The people in Adhamara lost everything during the earthquake of April 2015.

They were traumatized but never losing their belief in reconstructing a new life. When we first met only a few months after the earthquake, they asked to start the reconstruction of the village with a new kindergarten building rather than their own individual houses as we offered. They yearned for pre-primary education for the children close to home for so many years – and we all hoped that this will kick-start reconstruction and hope.

The village center after the earthquake – thatched wooden barns and temporary shelters were used for homes, and the villagers in constant discussion as to how to even begin their new lives

July 2015 – a general meeting of all the people in Adhamara and the team of INSPIRATIONS in practice met to discuss and decide the type of project, and develop the ways of working together

September 2015 – ‘education is our tight’ said the background poster of the inauguration ceremony. After the ritual we laid the symbolic foundation stone: Rajni, Ada, Pasas, AK, Keshav (left to right)

Efforts were joined and shared to make the project successful. Everyone brought what they could – local materials, traditional skills and much labour-time was given by the local community, while unavailable materials (like concrete, steel and sand), new technologies and knowledge were provided by INAPIRATIONS in practice.

November 2015 – the engineer Suresh from Bhaktapur joined the working team of volunteers from the village to manage the work and share knowledge where new methods were introduced. It was an opportunity to teach about working with concrete which was used by the villagers for the first time, so that people could take this new knowledge and use it when construction their own homes later. Here, Chitra Bahadur Thapa Magar adding the last reinforcement bars to the irst perimeter beam at the top of the foundation.

Every cut of the reinforcement bars, every bend of the steer rods, and every element in the construction was cut and chiseled and caste bay hand.

Bending the reinforcement bars – the handle of a hammer was a powerful innovation to help bending the steel rods; away from the main road, no machined were available, Thag Bahadur Thapa Magar had to hand craft every single bend…

Once the terrace was widened and leveled, foundations were cut into the ground and reinforcement set in before casting the conrete base.

Traditional skills of stone masonry were donated by the villagers.

Traditional and new materials put together for the new building : (from left to right) Prem Bahadur, Toya Bahadur and Kehne Thapa.

Corner blocks weighed over 150 kg. and as the walls have risen higher, it was getting more and more difficult to bring blocks up to the required level.

Khene Thapa checkss with his plumb-line that the quoining block is properly laid, and Suresh, our engineer, confirms the dimensions.

Khene Thapa Pulmami Magar at work.

Toya Bahadur Chitaur Magar

March 2016 – six months after the beginning of the works. with a well-organized site, even though limited in area, the walls have risen from the ground.

True work of love for all : Om Bahadur Yadi Magar – the master building at work.

The dreams has become a reality : equipped with HAUSALA (INSPIRATIONS) uniform, the children have started learning.