Japanese GV Team Feb 8-18th, 2015 - Parsa, Nepal

Parsa Build

Masiyani is a small village of around 130 houses in the Parsa district. The community is poor, and most of the people living there are illiterate. The nearest school is three kilometers away. Houses are mostly made of mud, and are poorly ventilated. Clean drinking water is rare, as are modern toilets and sanitation.

Lalsa Kumari and Munni Devi, two residents of the village, were in need of urgent help. The houses that they lived in with their families were starting to fall down around them, letting in the cold weather and the elements. On February 8^th, a team of Japanese students and a teacher from Kwansei Gakuin University arrived to build them better homes

The Global Village Team and the Home Partners in front of the new home

The volunteers had fun constructing the houses. While the work was sometimes physically demanding, it was also gratifying. The volunteers especially enjoyed plastering the houses, and mixing mud with the homeowners. Spending time with the women and their families was one of their favorite parts of the trip. Whenever the volunteers had time off from their work, they would play with the local children, who were all very excited by what was going on. The team was surprised by how close they became to their home partners, and how welcoming the community was. 

From left to right: Maho plasters the walls, Rika cuts bamboo, Sayaka says goodbye to the families 

There were a number challenges the team had to face. One was the lack of toilets and proper sanitation. As well as building houses, they also had to construct a temporary toilet facility. However, this challenge led to greater progress. The villagers were very impressed by the facility, and the principle of the local school highly encouraged parents to build something similar, promising a few extra marks for their child if they did so.

While there were other challenges, including the language barrier, and the distance of the site from the hotel, through hard work and perseverance, the team was able to overcome these to complete two houses.  Lalsa Kumari and Munni Devi were delighted with their new homes, which were constructed of bamboo and brick respectively. They thanked the volunteers for giving them a decent place to live and to raise their families.

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Meeting with Youth Ambassadors for ‘Habitat Youth Build 2015

On February 26^th, Habitat for Humanity Nepal had its first meeting for Habitat Youth Build (HYB) with new and existing ambassadors. HYB is a Habitat for Humanity International initiative dedicated to partnering with youth to create change. This will be the fourth year that HYB has taken place. This year, Habitat for Humanity (HfH) Nepal aims to serve 15,000 families across Asia during HYB, raise over U.S. $ 500,000, and mobilize more than one million volunteers.

Youth ambassadors along with supporting ambassadors and HfH staffs pose for a picture

Aruna Simittrarachchi, the former Country Director of Habitat for Humanity Nepal, introduced Habitat for Humanity’s work in Nepal, and talked about the organization’s future goals. HfH Nepal has helped over 58,000 families since it started working in 1997. The organization has nearly 800 partners, and works in 40 districts. HfH Nepal aims to help 100,000 people and work in 62 districts by 2015. HfH Nepal has won a number of awards for its work, the most recent being the first category prize in AGFUND 2014.

Lala Baldelovar, the Resource Development Manager for Habitat for Humanity Nepal, introduced HYB to the youth ambassadors. She explained that over the past three years, HYB has served around three thousand families around Asia. In 2013, there were approximately 800,000 participants from eleven different countries. This year, fifteen different Asian chapters will take part in HYB. They are: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Nepal, New Zealand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and South Korea. The countries support the program in different ways. For example, last year Japan raised funds for the program, Bangladesh build houses, and Nepal and the Philippines campaigned for better housing. This year, Japan and South Korea are sending 400 and 300 volunteers respectively on Global Village teams to different countries, including Nepal, as part of HYB.

Sushma Shrestha, Habitat for Humanity Nepal’s Program Development Manager, shared HFHN’s plan for HYB. In Nepal, youths will assemble to demand stronger commitments to build one million houses by 2016. This year, HfH Nepal aims to build 5,000 houses in 40 districts by mobilizing 500,000 volunteers as part of HYB.

The meeting ended with a discussion where the ambassadors agreed they would support Habitat Youth Build. “Habitat for Humanity teaches us to respect what we have,” said Nirnaya Shrestha, one of the youth ambassadors and a performing artist, in reference to the importance of the project.  The youth leaders were enthusiastic about the Youth Build, and suggested a number of ideas to make the event even more effective. Prem Baniya, a TV journalist, proposed a media campaign, and emphasized the importance of media partners. He also discussed the benefits of engaging schools and universities. All of the Youth Ambassadors will take part in HYB and travel to different parts of the country to influence and mobilize youths. 

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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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