“I’m very very happy”.  Those words came from a local child among a huge group escorting us on the trek from site to our transport this evening, and they perfectly capture how I feel now. The end is not just in sight, but in our hands. 

I wasn’t “very very happy” first thing this morning, as I woke at 5am feeling a little under the weather with some lingering concerns over our programme, particularly with the challenges posed to us by the fixing of the bridge deck at the right abutment. 

I soon perked up, as we arrived on site to the now custom dancing and singing with the local work force. This was swiftly followed by a particularly energetic rendition of the morning exercises, led by Eden today, as he bellowed at us to “Get Loose, Get Funkayyyy” in a kids club routine that definitely shook off the cobwebs. 

We made a flying start to the day, manually shifting 50 tonnes of rock to backfill the left abutment in under an hour. There was no time for a breather, as the team pushed straight on, setting the fencing posts in the abutment and preparing for concreting after lunch. Elsewhere we continued fencing, painting and deck remedial works, collaborating with Ernest to resolve a tricky issue with the deck spacing at the right abutment.

Once we reached early afternoon, I relaxed, and felt a sense of pride as I looked around at what we had, and still continued, to achieve. Concreting of the left abutment was in full flow, the temporary platforms had been removed, the deck remedial works were approaching completion, the fencing on the bridge and right abutment was complete and the painting was truly a work of art. In spite of our programme being shortened by a day, with the inauguration brought forward from Friday to Thursday, we have delivered this vital bridge in good time. Yes, we have a few finishing touches to apply tomorrow morning once the concrete has cured, but to quote Ernest “I will sleep well tonight”.

The day could not have been rounded off any better. Throughout the project, we have had an increasing number of local children coming to  see us at the site boundary at the end of each day. The numbers peaked today, as we brought a bubble machine and music to make a real party atmosphere. We danced and sang with the children, tried our best to teach them the Macarena (to mixed success), repeated Eden’s “Get Loose” routine with the whole team, and Ali, Syd and I started a game of volleyball. Eventually we had to prize ourselves away, albeit not before handing out hundreds of “Team Nkegete” stickers to the eager recipients. It was a truly amazing experience to see the excitement and joy our project is bringing to the local community. 

I’m tired, I’m proud and I’m very very happy.


-Jamie