Kainacas, Bolivia 2023

In 2023, we were able to send 4 students to Río Kainacas in Bolivia from Virginia Tech: Nicholas DiFranza, Joe Lorrain, Erika Riddervold, and Jimena Macias. The project directly benefited over 250 community members in not only Kainacas, but additional villages nearby. These villages included Robledo and Kurcunchi. The 35-meter footbridge was a much needed addition to grant the communities access to healthcare centers and schools across the river.

Working on-site with the Illinois chapter, with help from Georgia Tech on the design, the project went without a hitch! The construction was set to last for 6 weeks, but the team finished almost 2 weeks ahead of schedule, allowing the students extra time to explore Bolivia.