Build a House

Dollu Valley is a valley right next to Kathmandu. There are many Buddhist monasteries, many Nepali farmers and many families who live in the valley. It is beautifully lush with tigers in the hills and plentiful water emerging from mountain streams.

It was also devastated by the recent Nepal earthquakes. While the local people are some of the friendliest and most generous people you will ever met they are also some of the poorest and they have now lost all they have. They have lost their way to generate income and they have lost their homes too.

In 2011, a fellow traveller and I lived in the valley and were befriended by a local cucumber farming family. There they lived with 3 generations of their family under one roof. While the family are cucumber farmers their son, Pramod, is an English teacher in the local school. They had very little to share but were undeterrable in sharing their food and time with us. They gave their food, their humour and led us on tours along the hidden valley paths that are invisible to all but the locals. When we gave a small book gift at the end of our stay Pramod rushed inside and hastily found a local sociology textbook to sign and give in return.

The initial earthquake severely damaged much of Dollu with Pramod's family being forced out of their home to live under a sack awning on the side of the road. They had hoped they could save much of the house however the large secondary earthquake put pay to that hope.

They have now been told by the army that their family home, where 3 generations of their family live and where they store their farming equipment and animals, will be destroyed within a week and that they will be given $20 compensation. Pramod estimates that it will cost approximately $5000 to rebuild their house and their ability to generate an income for themselves.

We are aiming for $2000 for each month of next 3 months.

While large government and NGO services are vital in addressing the severe immediate hardship there is no pathway for these families to rebuild their homes and businesses.

To this end, all funds will be used to directly help the local Dollu people rebuild their houses, businesses and community.

I am also in contact with the Tibetan Buddhist Rigon Tashi Choeling Monastery that is situated in Dollu valley. This is the monastery where we were living and teaching when we first meet Pramod and his family. They are already assisting the village and all money donated will be directly coordinated with Pramod and the monastery.

The more money we can raise the more families we can help get back on their feet.