Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Bridges to Prosperity Announces New Name: Fika

New identity reflects a more modern commitment to access.

January 12, 2026: Bridges to Prosperity today announced it has changed its name to Fika. In Kiswahili, Zulu, and many other African languages, fika means “to arrive,” with the connotation of arriving safely. The new identity reflects the organization’s evolution from building bridges to partnering with governments to plan and deliver safe, reliable access at a national scale.

“Our mission hasn’t changed. We exist to connect rural populations to critical destinations,” said Nivi Sharma, CEO of Fika. “What has changed is the scale of our work. Fika captures our promise: that people can get where they need to go, safely, every day.”

Under its new name, Fika will continue building bridges with communities while partnering with governments as mobilizers, planners, and trainers for rural infrastructure in general. The organization’s AI-enabled digital tool suite, Fika Digital, helps countries see where access is broken, prioritize investments, and measure outcomes.

As part of today’s announcement, Fika released the organization’s 5-year strategy for safe access and a short film that follows several community members on their daily journeys, culminating in a vibrant community fashion show, underscoring that the work has always been about more than bridges. It is about connection, livelihoods, love, culture, and community.

“Fika is a simple, human idea: arrival,” Sharma added. “When people can arrive safely at school, a clinic, or a market, opportunity follows. That’s the future we’re building with our partners.”

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About Fika

Fika (formerly Bridges to Prosperity) partners with communities and governments to deliver safe, reliable access at scale so people can reach schools, healthcare, and markets every day. Through community-built trail bridges, government partnerships, and digital planning tools, Fika helps countries turn access into opportunity. Learn more at fika.org.


Editor’s note: “Fika” (pronounced FEE-kah), a word in Kiswahili, Zulu, and other African languages that means “to arrive,” with the connotation of arriving safely.