Stories of Change
A broken leg and a lost business
Forty-year-old Gauri Sankar Gaund’s life changed dramatically when a tornado swept over Bara district. Not only his business but also his physical health was taken away from him by it, which left him exposed to dark days for a long time. Almost a year later, the aftermath of the storm is still noticeable, but with…
A single mother, a tornado and a cosmetic business
Being a single mother is difficult in all circumstances, but especially for women who are in the lower income range and who also have to bear the burden of natural disasters. 45-year-old Danmati Devi Yadav from Telgai village, mother of three daughters, is exposed to both: Several times in her life she had to push…
Community partners share their experience about Nepal’s first recorded tornado
“The sound,” Dukhiram Mahara Chamaar begins to tell. “I’ll never forget that sound. A humming sound that was followed by a lot of suffering.” “At first it sounded like a firestorm. It was already evening and we came outside to see where the terrible noise was coming from. It was a storm and it also…
Thinking outside the box – working hard for the next generation
Goma Chepang and her aunt Santkumari Chepang both live in the village of Rakshirang, in Chitwan district. They always followed the traditions and practices of their ancestors only and therefore remained silent for most of their lives, blindly following their husband’s wishes and demands and taking no action to enable a better life for their…
A strong community needs resilient houses
As he looks up at the walls of the newly built house, he smiles. He gently runs his fingers over the cemented belt, which makes it resistant to earthquakes, a gesture of gratitude and satisfaction. Sanu Chepang has worked all his life on construction sites, but for the first time he can now be sure…
The importance of role models
Dinesh Chepang lives with his family of 8 on the steep slopes of the Mahabharat Mountains in the village of Kaling in Chitwan district. Despite his own struggles, he especially focuses on empowering his female villagers to improve their quality of life and their livelihood. Dinesh draws a clear picture of their past situation: “Before…