Decent Communities through Decent Housing

KOICA-NGO Project

Decent Communities through Decent Housing Jhapa & Morang, Nepal

Voices of Habitat Home Partners

2 Decent Communities through Decent Homes: Voices of Habitat Home Partners

Message from the KOICA Representative It is indeed a great pleasure to express a few words upon the completion of Decent Communities through Decent Housing program by Habitat for Humanity Nepal. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Habitat for Humanity for its earnest and growing contribution in the area of providing descent housing for poor communities in different parts of Nepal.

Korea International Cooperation Agency has been supporting Habitat for Humanity in Nepal through Habitat for Humanity Korea. Habitat for Humanity’s housing programs have been very effective in the poor communities of Eastern Terai. I was much moved by the dedication ceremonies in Jhapa district for the 500th house in Nepal to be supported by KOICA . These housing programs not only provide homes for families in need. They also teach families to save - a key element for breaking out of poverty. I really appreciate Habitat for Humanity’s work in Nepal, especially the way the organization encourages the use of bamboo. I also would like to congratulate Habitat for Humanity for organizing the Everest Build which gathered significant international attention.

I wish great success to Habitat for Humanity activities in Nepal and wish for a long lasting relationship between KOICA and Habitat for Humanity.

Young - Ah Doh Resident Representative KOICA Office in Nepal Habitat for Humanity - Nepal 3

Message from HFH Korea I am honored to add my message on this great project. I appreciate what Habitat for Humanity Nepal has been doing over the years to improve housing conditions in Nepal in partnership with Habitat for for Humanity Korea and Korea International Cooperation Agency.

We have been working in Nepal on this KOICA project for five years and this is a great opportunity to see the impact of the project on local communities.

Congratulations and thank you again to all the staff in Habitat for Humanity Nepal as well as the teams at Hatemalo Sewa Samuhik and Jeevan Bikas, our local partners .

Fully supporting the Habitat mission of eliminating sub-standard housing, Habitat for Humanity Korea is ready to help build more homes in Nepal; not only physical houses, but also homes that will bring new hope to families in need. We will also seek to provide more support for using effective, eco-friendly construction materials throughout Habitat for Humanity’s building practices in Nepal.

Best Regards, Kyung-Pyo Suh CEO/President Habitat for Humanity Korea

4 Decent Communities through Decent Homes: Voices of Habitat Home Partners

Message from the HFH Country Representative It has been a privilege to work with Korea International Cooperation Agency and Habitat for Humanity Korea in assisting families in need in Nepal.

Habitat for Humanity Korea has supported the work of Habitat for Humanity Nepal for more than five years and directly assisted nearly 1,000 families to have better homes and lives.

This has been possible thanks to the financial generosity and helping hand of KOICA. The agency and its staff have helped build more than houses. They have helped families live in decent homes with proper sanitation and access to safe drinking water. The cooperation extended

by KOICA through Habitat for Humanity Korea has enabled Habitat for Humanity Nepal to create decent communities. The stories that you will read in the coming pages show just how much lives have been changed because of this cooperation.

Best Regards, Aruna Paul Simittrarachchi Country Representative Habitat for Humanity Nepal

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Project Overview The Decent Communities through Decent Homes project helped 538 families either to build new homes or renovate existing ones to proper standards. Sanitation facilities were improved as was access to safe drinking water. Some 328 of the families served were in Jhapa district where the program was undertaken in partnership with Samuhik Haatemalo; the remaining 204 families were in Morang district where the partner was Jeevan Bikas Samaj. The Decent Communities through Decent Homes project was completed on time and on budget.

The Decent Communities through Decent Homes project involved 28 family groups saving money for their new homes and learning about family nutrition and better health and sanitation practices. There were 15 village-level orientations about savings and construction including teaching local workers how to use locally available ecofriendly materials.

The overall contribution by the communities for the project in terms of savings and in-kind materials was Rs. 36,440 per family, equivalent to about US$505.

The beneficiary families were from poor, deprived or marginalized communities. They included families whose principal income earners were rickshaw pullers, masons, carpenters or daily wage earners. On average these individuals earned the equivalent of US$1.50-2.00 a day. Such an income was not sufficient to fulfill a family’s basic daily needs let alone allowing for saving for shelter.

The families lived in structures that were inadequate, 6 Decent Communities through Decent Homes: Voices of Habitat Home Partners

Total contribution for housing

40%

30%

NEPAL

Savings

KOICA Fund

Kathmandu

30%

In-kind Materials

insecure and unhealthy. The houses had earthen floors.

Walls were made of mud and twigs. Roofs were thatched.

In the monsoon, roofs leaked and floors were mud baths.

In summer, there was a fear of fire. Each year, a family wouldspend the about Rs.5,000–8,000, about US$70-100, on repairing the walls and roofs to keep the structures upright.

The Decent Communities through Decent Homes project involved families saving and collecting materials that could be used for construction such as bamboo, sand, stones and timber. This would be sufficient for the house to be built. Through their own efforts and with support from Habitat for Humanity each family was able to build a decent home and a new life. As one mother said when she saw her new home: “My new house is like a palace for me.”

Another said: “My long awaited dream house!” While a third summed up the thoughts of many families: “My children are safe now.”

Morang Jhapa 210

Jhapa

Morang 70 Total: 280

Number of Houses Jhapa 118

Morang 140 Total: 280

Improved Sanitation Facilities Habitat for Humanity - Nepal 7

The need for decent housing in Nepal Nepal needs an estimated 73,000 new dwellings every year to keep up with the demands of its growing population. But not enough new houses are built each year. The result is the poor, both in urban and rural areas, end up living in dangerous, overcrowded, inadequate housing. Instead of lives of security, safety and social status, their lives are likely to feature deprivation, poor health, a lack of security and social status, and poverty.

The Asian Development Bank estimates that 55% of Nepal’s rural population survives on the equivalent of less than US$1.25 a day. Government census figures show that nearly half the housing stock in rural East Terai, where the Decent Communities through Decent Homes project was focused, are rated inadequate.

Women in particular are disproportionately affected due to their significantly lower levels of economic activity.

Housing Solution Habitat for Humanity Nepal’s microfinance programs, known as Save & Build, have proved highly effective. Families and communities save money and materials together and learn to support each other in order to achieve better shelter and living conditions.

With access to information and training, families learn to save, learn practical construction-related skills which can also prove a source of income, and learn ways to improve their health through best practices in using water and sanitation.

8 Decent Communities through Decent Homes: Voices of Habitat Home Partners

Habitat for Humanity Nepal A World Where Everyone Has A Decent Place To Live Habitat for Humanity’s Mission In Nepal, Habitat for Humanity delivers the Habitat Families to be mission through partnerships assisted by the end with local grassroots of each year organizations. Habitat offers expertise in house construction 5,000 2011 and project management along 5,000 2012 with its experience in savings10,000 2013 led microfinance and enterprise 10,000 2014 development. In Nepal these 15,000 2015 come together to build simple but adequate homes that use environmentally-friendly and sustainable techniques and materials, that alleviate poverty, and increase the status of rural women.

Habitat for Humanity Nepal has an ambitious plan to use its links with more than 100 partner organizations to assist more than 100,000 families by 2015.

Habitat for Humanity Nepal programs: • Disaster Response & Mitigation: Habitat for Humanity responds to disasters with timely, post-disaster shelter solutions as well as predisaster mitigation and preparedness efforts to train communities to protect their lives and property.

• Healthy Houses, Healthy Families: Habitat for Humanity builds safe homes from durable materials to minimize health threats and prevent diseases; access to clean water and proper sanitation are key components.

• Housing Finance: Habitat for Humanity uses microfinance programs to encourage families to become financially literate and slowly build up assets and capital.

Habitat for Humanity - Nepal 9

10 Decent Communities through Decent Homes: Voices of Habitat Home Partners

Ree Kumari B.K. “Today, I live in my new house with my husband and three children. My children have a room to stay and study. We are really happy and feel that our life has improved because we have a Habitat house.”

Family Data Home Partner Husband Daughter Son Daughter Monthly income Address

Ree Kumari B. K. (38 years) Raman B. K. (47 years), labourer Nisha B. K. (18 years) Ranjit B. K. (18 years), working abroad Asha B. K. (16 years), Grade 8 student Rs. 14,000 Saatpakhe, Ward no-5, Jhapa, Nepal

Ree Kumari feels blessed and heavenly joy as she lives in her new house. She has two rooms with a veranda from where she shares her life’s greatest moment as she now has a new house from Habitat for Humanity. Ree Kumari said with a smile, “Today I have a new house with rooms where my family can live. It is very neat and clean and I have found peace within my life and my family.

“Today my relatives come to visit me because I have a house with enough rooms for guests and I can welcome them without any hesitation. I have more space where I can put my things properly. My relatives and the neighbourhood have started respecting us. Thanks to the new house Habitat has made for us, we’re having an amazing life right now. Economically, we are safe because we don’t have to do repairs every year. Our new house has been a blessing in disguise for me.

“My old house was very old and weak. I had temporary zinc sheet roofing, with mud plastered straw walls and mud flooring. During the rainy season, because of the leaky roof, water entered from everywhere.

The floor used to get wet and there would be no place to stay and sleep.

My relatives never came because of the condition of my house. I had a terrible and difficult life in my old house.”

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12 Decent Communities through Decent Homes: Voices of Habitat Home Partners

Rita Sarki “Today I can smile and laugh because I have crossed all those difficult ways. It has only been possible because of my new house.”

Family Data Home Partner Husband Monthly Income Address

Rita Sarki (24 years) Madan Sarki (25 years) shopkeeper Rs. 8,000 Satpakhe, Ward no-5, Jhapa, Nepal

Rita Sarki feels very lucky to have gotten a simple and decent Habitat for Humanity home. Her life has improved as she now feels secure. “Today I have enough room to live in and keep my things.

My relatives now come to visit us because of our new house. I also feel that my health has improved. I feel that because we have a new house from Habitat, we are socially being well treated. We have a toilet and have no problem during the rainy seasons. I’m really enjoying my life in our new house.

“My old house was very weak and small. It had mud floors.

During the rainy season there used to be water everywhere. I had a very difficult life in that house. We did not have a toilet and had to go somewhere else. We faced many shameful and hard time due to the toilet problem. My relatives did not come to visit me.”

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14 Decent Communities through Decent Homes: Voices of Habitat Home Partners

Renuka B. K. Family Data Home Partner Husband Daughter

Renuka B. K. (22 years) Padam B. K. (28 years old), driver Karuna B. K. (4 years), nursery school student

“I don’t have a mice problem in the house because I have concrete flooring now. It is clean and healthy. No more mud pollution.

I have enough space to live and sleep.”

Renuka B. K. recalls her old house. “I had a very difficult life.

During the rainy seasons water leaked and spread everywhere inside the house. I had rooms neither for my children nor for myself. We had a mice problem because the house was made of mud. Life in my old house was very difficult.”

She feels great today as she is living in her new house. “Today I have a Habitat house where I can live without any problems that I used to have before. There are no mice in my new house because I have concrete flooring now. It is clean and healthy. No more mud pollution. I have enough space to live and sleep. I can neatly put my things in the right place. Today, our relatives come to visit us because we have a new house, and we heartily welcome them. We are having an amazing life right now.”

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16 Decent Communities through Decent Homes: Voices of Habitat Home Partners

Lalsari Chaudhari “Now, no fear, no problem in my Habitat house. I live with a smile and lots of hope.”

Family Data Home Partner Husband Monthly Income Address

Lalsari Chaudhari (39 years) Ganga Chaudhari (41 years), labourer Rs. 6,000 Kamal Chowk, Jhapa, Nepal

Lalsari Chaudhari is 39 years old. She is very happy in her new home. It has zinc sheet roofing, brick walls and a concrete floor.

“Today, I have a clean house. I can live here without any problem.

I don’t have to fear the wind, rainy season or worry about space. I have three rooms with a kitchen. I have enough space to stay in. I feel as if I have everything because of my new house. It’s clean and healthy. I don’t get mud dust or mouse problem. Life is amazing in my new house.”

“My old house was made of zinc sheet roofing, bamboo walls, mud plaster and had only two rooms. During the rainy season, the water used to enter my house. When strong winds blew, we used to fear that it might blow away our house. In my old house, we had mice and dust. The house wasn’t healthy to live in.”

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18 Decent Communities through Decent Homes: Voices of Habitat Home Partners

Khem Maya Shrestha Family Data Home Partner

Husband

Son

Daughter in law Monthly Income Address

Khem Maya Shrestha (53 years) Chandra Man Shrestha (56 years), farmer Suraj Shrestha (30 years), working abroad Bal Kumari Shrestha (27 years) Rs. 25,000 Lila Basti, Mechinagar-6, Jhapa, Nepal

“Today I can save money because I don’t have to repair my house every year. I can save money from growing chilly and vegetables. I have space to welcome my visitors. Socially I’ve become very confident” Khem Maya Shrestha realized how difficult life was in her old house which did not have enough space to live in and sleep. “In my old house we used to get mice and mud dust was a problem so life wasn’t healthy.

“Today I have a new house. I have more rooms where my children can stay. I can put my things in the right places. I have concrete flooring which means no mud dust. I have enough rooms. I have many facilities in my new house. No fear about the rain or wind; no more mice problem. My relatives come to visit me now. My Habitat house has really helped me improve my living conditions.”

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20 Decent Communities through Decent Homes: Voices of Habitat Home Partners

Devi Kumari Basnet Family Data Home Partner Husband Son Son Monthly income Address

Devi Kumari Basnet (41 years) Amar Basnet (42 years), furniture maker Mahendra Basnet (22 years), working at India Akash Basnet (19 years), Grade 11 student Rs 15,000 Lila Basti, Mechinagar-6, Jhapa, Nepal

“These days I can live in my new house without any problem. I feel it’s really important for every family to have a decent place to live in.”

Devi Kumari Basnet’s face beams with joy.” I am so proud that I have a new Habitat for Humanity home. I feel comfortable at my new house. I don’t fear rainy seasons any more. I don’t get any mice in my new house. I have enough room for my family members. I am enjoying my new house.”

“My old house was very weak and about to collapse. The timber was very old and had become weak. During rainy seasons, water used to enter my room and I also feared the wind and mice. I had a really hard time in my old house.”

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22 Decent Communities through Decent Homes: Voices of Habitat Home Partners

Parbati Shrestha Family Data Home Partner Husband

Son

Son Monthly Income Address

Parbati Shrestha (28 years) Amrit Prasad Shrestha (42 years), working abroad Sanjeev Shrestha (11 years), Grade 4 student Samit Shrestha (4 years), kindergarten student Rs. 20,000 Lila Basti, Mechinagar-6, Jhapa, Nepal

“My new house is made with zinc sheet roofing, bamboo walls, a concrete cement floor. I have three rooms. I am enjoying living in this house very much.”

Parbati Shrestha struggles to explain her story “Life was very difficult before. During the rainy season, water used to come inside my house from everywhere including through the roof. I used to worry about the wind too because many times the roof of my old house was blown away. We had no place for the children to live and study in.”

“Today, I can say that my life has been blessed. I have a house where I can live. My children have a place to stay and study. I have no more fear of the rain and wind. No more dust from the mud and enough space to keep my things properly. The environment inside has become healthy. My living conditions has very much changed thanks to my Habitat house.”

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24 Decent Communities through Decent Homes: Voices of Habitat Home Partners

Ganga Maya Khadka Family Data Home Partner Ganga Maya Khadka (45 years) Husband Rudra Bahadur Khadka (60

years), farmer Daughter Gyanu Khadka (18 years) Son Tek Bahadur Khadka (16 years) Monthly Income Rs. 10,000 Address Lila Basti, Mechinagar-6, Jhapa, Nepal

“My life and social behavior has changed because of my new house. My children have room to sleep and study. My new house has brought positive changes in me and my life!”

Ganga Maya Khadka lives with her husband and two children in their new Habitat home. She feels very proud when her relatives tell her how beautiful her house looks.

She used to live under a straw roof, surrounded by straw walls with mud for the floor. Ganga Maya Khadka had to change the roof and walls every year. In the rainy season everything was drenched.

Her children had nowhere to play or study. Her life was miserable.

“Today in my new house I have many facilities and enough room for all the family members. And a roof with no leaks. People can’t believe that I now have a new house to live in. My life has changed because of my new home. My children have room to sleep and study. My new Habitat house has brought a positive change.”

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26 Decent Communities through Decent Homes: Voices of Habitat Home Partners

Jhuma Rajbanshi “Now I am happy with my new house.

After all, it’s my ‘own’ house.”

Family Data Home Partner Husband

Son Monthly Income Address

Jhuma Rajbanshi (23 years) Ash Kumar Rajbanshi (26 years), painter Ayush Rajbanshi (4 years) Rs. 15,000 Pashupati Tole, Jhapa, Nepal

Jhuma Rajbanshi has something to share as now she is living with her family in their new Habitat for Humanity home. Before she was very sad and unsatisfied with her old house with its small rooms and leaky roof. The walls were weak made from straw. The floor was mud.

“I now don’t have problems from the wind and water leaking through the roof during rainy seasons. I have more space for all the family members. I am proud that I finally have my own house.

Now my relatives come to visit me regularly and talk about my new house. Not only this but I’m also very happy that I don’t have to repair my house every year. I am also free from mud dust which means a more healthy life.”

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28 Decent Communities through Decent Homes: Voices of Habitat Home Partners

Purnima Rajbanshi “I feel healthy with a new house. Our relatives visit us because of our new house. I feel blessed.”

Family Data Home Partner Husband Daughter Monthly Income Address

Purnima Rajbanshi (24 years) Kali Das Rajbanshi (26 years), working abroad Gauri Rajbanshi (5 years), nursery school student Rs. 18,000 Madan Basti-11, Jhapa, Nepal

Purnima Rajbanshi is very excited to have a Habitat for Humanity house. “My old house was made of zinc sheet roofing, had straw walls with mud plaster and mud. I always used to worry about the wind. During the rainy seasons the floor used to get wet and water leaked from the roof. I had to do repairs every year. Mud dust from the mud floor always made me angry.”

“My new house is made from zinc sheet roofing with plastered bamboo walls and a concrete cement floor. I have three rooms, enough to stay and keep my things. I don’t have to worry about the wind or the rain. We now have a room for our daughter who can study without being disturbed. I feel healthy with a new house. Our relatives visit us because of our new house. I feel blessed.”

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Habitat for Humanity Nepal GPO Box 24037 973/5 Dhumbarahi Marg, Ward No. 4 Kathmandu Nepal Phone: +977 1 4422133, 4427417 Fax: +977 1 4425864 Website: www.habitatnepal.org 32 Decent Communities through Decent Homes: Voices of Habitat Home Partners