USA GV Team

On January 5, 2014,

7 volunteers from the USA worked along with Habitat for Humanity Nepal’s partner organization Amardeep Mahila Utthan Bachat Tatha Rin Sahakari Sanstha to build one cement and block house for Dilu B.K. Throughout the 12 days, the team mixed mortar, laid the concrete blocks and carried cement blocks and water. The volunteers who had good skill and techniques helped in roofing, plastering the walls.

Volunteers shared their experience:                                                               

“I have always loved children. In this build, the children of the home partners were full of joy and happiness. I enjoyed every moment while in the build with them.” – Allie Ferraro    “It is great to be in the presence of love of the community”- Kathleen Daly. 

 

Volunteer David Barkman laying cement block

    

Volunteer Ian Morris bringing sand bag to mix the mortar

Volunteer Kathleen plastering

Team Leader Rebecca Mc Whorter handover team photo during house dedication ceremony

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Families Revisited: GV Team

Families Revisited: Team Leader Bruce Merges

Bruce Merges lead a team to Pokhara in May 2013 where, he and his team of 27 volunteers built three concrete block houses. Bruce revisited the families in January 2014 and here is what he had to say:

“I had the opportunity to go back to the village of Cristy in Pokhara to visit the three homes that our team built with Habitat for Humanity Nepal last May.  I was fortunate to meet with two of the families. My visit was unexpected and without prior notice, but they greeted me with open arms and huge smiles. They made it clear that they were very happy that we didn’t forget them.  The homes were fully occupied, and in some cases improved on since our team were there.  It was very rewarding to bring the build full circle and get to see the families using the homes.  I know we made an impact with our hands-on approach to giving.  The families will never forget us, and we will never forget them and our fantastic experience.”

Bruce with Raju & His Family

Raju and His family with his New completed house

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USA GV Team -Lekhnath, Kaski Nepal



USA GV Team

 

On December 30, 2013,  

17 volunteers from USA  & Canada worked along with Habitat for Humanity Nepal’s partner organization Shrijana Development Center in Pokhara to build two cement and block houses for Man Maya Gurung and Saraswoti B.K. Throughout the 12 days, the team mixed mortar, laid the concrete blocks and carried cement blocks and water. The volunteers from older age group helped in building wall, plastering, flooring the two houses. 

 

 

 

 

Home partner Saraswoti B.K( middle) with her son Manish  interacting with the volunteers at the house dedication ceremony

 

 

 

 



 

Volunteers share a warm moment with home partner Man Maya (middle) at the house dedication ceremony



 

 



 

 

 Volunteers shared their experience:

The build was a great way to experience a new culture and to learn from all the folks who came to help and provide two new homes for the families.—Rebecca Heine



   

                                                                   My favorite memory about the build is the teamwork both among Habitat team as well as with the home owners and the local mason, Ram and his team. As simple as it was, even just passing cement block was special because it was an effect where we all pulled together to get a job done. I liked that we found solution to problems. Again, as a team and everyone was so collaborative. — Gary Exelbert (left)Team work made hard work a lot of fun. — Jeff Brohinsky (right)



 

The best part of the build was the team. I am so impressed with each members and their energy, commitment and compassion  

 – Douglas Campbell

 

 

 

Team Leader:
The warmth and love we received from the families made the build very special and we all appreciate the way Ram treated us as real partners and allowed us to participate in every part of the construction. –Colin Wild (left)and Janet Caffray (right):

 

What a joy it was to work alongside the lovely families getting these two houses. Work is not toil when friends are involved. –Susie Garczynski





 

I have too many ‘favorite’ memories from our trip to name one. I loved the kids at the site, the families who worked right alongside us during the build and the teamwork lead efficiently by Janet and Collin and our Habitat host coordinator, Amit. Proud to be a part of such an awesome group. – Pamela DiSalvo

The team working together on all duties was a great feeling – Wilfred London







 

I will remember all the help the young children gave to us and their wonderful enthusiasm –Nancy Matula




 

I will remember the team working together and getting progress made. I like when there is a plan for the day and we don’t have to wait to find jobs to do. Good to have a boss in charge. It is a great feeling to build a house with some family members. We had a warm reception from the community.—Monica Holmes







 

The amazing part of the build was watching the walls go up from floor to ceiling. This team was impressive to work with. The leadership was superb!—Daphne Lewis








 

I learned how to mix the mortar, dig and to work happily with the team and the Nepalese.—Valarie Lewis











Digging with beautiful smile: Susan Sluser

 The last day of build : House dedication ceremony

 

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The Labor of Love

Canadian GV -December 2013

Hadisha’s previous house

When team leader Carol LarLee of the Canadian Global Village team specially requested for a Muslim home partner, HFH Nepal host coordinator Rajesh Rai acknowledged the need and wish of the team to help a family similar to their identity.

On December 22 2013, 12 volunteers from College of North Atlantic, Qatar joined hands to build a home for Hadisha Khatun of Pashchim Kushaha, Sunsari.

Pashchim Kushaha is a resettlement area for the victims of the Koshi flood in 2008. Since the people lost most of their belongings in the disaster, the houses are made temporarily without proper planning of the construction or of water and sanitation facilities.

Among those in the community Hadisha Khatun is a single woman living with her parents and her 10 year old son. Hadisha sells vegetables at the local market and earns just enough to buy daily basic needs.

Hadisha working

 on the bamboo pillar

Since it was the time of Christmas and New Year, a time of togetherness and new beginnings, the team made sure the build to be a special moment in Hadisha’s life

Team leader Carol Larlee 

carrying mud for the plaster

Over nine days, the volunteers from Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Canada and India successfully built a bamboo house for Hadisha. On the house dedication ceremony, as a gratitude and appreciation for their labors of love, Hadisha offered them a local delicacy of chicken for lunch. 

She said: “I did not expect that volunteers from faraway lands would come to build my house and help me. As they worked very hard for my house, I offered them our local food. After all of it, I am more than happy.”

Volunteer Mikko Marchadesch

 on the mud pit

Volunteer Mikko Marchadesch said: “Thank you for the memorable and unforgettable experience. The things I learned were cleaning the bamboo to the right quality, mixing of the mud needed and the accomplishment and the bond with everyone. This reminded me of the things that I have to be thankful for. It has inspired me to help more people in the future in every way I can. Whatever it may be, change starts with me. 

Volunteer Haleema Raja with Hadisha 

at the house dedication ceremony

Volunteer Haleema Raja said: “Rajesh dada (brother), our host coordinator was amazing. We couldn’t have anyone better. Also, helping someone made me feel great.”

It has been the second Global Village experience for Team leader Carol Larlee and she is determined to return to Nepal. She said: “Rajesh is wonderful to work with. Everyone enjoyed having him on the team. I will come back again and help more needy families.”

         

FORWARD staffs working along with the volunteers

Rajesh Rai, host coordinator said: “As the build was in the holiday season, I like to think of it as the most blessed build. The team was excited to work and our partner organization was effective and efficient. I look forward to seeing the team again in the future. I think we can work in any type of community in the future.”

Further, the event was a milestone for HFH Nepal’s partner organization Forum for Rural Women Ardency Development (FORWARD) since it was their first. The staff also participated during the build week along with the volunteers. The event was also highlighted in the local newspapers Janabidroha National Daily and Blast Times on January 1, 2014.

Hadisha infront of her new home

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