I can’t quite believe it has already been almost four months since the first devasting earthquake. Thank you to everyone who went the extra mile and gave an additional donation to VSO’s Nepal Appeal. To date we’ve raised a record breaking £351,000 through our wonderful supporters. Times like these have shown why it is so crucial to have your continued support, and I really appreciate you all being behind me. Being able to read all of your messages has been a morale boost, so please keep sending them in.
Both my husband Simon and I have been extremely busy doing everything we can to assist the rebuilding of communities that welcomed us so warmly when we arrived. For my placement this has been focused on the Sisters for Sisters programme.
Getting Sisters for Sisters back on its feet
Our local partner Global Action Nepal quickly moved into action creating post-earthquake recovery plans for our team based in Lamjung. We are now working in eight of the most affected areas providing temporary learning spaces, classrooms, psycho-social support and teacher training. To assess the 58 schools’ requirements, we were all split into smaller teams and I was delighted to be partnered with two of the Big Sisters, Sarita and Samjhana, who I have become close to since starting my placement.
Sarita and I in our colourful trekking gear
Sarita, Samjhana and I set off bright and early on a Monday morning with our rucksacks and water bottles full, clutching the rough maps of the area that I had brought up from Kathmandu. It is always a challenge to walk in such mountainous areas but this is the daily reality for pupils and their teachers, and I have become used to it through visiting lots of the schools in the region. We soon arrived at the first school and got straight to work. The girls (well, young ladies, but is it all relative – girls to me!) interviewed the headteacher while I asked another teacher with my limited Nepali to show me the damage whilst I took photos. Although there were quite a few cracks caused by the earthquakes, the first couple of schools were safe enough to continue with their lessons.
Some schools were not so lucky
Unfortunately as we continued our trek to other schools throughout the three day period we discovered much more substantial damage caused by the earthquakes and subsequent tremors. When we arrived at one school we were instantly greeted by the pupils who now have to work outside. Once we had assessed the structural damage to the classrooms it was clear that it was much safer for the children to keep studying outside.
This school was definitely unsafe
When we were leaving one village along a path with a near vertical drop, I noticed that some bundles of rice straw were wobbling. This was quickly followed by two screams from behind me as Sarita and Samjhana realised it was another tremor from the original earthquake. These tremors were a way of life for quite a few weeks, but understandably each tremor put everyone back on edge. Overall there were over 350 aftershocks – but luckily they have now completely stopped. Thankfully the only other scream from the trek was Sarita with a couple of leeches attached to her feet!
Next steps
From the assessment of all 58 schools we were able to help our local partner Global Action Nepal to make plans for the schools that need us the most, and the race is on with the impending monsoon season set to arrive. We have identified 11 critically damaged schools that need temporary learning spaces, and we have been set the task of recruiting more community mobilisers and big sisters to help with the increase in the number of schools we will now be helping. Hopefully this will also reassure fearful parents to send their children back to school, as some are worried about sending their children back to unsafe buildings. I am really happy that VSO is expanding the Sisters for Sisters project, and I look forward to updating you on the next positive developments for girls’ education in the Lamjung region.
A trip back to the UK
Simon and I are currently back home in Somerset to catch up with our children and grandchildren. Just before we left we managed to meet VSO’s CEO Philip Goodwin, who had travelled out to Nepal to see the damage the earthquakes have caused and plan the next steps for VSO activities. Philip has written a blog on his visit to Nepal, which you can read here: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/nepal-earthquake
Simon, Phillip and me outside the VSO Nepal country office
We are really glad to be back with our family and friends as we haven’t seen them in a whole year. It’s been even more important to have respite with loved ones after the devasting earthquakes, and we are starting to feel a lot more renewed. Our enthusiasm is still going strong, and we’ve recently done an interview for BBC Somerset on our placements in Nepal and the earthquakes.
Thank you once again for all your support; I’m looking forward to returning and sharing our next steps to rebuild Nepal.
