USA GV 6-18 April, 2014 - Kavre

Facts about Nepal Earthquake

A strong (7.8) earthquake hit Nepal in the area near Barpak, a mountain village between capital Kathmandu and tourist town Pokhara. The earthquake was followed by many powerful aftershocks and a very powerful one (6.7) hit Nepal on Sunday April 26.

The earthquakes caused extensive damage to buildings and thousands of deaths and injuries and was even felt in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.

Many (historic) buildings collapsed, temples have been ruined, roads destroyed. Nearly 8000 deaths in Nepal and tens of deaths in India & Tibet. The quake was followed by more than 430 aftershocks and another huge earthquake (6.8) on May 12.

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^thGV including Nepal and I am glad to have been part of all these builds to change lives by building a shelter for the families.