Power of Collaboration: Five villages and ECS join forces to build 12-km road and 50-foot Bridge

The 50-foot long bridge in Tuensang district built by a collective of 5 villages and the Eleutheros Christian Society. 
 

Easterine Kire
Tuensang | December 3

A 50-foot long bridge was inaugurated by the Eleutheros Christian Society (ECS) in collaboration with the five villages of Litem, Kumpung, Yokum, Yonyu and Sangdak in Tuensang district on December 2. It was part of a 12-kilometer-long road built by the collective contributions of the five villages in an ECS initiative.

“This is a very liberating project for the villagers,” said ECS Secretary, Chingmak Chang. He further explained that, “the villagers have formerly been running from pillar to post to ask for roads to be constructed in their area. These are villages that have been land-locked from their administrative headquarters for over 70 years. Quite appropriately, the new bridge was inaugurated by the five chiefs of the five villages using five differently coloured ribbons.”

The ECS created awareness amongst the village chiefs that they could do something themselves about improving their situation. The bridge and many link roads are the results of this thrust made by the ECS.

The project has seen the five villages coming forward to partner with ECS in building community funded bridges to provide communication in the rural areas of Tuensang. This is the third community funded bridge built in collaboration with ECS.

The society headed by Chingmak Chang has now completed 46 kms of community funded link roads.

The present bridge constructed out of wood, has a roof to protect it from the elements. The new link road will enable villagers from the five villages to access health services from the Noksen PHC in a matter of 40 minutes, a major improvement over a journey that formerly took 5 hours. The bridge was entirely managed, built and inaugurated by the villagers themselves. 

Questioned on future plans along this line, the ECS secretary stated that another 12 km road is being planned for 2020. It will include a 90-foot bridge. ECS welcomes support from any corner, including individual contributions. The ECS also acknowledged receiving support from the RD Secretary under MNREGA, DUDA and from the local Minister, CM Chang for the bridge project.