Tearfund completes rebuilding of first new earthquake-resistant house
Churches played key role in transforming lives across country during earthquake aftermath
On Tuesday 26 April Tearfund will become the first international NGO to complete a new earthquake-resistant house in Makwanpur, a remote community just a few hours drive from Kathmandu.
This is the first of 639 earthquake-resistant homes Tearfund is building with funding from the Disasters Emergency Committee. The house is also one of 39 ‘model houses’ - bespoke buildings to suit different locations and families - which enables newly-trained masons to perfect their skills under the guidance of technical experts, and show communities how to construct earthquake-resistant houses.
Skilled labour shortage is a major problem for the reconstruction phase, and to meet this need, over the last few months, Tearfund has trained over 300 masons in specific earthquake resistant building techniques, equipping them with vital skills to train other members of their community and build houses which will be more resilient to future quakes.
In addition to rebuilding houses, Tearfund have also been working with partners across the region to help communities rebuild their livelihoods and businesses, including community-led agricultural groups, new safe spaces for children at risk of trafficking, and many church-led projects. Tearfund is using an approach called “Sangasangai” (together), led by Pastor Prajwal, who has been working with Tearfund-funded United Missions Nepal, since 2015 to envision the church to start church and community projects.
The group initially started with 21 members, learning about the work of whole-life change. Through a series of Bible studies, training sessions, sketches and drama, the church began to look at ways it could serve the community.
Ranjita Thakuri, a participant of the group said, ‘‘We did a Bible study on salt and light. And I realised that we’re not only becoming Christians to be Christians, but it’s about shining light and bringing flavour to the community. I also learnt that we need to reach out to those in the community who have problems. We went beyond just reading the Bible and praying inside the church, and went outside to the community and started to work.’
The Sangasangai group swung into action, and together with the community, re-built the long footpath from the village to the main road, which had been destroyed by the earthquake, effectively cutting them off from other villages.
They are now looking at what else they can do. Ranjita Thakuri continues, ‘‘Because of the earthquake there is a scarcity of water, so I have to go all the way down to the bottom of the valley to wash my clothes in the river. It takes one hour each way, and I have fallen twice making this journey. We are now looking into setting up a new water source for the community. There is also health post nearby, but it has no bed - they just treat patients on the floor, so we’re thinking about how to provide them with a bed.’
Pastor Prajwal Thakuri , who leads the church said, ‘The work with the community has been really positive. Before the Sangasangai group, the community didn’t have much to do with us here and very few people would let Christians into their house. This has given us a way forward to work together, and to change the way the community sees us and begins to accept us.’
Tearfund’s Head of Asia, Steve Collins said, ‘The earthquake in 2015 devastated every aspect of people’s lives - not just their houses, but their communities, businesses, schools and families. Over the past year, we have of course focused on rebuilding homes, and in the immediate aftermath, providing emergency shelter, food, cold weather kits, hot water bottles, and clean water, but we have also invested in long-term community projects which help people to re-build their businesses and livelihoods for many years to come. Time and again I have seethe unstoppable power of local communities who have transformed their lives and the lives of those around them. Thank you to everyone who has donated to the appeal. We will continue to support Nepal for as long as we are needed, there is still much to be done.’
Ends
NOTES TO EDITORS:
For further information or interview requests call Jude Mackenzie on 07733014621 jude.mackenzie@tearfund.org or Sarah Greenwood on 07423 431 417 sarah.greenwood@tearfund.org. For out of hours media enquiries please call 07710 573 749.
Photos are available here mbf.me/11gYX5.
Tearfund has been working through partners in Nepal since 1970 and has been established in Kathmandu since 2012. In response to the 2015 earthquakes, which was of a magnitude of 7.8, killed over 8,000 people and injured thousands more, Tearfund has significantly expanded relief and development work in Nepal.
In the first six months following the earthquake, Tearfund, together with Nepali partners, reached well over 150,000 people with relief supplies including food, shelter materials, psychosocial support, water and hygiene supplies, cash for seeds, and emergency shelter. Over 75,000 people received temporary shelter support and 97,000 received food aid. As well as providing immediate support, Tearfund is focused on the longer term challenge of rebuilding permanent shelter, restoring livelihoods, psychosocial support and securing large scale water systems.
Tearfund is a Christian relief and development agency building a global network of churches to help eradicate poverty. www.tearfund.org
Tearfund is a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee. www.dec.org.uk