Nepali friends forever

Friday....Dedication Day and Closing Ceremony

A highlight for every team as they share the joy of turning over the newly built home, to the family. It was a special day for every family.

A special day for Habitat Nepal, too, as the milestone 50,000th house finished in the country was dedicated. On hand was the global building team, plus Habitat's CEO, Jonathan Reckford, who came from Atlanta where he worked on House #24. (photo from Habitat Nepal)

JONATHAN RECKFORD, CEO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, ON THE WORKSITE IN NEPAL.

At three p.m., all teams, local volunteers, scouts and families headed to the large lunch tent for a closing ceremony. Scouts were on hand to make sure everyone had a seat.

NEPAL GIRL SCOUT HELPING AT LUNCH.

The New Zealand guys put on a Hakka for all and an Amercan team, headed by Larry and Tina performed a song they wrote in honor of Habitat Nepal.

Reckford gave thanks to the to the international volunteer teams for their travel, time and building efforts. He announced that with this Build, Habitat Nepal has reached the halfway point in the 100,000 house campaign.  

As it all comes to an end, the village is quiet, and we walk out with thoughts of the good we have done here and our new friends in Nepal. Friends forever.

Be prepared anywhere

An American living in Thailand, has been instrumental in bringing Habitat and Scouting together. A scoutmaster as well as an avid Habitat supporter, he foresaw a good partnership. Both Nepali Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts participated in the pre-build activity of readying the site for the arrival of volunteers.

During the week of the Build, 75 scouts, mostly from Kathmandu, camped out in tents and offered support. On Thursday evening, they held a campfire for all, with programming, song and dance. 

A global village

With so many countries represented here, this village was a true "Global Village." The largest contingent, about 230, came from the U.S., followed be New Zealand, 114 volunteers, and then Australia. Identifying flags flew from many houses. And in the space between our 2 rows of houses, excited volunteers dug holes and planted 25' flagpoles. 

As we talked with other volunteers, it seemed everyone had a story:

....An American couple living in Switzerland and recently married, raised money with their wedding gifts to take their honeymoon on this Build.

....Ann (left below with Nancy) from Australia came, after a granddaughter's wish to join the Build. The Mom was quickly recruited and next Grandma said, "Me too!" Three generations.

....House #26 and House #27 each had mother/daughter pairings. Maraka, Mom Suzanne, Mom Mary and Stephanie.

....And back home, newly born baby boy, Miles, made his first-time grandpa proud.

Norma with help from Donna, visited several teams to find more background stories.

FROM New Zealand, they came because they believe Habitat, "provides a key base for changing lives."

FROM Ireland, team leader, Simon, showed his County Donegal flag, which Donna loved because her family's roots are there. Simon said this was a life changing experience for him. "I had no idea how much I would be impacted. We cannot change the world, but we can change it for somebody." His team was a conglomerate of folks from Ireland, North Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, and Australia.

FROM the house flying a Singapore flag, Joseph said this was a "wake-up call to fill his bucket list with meaningful things. He wants to take photos home to show his kids how some of the kids in the world live. His team also had volunteers from Hong Kong and Canada.

FINALLY, last visit was with the team from Texas. Naturally, they would be flying their state flag. Team leader, Don, said he got started on Habitat Builds because his daughter needed service hours for high school credits. He said, we can't do everything but, .."we can make a little part of the world better." 

 

Two great bamboo houses

Our two houses:

House #26 team....

The team on House #27....

Teary eyes and red checks

Excitement reigned in the housing community all morning as volunteers hastened to wrap up their work, and anticipated the afternoon dedication of each house. For the dedication, we decorated our two houses in a blue theme with balloons, crepe paper and ribbon.

After lunch, ceremonies began. In typical tradition, a ribbon was stretched across the entrance which the homeowner would cut and then invite his family into the house, followed by the invitation to the team volunteers. A memorable moment, with throats choked with joy for this family. 

ON HOUSE #26:

Rajkumar B.K. cut the ribbon and his wife, Mangalmaya B.K. then joined him on the front porch. Sons Nabin, Sabin (not present) and Prabin (a young boy of 5 years) followed.

We are glad to recognize the local Nepali volunteers who worked alongside us all week: Archana, Prabin, and Abir. Thanks to them for their help and for their translations.

Mangalmaya applied the honor of tiki, a swath of red on the forehead, and she then draped the customary yellow scarf on our necks. A joyful time. Rajkumar thanked the Paterson volunteers for coming from so far away to help his family. And, we shared that we also had children and grandchildren.  

Nancy shows off the honor tiki and in the background, Mangalaya and volunteers receiving the tiki.

ON HOUSE #27: 

Silimilarily, the family gathered. Kancji cut the ribbon and invited her husband, Jafat Miya Khatun to enter the house, followed by the volunteers. There are two children, Roshani and Roshani, in the family, but they were not present.

Norma poses between homeowner, Kancji Tananj Khatun, and her mother.

 Norma presented a painting framed in bamboo by Manny.

Friday . . . half day working

It was a rush with only 4 hous to finish what we could before lunch break and the house dedication. The "A Team" so named by themselves, completed weaving the interior walls. Self promoting, they recruited much appreciated help from Ken and Rich.

"A Team", Shenelle, Jean and Stephanie".

Continued bamboo cleaning plus plastering work. A good day.

Doug and Rich take a well deserved break. Job well done. Soooo tired.

Celebrating on the last day...

Sanding iron window frames which will be primed, painted and then installed with hinged shutters. Donna, on left, and Nancy.

Friday conferencing....co-leaders. A quick check-in meeting in front of their two houses, James and Nancy.

James  working on House #27 with 3 of the Paterson members plus additional people from another team, and Nancy working on House #26 with the other 11 from Paterson.  

Birdseye view

A drone flew over and captured this. Rooftops of the 35 houses being built this week. Our house is third row from the back. Photo, courtesy Habitat Facebook page.