The reconstruction work has now begun on our Bhaktapur Self-Sustaining Orphan Children Home in Sipadol village that was very badly damaged in the earthquake. First they breakdown the damaged sections and dig right down into the foundations to essentially rebuild our structure from the bottom up. Our engineer uses new technology to evaluate and simulate potential future earthquakes on our…

Read more: Repairs have started on our Bhaktapaur Children Home in Sipadol village

Since before the April 2015 earthquake in Nepal I have been passionately researching & exploring practical, sustainable rebuilding options in Nepal that can be earthquake resilient and easy to build by local villagers as well being affordable lovely homes. I met Nripal Adhikaryalmost four years ago & have followed his developments of his company/training centre ABARI and now I partnering…

Read more: Sustainable rebuilding options in Nepal

Imagine for a moment your house has crumbled around you & your family, as has almost every other house in your community, due to a powerful earthquake - now some months later the options for rebuilding are A) rebuild the same unsafe way; B) build according to *safe* methods involving resources not available in your community & if you can…

Read more: Empowering local people & communities

I am super happy to see the students in Talamarang village enjoying the comforts of the Hostel that TEAM Nepal ( Neel & Bikash) have worked hard to help create. Thank you also to morethanshelters for their wonderful Domo tents that will serve as 'Home' for the months ahead. Supporting education to continue and safety of children is of primary importance to…

Read more: Our Student Hostel is now really being lived in!

During the earthquake many of the schools in the Sindhulpalchok district were completely destroyed, at some of the schools even the land upon which the buildings had been is split/damaged and may not be able to be built upon again. Schools that have safe ground HandswithHands has helped where we can to build temporary structures to ensure classes can resume.…

Read more: Setting up student housing hostel in conjuction with TEAM Nepal and Talamarang upper secondary school

In the Sindhulpalchok district the earthquake impact destroyed more than 85% of homes and schools. HandswithHands has been collaborating with communities and schools with the help of TEAM Nepal in this District for almost 15 years. Since the earthquake one of our key impact focus points has been schools and education – creating safe spaces for children to continue their…

Read more: Distribution of essential college text books at Melamchi Valley campus

Thankyou Sibjan Chaulagain and your continued heartfelt work in your community. It is with pleasure that I share with my friends the third temporary school building that you have helped to build. Many hands are needed to rebuild in Nepal and your efforts with Creating Smiles are doing really great work to ensure education continues even with the difficult situation…

Read more: Third Temporary school built in Sindhuli District

I have been learning new depths of patience and its accompanying vulnerabilities the last months, it is nice therefore to feel rewarded with some good news! This week our durable, sturdy Domo tents were finally released from the customs (thank you so much Neel & Bikash for all your amazing work to make this happen!) Thank you Daniel Kerber for…

Read more: Bhaktapur Self-Sustaining Children Home – upgraded temporary shelter.

With the efforts of Sibjan & SMILES, 3 schools in Sindhuli district are now benefited by bamboo buildings that serve as temporary school rooms for children to continue their studies. Having children back in school is truly an important need – Education is a vital key for children to unlock their own potential and effectively engage in their communities, environment…

Read more: Temporary Schools in Sindhuli

Today happens to be exactly 2 months to the day after the Nepal Earthquake - I had not planned it this way but I ended up at our Bhaktapur Self-Sustaining Orphan Home at exactly the same time, sitting outside eating fruit playing with the children as we were…

Read more: Revisiting our Bhaktapur Self-Sustaining Orphan Home