earthbagbuilding

New Project: Ten Homes Project, Kaule, Nuwakot

In the village of Kaule, Nuwakot District, Good Earth Nepal is working with Carisimo and Kaule Environment Nepal NGO on a special multi-home construction project.

Ten families from the village have been selected to receive the resources and training necessary to build an Earthbag home with the understanding that they will aid one another in the building process. This community-based model encourages neighbors to come together to rebuild a village alongside each other.

The selected families have undergone primary training in Earthbag design and concept and we are now in the process of clearing the land.

Perhaps the most important aspect of this project is the families that have been selected to build their own homes. We wanted to highlight a few of these families to shed some light on just who the faces in the photos are and hope that it allows for our supporters to feel the connection between Good Earth Nepal, the non-profits we work with, and the Nepali people who are rebuilding their own country.

The Family of Indra Bahadur Tamang

Indra, his wife Dil Maya, and their four children used to live in a stone masonry house before the earthquake destroyed it on April 25th, 2015. Like so many others in Kaule, they now live in a temporary shelter built of scraps from their former home. They have received a total of 15,000 Nepali rupees from the government as aid after the earthquake, an amount approximately equivalent to $150 USD.

We met with Indra’s wife, Dil Maya, and two of the couple’s four children. Indra, she told us, was working their land somewhere down on the intricately terraced mountains in Kaule. With the monsoon season starting, the villagers of Kaule are busy preparing the land for the planting of rice.

Dil Maya Tamang and two of her children in the doorway of their shelter.

Dil Maya Tamang and two of her children in the doorway of their shelter.

Their shelter stands next to the ruins of their former home, overlooking the terraced mountains of Kaule

Their shelter stands next to the ruins of their former home, overlooking the terraced mountains of Kaule

The Family of Gopi Tamang and Chinni Maya Tamang

Gopi Tamang used to live in his stone masonry house with his wife and son. His sister, Chinni Maya Tamang, had left her husband and was living with her father and mother when the earthquake hit in 2015. Ever since the earthquake, Gopi, Chinni Maya, their father, mother, their two brothers, their sister, their nephew and Gopi’s son all live in the same shelter, built from materials salvaged after the earthquake. Like many others, Gopi and his family have not received any aid from the government due to the strict requirements of formal land ownership.

Gopi returned three months ago from Qatar, where he was working to support his family. Chinni Maya and him now survive on what they can grow in Kaule.

Gopi Tamang on the new patch of land he is helping to make level for the construction of his new house

Gopi Tamang on the new patch of land he is helping to make level for the construction of his new house

The Family of Jhalak Man Tamang

Jhalak Man Tamang’s home was also destroyed in the 2015 earthquake. He currently lives in a temporary shelter with his wife and daughter. To earn a living, he grows his own food and works with other various forms of labor.

When we asked Jhalak Man Tamang if he had received any help from the government after the 2015 earthquake, he answered no. In rural Nepal, informal land ownership and subdivision deprives people of the little help they would otherwise receive from the government, which requires official papers. In some ways, this requirement is a necessary precaution, but it often gets in the way of thousands of people receiving much needed aid. As an NGO, Good Earth Nepal tries to help those who are not able to receive aid from the government because of such constraints.

Jhalak Man Tamang

Jhalak Man Tamang

Thanks to intern Sergio Espinosa for the information and portraits.

Shree Jana Primary School, Nuwakot: Open!!!

This Spring we celebrated the grand opening of Shree Jana Primary School, a two room school that Good Earth Nepal has built in cooperation with Australian organization, Birds of Passage, who funded the construction. The opening was a great success, attended by members of Nepal Reconstruction Authority, Nepal Engineers Association and journalists from leading newspapers.

 

We were also very pleased to have Dr. Owen Geiger join us for this great opening of our second finished Earthbag school. It looks like the children were happy to have him there!

Hands-on Workshop with Dr. Owen Geiger in Phulping

Together with Dr. Geiger, our Method Ambassador, Good Earth Nepal conducted a two-day hands-on workshop in Phulping, Sindupalchowk where we are reconstructing a school. This workshop was part of Dr. Geiger's three week tour of Nepal, sponsored by the GLS Treuhand Bank and Schock Familien Stiftung oundation.

       Trainees at Dr. Geiger's Workshop in Collaboration with Good Earth Nepal

       Trainees at Dr. Geiger's Workshop in Collaboration with Good Earth Nepal

This project is unique as we are reusing an existing foundation, metal poles, roof trusses, windows and doors. We are using Earthbags to reconstruct the old school with these recycled materials. 

Dr. Geiger was there to share tips and tricks and assist us in leading a more advanced technical workshop. Among trainees were Nepali architects and engineers, several villagers, and volunteers from Spain, UK, Israel, and USA.

Mahakal School Opening

We are happy to announce that this Saturday we HAVE OPENED OUR FIRST EARTHBAG SCHOOL: Mahakal Primary School in Makwanpur district. 
The project has been a real challenge for us due to many obstacles that constitute Nepal reality: strikes, gas shortage, inflated prices, festivals, cold weather, electricity blackouts, etc... The school site is located in a remote area with poor road access and at times our volunteers and workers had to carry heavy materials for hours uphill. 
On the other hand the end result is INCREDIBLE. The school itself is beautiful, the kids and villagers are happy to have a new school, the workers were able to earn income and volunteers had an unforgettable experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives.
We would like to thank everyone who has participated in this project, and special thanks to Nathan, Roshan, Eric, Arnaud, Flo, Manish and Dn who played key roles in the success of our project. 

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Meeting with the Minister of Education

We were excited this month to meet with Nepal’s Minister of Education, Mr. Girirajmani Pokharel. We discussed alternative building techniques and presented Earthbag technology during the meeting. Our presentation was well-received by him and his team, and we have been invited to submit Earthbag school designs to the Ministry.