Want to see the faces of the students this bridge will affect? Please enjoy this video, showing Antanifotsy and the bridge site in motion. 

Not much is known about this island-nation beyond the environmental aspects, and the popular cartoon movies. We hope this video sheds light on Madagascar and it's people for what they are, plainly, in the light of their village. 

We also hope this video highlights the progress of the bridge project to date. Thanks again to everyone who donated. Without your help none of this would be happening, and these students would still be struggling to get to school. As they say in Madagascar, "misoatra betseka!" Thank you so much for reaching out from across the world. 

The workers are fearless. Since my town is at such a high elevation, it’s a freezing Malagasy June. But that doesn’t stop them from submerging themselves, soaking their skin and clothes in ice water to manipulate its flow. Last Friday I went out to observe construction, and they were waist-deep working at the bases of the bridge pillars. They also carried in heavy sandbags to lessen the strength of the current.

The bridge is now about halfway done. Concrete pillars have been erected, and the first layer of the base has been put down on half the bridge’s length.

        

Construction hasn’t been without flaw… a few weeks ago the middle pillar, where the water is deepest, was toppled on its side by the strength of the water. The workers were naturally disheartened, but have shown great resilience. The architect has hatched a plan to re-erect the pillar. It will be rooted deeper into the water, and all the pillars will soon be weighted with stone blocks covered in dried cement.

The base of each pillar will be weighted in stones and then covered in cement, like hard nuggets frozen in melted chocolate

The fallen pillar will add another week to construction. This week the workers are taking a break because the water level is so high, but they will resume next week. Construction is on its way! 

The architect getting ready for action