through the broken footbridge, but each time a heavy rain came, it washed away.