Toni Rüttimann
Encyclopedia
Toni Rüttimann, also known in Latin America as "Toni El Suizo" ("Swiss Toni"), (born 21 August 1967, Pontresina
, Switzerland
) is a bridge
builder.
people to build or re-build their own bridges, often after a hurricane, an earthquake
, or a war event.
Rüttimann left home at the age of nineteen, initially to help the victims of an earthquake in Ecuador
. Over the next 23 years, he passed through Ecuador, Colombia, Honduras, and Mexico, all the way to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Indonesia, often following natural disasters. He builds up local bridge-builder teams, supplying them with materials from a solidarity chain around him. He uses steel wire rope from Swiss cableways, and steel pipes from pipeline and national oil companies. He receives transport and other materials free of charge, and supervises local people during the construction process.
To date, Rüttimann and his local teams have built 540 bridges, serving over 1.3 million peasant
s in Latin America and Southeast Asia. He works independently, and for free.
Pontresina
Pontresina is a municipality in the district of Maloja in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History and name:The city was first mentioned in medieval Latin documents as pontem sarasinam in 1137. In 1237 it was mentioned as de Ponte Sarraceno and in 1303 as ponte sarracino...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
) is a bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
builder.
Life
Toni Rüttimann has no home; he carries all he needs in two small bags. One is for his personal effects, the second one for his suspension bridgebuilding materials. Rüttimann works with destitutePoverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
people to build or re-build their own bridges, often after a hurricane, an earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
, or a war event.
Rüttimann left home at the age of nineteen, initially to help the victims of an earthquake in Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
. Over the next 23 years, he passed through Ecuador, Colombia, Honduras, and Mexico, all the way to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Indonesia, often following natural disasters. He builds up local bridge-builder teams, supplying them with materials from a solidarity chain around him. He uses steel wire rope from Swiss cableways, and steel pipes from pipeline and national oil companies. He receives transport and other materials free of charge, and supervises local people during the construction process.
To date, Rüttimann and his local teams have built 540 bridges, serving over 1.3 million peasant
Peasant
A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...
s in Latin America and Southeast Asia. He works independently, and for free.