1. Bethesda, Md. Native Helps Community Build Bridge
in Mozambique
WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 26, 2014 - Peace Corps volunteer William Zweig, 28, of Bethesda, Md.,
is working with his community in Mozambique to build a 35-meter suspended pedestrian trail bridge.
A portion of the funds for the project will be raised through the Peace Corps Partnership Program
(PCPP), a program that helps support Peace Corps volunteer community projects worldwide.
“In Mozambique, when the rainy season comes in November, rivers start to rise and become
impassable by foot,” said Zweig, a 2004 graduate of Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Md.,
who has been living and working in Mozambique since September 2012. “Swimming should be
avoided – due to the presence of crocodiles – and fast flowing water, forcing many farmers to
abandon their plots for four months during prime planting season.”
Infrastructure is scarce in the northern provinces of Mozambique. Vast distances between villages
and a lack of paved roads and bridges make traveling from one village to the next quite difficult, often
taking hours or days. As a result, local farmers are unable to transport their goods to larger markets.
With the support of three local communities, Zweig is in the process of planning, designing, and
building a 35-meter suspended pedestrian trail bridge with the purpose of not only providing a safe
means for crossing a dangerous river all year long, but to also stimulate the local economy. The
bridge would allow farmers access to greater markets and fertile land and would provide needed
access to a hospital and specialized medical posts, secondary schools, a diverse market and the
main transportation hub on the other side of the river.
Furthermore, Zweig explains that beyond all that, “we are not here simply to build a bridge; rather,
we are here to work together with the community, providing skills and confidence in their ability to
work toward independence and self-reliance.”
The community members will provide the manual labor to build the bridge. In order to receive funding
through the PCPP, a community must make a 25 percent contribution to the total project cost and
outline success indicators for the individual projects. This helps ensure community ownership and a
greater chance of long-term sustainability. One hundred percent of each tax-deductible PCPP
donation goes toward a development project. Zweig’s project was fully funded. Those interested in
supporting projects like Zweig’s can visit:www.peacecorps.gov/donate.
About Peace Corps/Mozambique: There are currently 211 volunteers in Mozambique working in
the areas of education and health. During their service in Mozambique, volunteers learn to speak the
local languages, including: Ajaua, Bitonga, Chope, Changane, Elomwe, Emacua, Hiyau, Nhungwe,
Nianja, Portuguese, Swahili, Xitswa, Xindau, Xisena, Xichona, Ximanica, Xichuabo, Ximaconde and
Xironga. More than 885 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Mozambique since the program was
established in 1998.
About the Peace Corps: As the preeminent international service organization of the United States,
the Peace Corps sends Americans abroad to tackle the most pressing needs of people around the
world. Peace Corps volunteers work at the grassroots level with local governments, schools,
communities, small businesses and entrepreneurs to develop sustainable solutions that address
challenges in education, health, economic development, agriculture, environment and youth
development. When they return home, volunteers bring their knowledge and experiences – and a
global outlook – back to the United States that enriches the lives of those around them. President

2. John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961 to foster a better understanding among
Americans and people of other countries. Since then, more than 215,000 Americans of all ages have
served in 139 countries worldwide. Visit www.peacecorps.gov to learn more.