Durga Bahadur feels that he is fortunate to have been selected as the beneficiary of the model house and also for being able to acquire the skills as a mason.
Durga Bahadur Tamang, 34, of Ward No. 11 of Thaha Municipality in Makwanpur, is a single parent. He has been taking care of his children – two daughters and a son –after his wife died in 2014.
He worked as a labor in Kathmandu to take care of his family. Life was difficult, as his earning was hardly enough to rear the three children. The massive earthquake that struck central Nepal in April 2015 brought down his house, along with those of thousands of others.
Durga Bahadur was lucky though. He became the beneficiary of the model house in the district when RADO and TEARFUND, as part of their reconstruction program, identified him as the beneficiary of the model house. And, more than that, his life took a turn after he received the training to work as a mason.
For unskilled labor like Durga Bahadur, the training in masonry was a good opportunity to earn a living, especially at a time when tens of thousands of people had started rebuilding their houses.
Since acquiring the skills, Durga Bahadur has already constructed three houses under TEARFUND and RADO's reconstruction program and is currently involved in the construction of two houses under the Nepal government's reconstruction program.
Durga Bahadur feels that he is fortunate to have been selected as the beneficiary of the model house and also for being able to acquire the skills as a mason.
“Initially, I got two tarpaulins, two bundlesof roofing sheets from which I made a small shelter, all my utensils and clothes were buried under rubbles,” recalls Durga Bahadur.“Later, I also got warm clothes and sanitation kit for which I felt very happy.”
He is thankful to RADO and TEARFUND for their support.“They have been doing a great work,” visibly-elated Durga Bahadur shares. “Now, people here are building earthquake-resilient houses, and are also aware about the need to build safer houses.” He also said that sanitation in the village has improved.
“I would have been compelled to live under the tarpaulin and metal roofing sheet facing cold if I had not received the support,” he recalls. “I would have no employment opportunity and hence no earnings, my family would have been helpless.”
Durga Bahadur is a changed man now. He doesn’t need to go to Kathmandu to earn a living. Instead, he has decided to stay in the village and help others build earthquake-resilient houses. “This has given me a good opportunity to improve my economic condition.”
His message to RADO and TEARFUND – “I am very fortunate that you people came and identified me as a person in dire need; I was very poor but now because of the mason training provided by the organization, I have skill.”
“I would be very happy if I got the support to install a solar power in my house,” he says. “I would like to share my skills with others, too.”
(Source: RADO Nepal, Makwanpur)
(Housing Reconstruction and Recovery Program)
