In December 2012 we decided, together with another foundation, to finance a pedestrian bridge in Long Laman that crosses the river Salan’an. The bridge was planned and built under the patronage of the Bruno Manser Fund and with the help and support of Swiss engineers of the Swiss Institute of Technology (ETH). The local people were engaged in building the bridge and proudly completed it in May 2013.  A second bridge was built in 2016, which we financed. Thanks to the use of drones, the costs and construction time could be reduced.

In 2019 Fontana Foundation engaged in an energy project in Ba Abang combining a river generator and photovoltaic panels to provide electricity in the village. The project has been stopped since the government has promised to install solar systems for electricity in all the villages in the rainforest. This promise has not materialized yet and we may proceed with the project soon. 

Each bridge is a big improvement for about 4’000 indigenous people in Penan, who have to cross the river wading through the water in order to go to school or for basic services. In the rainy season it is simply impossible to cross the river.

We are convinced that with the know-how acquired from the first bridges, more bridges will be built, improving the mobility of the Penan people, while respecting the environment of the rainforest of Sarawak.

For more information go to www.bmf.ch/en/