Smiles all round at close of Everest Build III

Within next month, 36 families will move into decent and affordable homes built of woven bamboo and cement plaster walls

Habitat home partners Sanu B.K. (far left) and Sharada Pariyar (right) help to build their own houses.

BANGKOK (November 21, 2014) – Wide grins on the faces of new home owners, partners, volunteers and staff marked the end of Everest Build III in Nepal on Friday. Fresh from house dedications and handovers, more than 500 people gathered in a colorful tent in the new community of Amiliya, in Chitwan district, for the formal ceremony that closed the five-day build event. Standing proud, 36 homes built of woven bamboo and cement plaster walls, with zinc roofs glinting in the sunshine, provided the perfect backdrop for the festivities.

As they waved goodbye to the international volunteers, Habitat for Humanity partner families reflected on the activities of the week. Among them was 41-year-old Sharada Pariyar: “Had my family members and I weaved woven bamboo ourselves, it would have taken two to three months. They [the volunteers] all did it in two days.”

Sharada has already started making plans for her families’ future: “My husband, daughter and I are tailors. I want to start a small tailoring business on the patio of my home and sew clothes for the community. I will be able to cater to the needs of my neighbors and earn a living.”

Within the next month, families will take up residence in their new homes, shifting from their nearby makeshift structures into safe, decent and affordable homes.
“The authorities threatened to demolish our houses. I spent my days and nights worrying where my family and I would go. Now I have a house of my own and nobody can demolish it,” said Sanu B.K., 36. Sanu and her family of six had been living in a one-room house.

International volunteers, drawn from 16 countries, shared their joy. Joining her daughter Wendy, 46, and granddaughter Laura, 20, on their first first-ever Habitat build, Anne Robinson, 70, said: “It’s been an absolute revelation. This is communities helping communities. You hand out money but usually never see how it’s being spent. This is personal.”
Joining Anne, Wendy and Laura in the volunteer team from Australia were local celebrities, Lisa Lamond and Adam Dovile, recent winners of House Rules.

(Top from left) Australian volunteer Wendy Johnstone with her mother Anne Robinson and her daughter Laura;
(Center, left) Tuakana Wichman from New Zealand; (center, right) newly weds Jeffrey and Suzanne Anderson from the U.S.; (Bottom) Kendra Lancaster from the U.S.

Working on another house, were newlyweds Suzanne and Jeffrey Anderson, who asked for donations to Habitat for Humanity instead of wedding gifts. Their Everest Build III experience formed part of their honeymoon.
Also from the US, although currently living in Abu Dhabi, was Kendra Lancaster, a member of the US Paralympic volleyball team. She said: “The build has been very special for me. Whenever I travel, I buy souvenirs to remember the place. But here I have so many memories and I got an opportunity to understand the culture and people better.”
The largest contingent of international volunteers came from New Zealand. In their team, 82-year-old Tuakana Wichman, summed up the week: “The families can’t build homes with the little money they earn. We build the house up, and then it grows. I want to come back. It’s in my heart to do it.”
Next year Nepal will host Habitat for Humanity’s 32nd annual Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. Scheduled to take place from 1 to 6 November 2015, former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, will lead around 2,000 volunteers to build homes.
Often referred to as Habitat for Humanity’s ‘most famous volunteers’, President and Mrs. Carter give a week of their time each year to help Habitat build, renovate or repair homes in order to shed light on the critical role decent housing plays in providing a path out of poverty.
For more information on how to volunteer for the 2015 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, please visit habitat.org/cwp/2015.
To view more photos of the build week, visit HFH Nepal’s Facebook page

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Hundreds of Habitat for Humanity volunteers travel to Nepal to build homes

They will work on 36 houses together with low-income families in Chitwan

Bangkok, 17 November 2014 – More than 500 Habitat for Humanity volunteers start building homes, alongside 36 low-incomes families, in Chitwan district, Nepal today. The volunteers have come together for ‘Everest Build III’.

Left to right - Bishnu Tamang and her son welcome the help of volunteers; dance and music at the opening ceremony of Everest Build III.

Among the families is Bishnu Tamang, 33, who said: “I’m very happy to have so many volunteers here. 

The house we will build together is totally different from my current house, which is old, small and full of suffering. 

This new house is new, with sufficient space and will be a healthy home.”

Rick Hathaway, Habitat for Humanity‘s Asia-Pacific vice president, said: “A decent home can help transform lives.

 It opens the doors to improved health, better performance in school for children, greater economic opportunities 

and increased community spirit. These volunteers will play a part in transforming lives.”

Everest Build III builds on the success of similar occasions in 2012 and 2010. The event is also a celebration

 of the 50,000 families already supported by Habitat for Humanity Nepal, and is a major marker in their target of

 assisting 100,000 families by 2016.

Aruna Paul Simittararachchi, Habitat for Humanity Nepal’s, country representative, said: “The work carried out at 

the build site this week will not only have a direct impact on the lives of these partner families, but have a ripple 

effect – encouraging other families to build homes, to generate more funds, and change policies. Our aim is 

a Nepal with no poverty housing.”

Next year Nepal will host the Habitat for Humanity’s 32nd annual Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. 

Scheduled to take place from 1 to 6 November 2015, former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, 

will lead around 2,000 volunteers to build homes.

Often referred to as Habitat for Humanity’s ‘most famous volunteers’, President and Mrs. Carter give a week

 of their time each year to help Habitat build, renovate or repair homes in order to shed light on the critical role 

decent housing plays in providing a path out of poverty. For more information on how to volunteer for the 2015 

Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, please visit habitat.org/cwp/2015.

Everest Build III runs from 17 to 21 November 2014.

About Habitat for Humanity Nepal

Habitat for Humanity Nepal brings together individuals, corporations and partner organizations to build homes

 with Nepalese families in need. Habitat for Humanity Nepal was established in 1997 to address the need for 

decent and affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity Nepal currently assists 2.4 families per hour and plans to 

serve 100,000 families by 2016. For more information, visit habitatnepal.org, or follow as

 at  HFH Nepal Blog  & Facebook .

About Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. 

Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat

 has helped more

 than 4 million people construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since 1976. Habitat also advocates to improve

 access to decent and affordable shelter and supports a variety of funding models that enable families

 with limited resources to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. 

As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people

 of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. Habitat has supported an estimated 1.5 million

 individuals in the

 Asia-Pacific region, where it has been active since 1983. To get more information, to donate or to volunteer,

 please visit habitat.org/asiapacific or follow us atfacebook.com/habitat.

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Annual Report FY2014

Message from

Country Representative

Dedicated partners and committed staff have brought many success for Habitat for Humanity Nepal in

With the completion of the first phase of an Australian-funded project in western Nepal, we are now replicating the project in the Far Western region. The second phase still focuses on improving the living conditions of ex-Kamaiya, or former bonded laborers. The project aims to help 437 ex-Kamaiya families by the end of 2015. Female-headed households in the Eastern region are another group of vulnerable people with whom HFH Nepal is working to improve their homes and lives.

After mobilizing tens of thousands of local volunteers in the Habitat Youth BUILD campaign in May 2014, we are looking forward to working with international volunteers during the Everest Build III from November 17 to 21 in Chitwan, central Nepal. About 400 international volunteers will work alongside Nepali families to build 35 bamboo houses over five days.

Our Global Village volunteer teams ...  read more 

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Japanese GV Team 1 – 10Sep, 2014 - Kavre, Nepal

                    The first month of autumn-September gathered twelve members from Japan in Panauti, Kavre with the purpose of erecting a decent shelter for Bijaya Sainju. This Japanese team cooperated with HFH Nepal’s partner organization Udhyam Bikas and successfully built a mud, bricks house for Sainju family.

 Over ten days, team constructed a four room house made up of burnt, unburnt bricks and mud. The foundation of a house was done by bricks. During the build, the volunteers assisted in mixing the mud and water, carrying mortar, plastering the walls, cutting the bamboos, flooring and landscaping. Besides constructional work the volunteers had an excellent interaction with the local people and home partner family. They were seen enjoying the friendly companies of children during their spare time.

Home Owner -Bijaya Sainju

Japanese GV team working at the construction site - Panuti, Kavre, Nepal

Through GV I have made an experience which I had never experienced before. – Kota Ichihara(Team Leader)

Helping people as a volunteers had made me feel better. I am thankful to everyone for helping us. I love everything here: great nature, excellent friends, and lovely children. It was fun to play soccer during spare hours. I don’t have any complains. Thank you for such a wonderful experience. - Yusuke kobayashi

I have been so excited to help Nepali family and build up a house for the past 10 days. – Hisaki Sawamura

I found “my life” throughout this experience. –Yuma Koyanagi

       A house build by Japanese GV Team                                                House dedication Program - Team leader Kota

Working in such a great nature was less hard and more fun. – Chiko Onishi

This is my first visit in Nepal. I really enjoyed working with Nepalese folk. The nature of this country always provided me a comfort feeling. I would love to come back to Nepal and work again. -Megumi Fujimota

Japanese team posing in front of newly constructed house of Bijay.

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The power of youth to make a difference






Youth Ambassador for Habitat Youth BUILD 2014.

By Santosh Shah, founder and president of Today’s Youth Asia, owner and managing director of South Asia Communications, and producer and anchor of Power Talks, Nepal’s first talk show in English

At 33, I am rather hesitant to put myself in the league of youth. However, the concerns of young people are very close to my heart. I come from a country that witnessed nearly 10 years of civil war, with many young people caught up in the conflict......

 

To read more please click here...

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Great Memories of Spice Build 2013, Nepal

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Qatar GV Team 11 – 17May, 2014 - Chitwan, Nepal





Volunteers helping each other on the site

On 11 May 2014, 13 volunteers from Qatar united together at Bharatpur, Chitwan to build a shelter for Home partner Mohan Maya Rimal. Mohan Maya is a single breadwinner of her family who works as a labor to earn her living. Since many years she has been staying at her daughter’s place and was in desperate need of her own house. 

In the meantime, the volunteers from Qatar joined their hands to provide Rimal her house of her dream. Over a week the team constructed a decent house for Rimal. The house was made of cement blocks and stones with stone foundation. During the build volunteers worked along with HFH Nepal’s partner organization Amardeep Saving and Cooperative Ltd. All the members of team assisted in carrying stones, mixing cement and preparing mortar for building. In addition to that they learnt to use the constructional tools as shovel for mixing mortar, trowel for building walls and hand saw for cutting wood planks. Despite the scorching rays of sun, the team enjoyed working together.

 

Volunteers shared their experiences:

 

GV team working on the Construction site

 

“During the trip I went through many different emotional feelings. From thinking why did I ever apply to this trip when working under the rearing sun on the first day to this is perhaps, the best thing I did while standing on the elephant on the river. Overall, the construction program was a great way to know people and help the needy one, and one that I can cherish for very long time. If time and circumstances permit, I would like to come back again as a GV team to a different place in Nepal with different ethnicities and geography.” - Aayush Karki

 

“The only reason my summer was good was because I volunteered for this service trip. I loved the welcome and farewell ceremony. Even though, it was my first time in a construction site, I was able to learn how to use tools and what to do for finishing work. I hope to go in more service trips.” - Omar Mohamed

“I have gained leadership, teamwork, and construction skills here. I would not have received it anywhere else. I’ve learned a lot about the culture and will never forget this.”- Mounir Sheikh

 

“Building houses was the best thing and interacting with locals and spreading happiness to the faces.” - Lamis AL-agamy

Group Photo with home owner Mohan Maya Rimal 

 

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Canadian GV Team 6-18 April, 2014 - Chitwan, Nepal



Home Partner Manamaya Tamang. & team member

 

 

 

 

“It’s a terror to live nearby these jungles in an unprotected place. I always dreamt of having my own well-built home and that has come true today. Thank you Canadian GV team for your support and keen work.” –    Home Partner Manamaya Tamang.

 

 

 

anamaya Tamang from Bharatpur, Chitwan belongs to a poor family. Since many years they had been residing near a jungle in a fragile house. She always wanted a spacious and strong house for her family. In the meantime, a Canadian team of 14 joined their hands to fulfill her dream. Over 13 days, this team succeeded to erect a 3-room cemented block house with CGI sheet roof.

 



GV Team working on the Construction site

The team worked along with HFH Nepal’s partner organization Amardeep Cooperative Ltd for the construction of the house. The volunteers assisted in carrying blocks, preparing cement mortar, plastering walls and roofing. They contributed their sweat and toiled in order to fulfill a dream of a family they were unknown to, before visiting Nepal.

photos from House Dedication Ceremony

 

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USA GV 6-18 April, 2014 - Kavre




Home Owner Nirmala &
 her Children  

Summer means hot temperature with long days making it difficult to work. But this team of 7 from USA never hesitated to give their best in such weather. On 6^th of April, a GV team from USA came to Nepal to build a shelter for Nirmala in Panchkhal, Kavre.
 

The team constructed a 3-room house made up of stone, mud and unburnt bricks with walls of stone and galvanized iron sheet roof. The American volunteers along with HFH Nepal’s partner organization, Gramin Women Development Multipurpose Co-operative Ltd, worked together to construct a decent house for Nirmala. During the build, the volunteers made mud mortars, lay stone, dug soil, stamped on mud water and also learnt how to use construction tools.

Valerie Plaskt, team leader, was always encouraging her team members to work hard. She was truly leading her team to accomplish the work. Additionally, the team and home partner had very good interaction making the build much easier.

GV team working on the Construction site

Valerie Plaskt shared- “This is my 4^th GV including Nepal and I am glad to have been part of all these builds to change lives by building a shelter for the families.

 

 

photos from  House dedication ceremony 

 

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Dedicated mind - HFH Nepal Youth Build Ambassdor & Actress Miss Reecha Sharma

Reecha Sharma born on 16 July 1987 is a beautiful model turned actress who has been popular for her acting in movies, music videos and ramps. Reecha believes “life is not a bed of roses”. Modelling and acting has always been a passion for Reecha. Film world has been a part of her life. Daily shooting, acting, crying and laughing is her schedule apart from her reality world. In addition to her film world, Reecha is also a Youth Ambassador of Habitat for Humanity Nepal. She was introduced as HFH Nepal Youth ambassador in 2014 with the motive of drawing the attention of youth towards the need of decent housing which enable families to maintain a healthy and secure life as well as promoting the spirit of volunteerism

In the meantime, while Reecha was in a procedure of shooting her upcoming movie as a cop, she was asked to shoot a scene in a movie where she had to drive a heavy vehicle towards a house and break into it. Yes, being an actress it was her obligation to do the scene but her humanity does not let her do so. So, when she was questioned on her rejection to the scene she firmly answered that she is an ambassador of HFH Nepal working in favor of building shelter and cannot give a shot for breaking down the house. Therefore, in one hand while she has been engaged in something concerned with constructing how can she act on something related with destroying?

She shares- Neither my heart will let me do this scene nor my guts. I can say nothing much but a clear NO to this scene from my side. I am committed to to build homes and give life and hopes to the homeless.  

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Netherlands GV 23-28 March 2014 - Jhapa

New Experimental at GV House while hosting Namaste Team, Netherlands GV at Jhapa

 

 

Home Partner Kamala Pulami with GV Team

I feel glad that I succeed to build a house from my small business, selling bananas. I had really worked hard to sell the bananas and invest the income in the construction of house. Moreover, I am thankful to the volunteers from Netherland who contributed their sweat in building my house of dream into reality.”- Kamala Pulami (Home partner)

 

“We would be staying in same shack if there were no GV teams to help us. I am grateful to the Netherland GV team who assisted to construct our home. Thank you volunteers, HFH Nepal and Aviyan Nepal M. C. for helping us to build my shelter.” – Ranjana Magar (Home partner)

 

Summary of GV

Name of Team:  Namaste Team, Netherlands GV

Date: 23-28 March 2014

Team Leader: Jacco Van Bennekom, 15 member in a team

Home Partners: Mrs. Kamala Pulami and

    Mrs. Ranjana Magar

No. of house built: 2 (Bamboo)

Local Partner: Aviyan Nepal Multipurpose Cooperative Ltd.

Host Coordinator: Rajesh Rai (Habitat for Humanity Nepal)

Some facts from GV Host:

The GV team named Namaste from Netherland is a unique team consisting all male members who succeeded to build the house on their own, without any assistance of local mason. Though the pre-building structure of a house initiates from framing and roofing, the volunteers initiated their task from drilling, putting vertical post, cutting, cleaning, weaving bamboo, plastering wall and finishing along with partition of rooms by bamboo. As a host coordinator, I must say that the build was the first time where we were not assisted by any local mason for concrete plastering on wall and finishing task. And it was experimental.

Team Activities:

 

 

Contribution from the team:

 

the Namaste GV team donated some tools which might cost around NRs. 50,000 (Fifty thousands). They brought small bamboo cutters, shovel and other tools that were useful as well as helpful for the construction work.

Constructional tools contributed by
Netherland GV team, Namaste.

Post build house visit:

Finally, about 3 years later the team got an opportunity to visit the house that was once constructed by them. And to their findings they were cheerful to see a clean complete house along with the accessibility to water facility. Previously, there was no water facility. The families had to walk long distance for water.

Hence, the outcome made the team believe that after having a house there is always a gradual change, development in the lives of people. They shared about the visit as an inspiring experience for them.

 

 

Ranjana Magar's House

 

 Kamala Pulami's house at Jhapa





 

Group photo at House Dedication Ceremony

 

 

 

 



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