By Tony Sharpe | Project Leader
Natural disasters recede fairly rapidly from the public mind as new ones take over but for the people involved it is still very much at the forefront of their minds and their daily lives. The reminder is always there when they survey their ruined homes and another aftershock jolts their senses. Immediate emergency support has been distributed although there are still many more remote areas in need of support. For small organisations, like the Nepal Trust, it is only feasible, and sensible, to focus its resources and effort to make the most impact. This disaster is huge, very widespread, and in some of the most difficult terrain on earth.
During the rebuilding phase co-operation is essential to provide a fully coordinated approach. The Trust is working with Dutch based organisations, over a two year period split in to two phases, with the Trust acting as the local coordinator. After an extensive community field assessment using satellite technology 5 VDCs in Sindalpalchowk have been identified as the main project area. These are; Sipapokhare, Kumchok, Nawalpur, Syaule, and Helambu. Altogether these VDCs include 1993 households and a population of 8609 people.
The project has identified 60 farmers who will receive help and special training to rebuild their farms and livelihoods, 8 masons will be trained in new eathquake resistant building techniques, 15 Dalit families will receive sewing machines to build local businesses. After the monsoon is over an emphasis will be placed on restoring water and irrigation schemes and rebuilding electricity supplies.The project will also encourage other organisations to provide specific project funding by providing matching grants.
Many schools were destroyed in the earthquake and it is a national priority to get as many up and running as quickly as possible. The Trust has supported the construction of three Temporary Learning Centres in Kumchok VDC. These are a special design with concrete flooring and a prefabricated metal construction to give a longer life before a more permanent solution is arrived at. It allows children to rapidly get back to a stable learning environment. We have also supplied building materials to three schools in Gorthali VDC to get them up and running again.
Helambu is a remote and beautiful area that was particularly badly hit. Global Giving gave a substantial grant towards the rebuilding of Tarkegyang village. All the materials have been purchased and await transport to site but, unfortunately, the monsoon has washed away roads and trails. As soon as these are cleared, hopefully very soon, the materials will be delivered for installation by the local community.
Attached to this report is our latest newsletter, a special earthquake edition of Namaste, that provides more detail of our efforts to improve the lives of some of those devastated by the earthquake.
Many, many thanks to those who have donated and who support our work. Thank you to GlobalGiving for being with us and providing such excellent support. Please share with your friends and spread the word. Every penny we receive here in the UK goes directly to Nepal and to those most in need.
Namaste!
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
