A year and a half after the devastating Earthquake hit Nepal, the recovery process has only just begun. While international aid bought temporary relief to central areas, rural areas failed to receive support. The Sindhupalchowk District, one of the hardest hit areas with 2,100 fatalities and 95% of houses destroyed, as yet has received little support. With the grief of large-scale loss, community morale is low and support is much in need.
Tiwari Tol, April 2015.
Thakur from the village of Tiwari Tol in the Sindhupalchowk area days after the earthquake writes:
“Not only my mom, brothers, and sisters lost everything but all the neighbors, uncles and aunts lost everything too, including their homes and belongings…luckily there haven’t been casualties in my close family, but I lost about 10 of my relatives and many of them are still in desperate need of treatments, and some are in hospital…. many of the humans and animals are still under the rubble, and the air already started smelling foul, I just hope this won’t cause diseases to the survivors on top of the already tragic situation.”
Tiwari Tol, 2015
Over the last year and a half,Thakur Tiwari and the survivors of his village, Tiwari
Tol, are working together to rebuild their small community in the
Sindhupalchowk area. While the initial crisis is over, the 2ndstage of development is underway.
Temporary tin dwellings have been constructed and the community now has access
to clean water, a development that bought great relief. A plan for clean water
for the local school and larger plan for permanent dwellings has been made,
though without external financial support, there is little hope for these plans
to eventuate.
Temporary tin housing. Tiwari Tol, 2016
Thakur says about the temporary tin shelters:
"We freeze in the winter time and in the Summer time it is so hot we cannot stay in them. When it rains at night, water drips on my bed, anyway the shelters will only last a few years so we have to find another way to build new houses."
Temporary bamboo housing, Tiwari Tol, 2016
I met Thakur while trekking in Nepal in 2014. We had kept in contact after being caught in an unusually severe storm that took the lives of 40 people, and continued our contact through the 2015 earthquake and recovery. During this time I have been consistently inspired by his commitment and care for people around him, family and strangers alike. During the storm in 2014, Thakur supported an ill, elderly man from 5,000 metres altitude down to get help, where he unfortunately passed away a few days after. I have no doubt that with financial support, his integrity and leadership skills will bring the positive change most needed in his community.
Thakur trekking, Annapurna, Nepal 2014.
The next project needing most urgent attention is providing the local school of 350 students with a clean supply of water, with the current 3 pit toilets for both students and teachers, posing health and sanitation risks. There has already been a severe,widespread outbreak of diarrhea throughout Nepal in 2015, and there are fears this will happen again. When this is complete, given resources, construction of the permanent dwellings will begin. At this stage the estimated cost of establishing a supply of clean water to the school is $12,000 US. Basic housing is currently estimated at $3,000 per house, with 21 families in the Tiwari Tol village, making housing and water a total of $75,000 US. With average wage in the village of $2 US per day for women and $5 for men, these basic needs are a distant hope.
Greiving after lost family, Tiwari Tol, 2015
While there are many international organisations that offer Aid to Nepal, there are few opportunities to offer financial contributions that go directly to the people and communities, especially in more rural and remote areas. I have created this project as an opportunity to not only assist in providing basic needs to the small community, but also to support the local people to develop their own leadership and problem solving capacities. Since the earthquake, the community of Tiwari Tol has shown tremendous resilience and determination to persist in rebuilding their community through devastating conditions. My intention is to further strengthen these capacities. If you wish to make a contribution, your support small or large will be much appreciated.
On behalf of Thakur and his community,
Thank you.
Katie Ward
My personal commitment to the project is to pledge 10% of the total donated to a max of $1,000.
