This is a project who dedicated all its energy into building earthquake resistant, sustainable houses for families in Nepal, who lost their home after the earthquake. It is all about empowerment, skill sharing, cultural education and connecting with nature, love and amazing people. The money we raise is going 100% to the building of the house of Mai-Lee and her 4 children.
Mai-Lee, is a Nepali women who lives with her four children in the Sindhupalchok district. This area got struck by the earthquake 2015 very hard. Almost 80% of all houses have been affected and most of them got destroyed.
As we came along on the search for a family we could help, we ask the head chief from the village for help. He told us about a women who lost her husband in the 2015 earthquake, and was left alone with 4 of her children.
She also has breast cancer, and has had one of her breasts removed, but in order to be able to continue breastfeeding her two youngest children, she has kept the other. Currently she is employed on other people’s fields and earns 150 rupees a day ($1.50). The head chief told us she does this while having to race home several times a day to feed her children. We noticed that it was not only a new home that they needed, but much much more.
As we discussed her situation with the village community, one family put their hand up to donate some of their land further up the mountain for the project. Her situation would be less difficult as she would be closer to the community and have easier access to medical assistance for her children.
The following day we met Mai-Lee, a very shy but strong woman with her four children. We told her about our intention and discussed with her the design of the house and after a while we came to an agreement. She was certainly shocked, in a positive way. We have also told her that we would like her to work for us while we construct the house. We would employ her as our cook where we would pay her more than what she earns. So she can be around her children a lot more allowing her to give them the care and attention they need and deserve.
The home will be built using the earth bag concept. This includes a stone dre-enforced foundation, earth bag walls, timber doors and windows, timber roof frame with tin/transparent sheets. The whole building will be re-enforced adequately using steel re-enforcement, barbed wire and straps. The building will be plastered with natural plastering using straw, cow-dung and soil. The interior will be split into two main rooms, one of them being a kitchen/common room, the other a bedroom where we will build some bunk beds for the children and a bed for Mai-Lee. All this will be done by volunteers and with help from the local community.
This project is dedicated to Mai-Lee. A new home as a gift from those who are far more fortunate than others, a much needed change in the life of a family and a new opportunity for children..
If you are coming to Nepal we would love to welcome you and show you more about our work and introduce you to the amazing group of people who is currently helping us building. We would have never had a chance without them <3
If you would like to support us with a donation you are more than welcome to contact Dhanesh Jayaselan for the banking details: Dhanesh.jayaselan.f@gmail.com
Also check out BTTA (bring thought to action) This NGO supports several projects like ours in Nepal. With this I would like to thank you Shiva, for your friendship and everyday support. www.facebook.com/bringthoughtstoaction
Namaste
