DP World and Bridges to Prosperity connected four communities, transforming daily life for thousands of residents through sustainable infrastructure
Until recently, Akaliza, a 10-year-old schoolgirl in Kabeza, a remote Rwandan village near the capital, Kigali, had to cross the dangerous Gauge River ravine every day just to reach her classroom. During the rainy season, the river often floods, making the crossing perilous and cutting off entire communities from school, markets, and healthcare. In the past three years alone, more than eight people have been injured attempting to cross it.
That all changed when DP World’s volunteers joined hands with local community members, government stakeholders and non-profit Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) to build a new 50-metre long trail bridge. Spanning the unstable ground and waterways that once divided four rural communities, the bridge now provides safe, year-round access for over 4,600 people, including 1,721 children, whatever the weather.
Local residents say the bridge has already improved school attendance and access to health services. “We used to worry about our kids when we sent them to school. Now, with this bridge, we feel safe. It’s a huge relief and a true blessing for our community. We’re incredibly thankful to everyone who made this initiative a reality,” said 34-year old Mugisha.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “This bridge is more than just a structure; it’s a lifeline. It’s a powerful reminder of the real human impact our work can have. I’m incredibly proud of our team for bringing DP World’s values to life and creating lasting impact where it’s needed most”.
DP World is normally associated with big infrastructure — massive ports with giant cranes, capable of handling the biggest ships on the planet, and road and rail networks that move goods faster and further than ever before.
But this is infrastructure of a different kind, built to move people, not cargo. It’s designed to get Akaliza to school. And while logisticians often talk about “last mile delivery” as one of the toughest challenges in supply chains, this bridge addresses something just as vital: “first mile access.” Its impact is measured not in tonnes or containers, but in lives changed.
DP World has supported B2P since 2022 as a cable provider, donating the bridge’s core cables from its flagship port in Jebel Ali. Now, the company is taking a more hands-on approach, deploying its own staff onsite for the construction. Nine DP World volunteers, ranging from engineers to logistics professionals, worked shoulder to shoulder with local residents for two weeks — part of a deepening commitment to building bridges to better lives.
Juan Carlos, Group Chief Planning & Project Officer, DP World, said: “Watching children cross safely on the day the bridge opened was unforgettable. We often talk about sustainability, but here, we built it with our own hands. “This is what infrastructure looks like when It’s built for people.”
The initiative is part of DP World’s broader commitment to sustainable development. The global logistics company operates the Kigali Logistics Platform in Masaka, a vital trade hub which links landlocked Rwanda to major East African port. It handles as many as 50,000 containers (twenty-foot equivalent units) and 640,000 tonnes of cargo each year, and has created more than 700 local jobs.
This bridge is part of a national programme launched by B2P in 2019 with the government, with a shared goal of connecting over 1 million Rwandans through more than 300 trail bridges by 2027.
“Our volunteer trip to Rwanda with Bridges to Prosperity highlights the power of global partnerships. By helping build essential infrastructure, we’re not only supporting resilient, connected communities—we’re also reinforcing the values that drive our business forward: collaboration, sustainability, and long-term impact.”, said Ayla Bajwa, SVP Group Sustainability at DP World.
With more bridges planned across Africa this year, DP World is not only moving goods, but unlocking access, supporting livelihoods and connecting futures.