Army Builds Bridge, Yuni's Smile Accompanies Her Steps to School

For some people, a bridge may be just infrastructure. But for Yuni, a primary school pupil in the Rancabali area of Bandung Regency, the bridge is a path to the future. Before the Merah Putih Bridge was built, Yuni’s journey to school was not always easy. She had to take a detour and face a longer access route, which made her travel time to school much longer. Now, everything has changed. A bridge connecting Kampung Sinumbra and Kampung Kanaan allows Yuni to get to school more quickly. She no longer has to cross a river or take a detour. “I’m happy, now I can get to school quickly. I don’t have to cross the river and go around anymore,” said the little girl. For a child her age, the change may seem simple. But for Yuni, the bridge means more time to study, play and gather with family. The nearly 100-metre bridge was built by the Indonesian Army’s Infantry Weaponry Centre (Pussenif) with the support of President Prabowo Subianto. Construction was led by Pussenif Commander Lieutenant General TNI Iwan Setiawan as part of efforts to open access for the communities in the two villages. “The aim is to shorten distances for the community, facilitate the economy and help schoolchildren have a shorter journey as well as provide a sense of safety and comfort,” explained Iwan. Behind the concrete and steel construction lies a simple story about children who can now walk to school with lighter steps. For Yuni, the bridge does not only connect two villages. It also connects her to school, friends and the dreams she wants to achieve. Now, every morning, Yuni’s small steps are no longer directed towards a river to cross or a long road to go around. There is a bridge waiting for her. At the end of it are school and the future she wants to pursue.