Dear Jay, dear EC and School Construction Team, dear Friends,
There are rarely these special moments in life, when, after countless hours of work and moments of hope, doubt, re-emergence, and complex problem areas, an almost unattainable goal has been achieved and many cycles have been concluded.
It is therefore not enough to send the successful conclusion of four schools through SDA in a short factual message. Too much unbelievable was done by our former orphanage dwellers, at a time and in the midst of circumstances and achievements, which are probably in Nepal and also generally unlike. Too much work through and for SDA since its earliest childhood has been achieved by hundreds of people in Nepal, Germany and Switzerland for years to reach this moment of our club history.
You remember:
On 01 December 2014 we wrote that a moving and historical moment took place. On this date, our new partner organization, the Shangrila Development Association (SDA), was formally established. Members are the young generation of the Shangrila orphanage who are now actively shaping the development of their country after the school, study and training period. Many of them have known and encouraged us since the toddler age. We wrote, “More sustainability is hardly possible then, to work together with our” own plants “in rural areas of Nepal, we are going to ft focus on a better future for Nepal with them.”
SDA had just five months to build up the organization because of the earthquakes and to carry out basic analyzes for their project work in the remote region of Makwanpur. In four rural and poor communities in the health, agriculture and education sector, important and sustainable projects for 2000 people should be built step by step, always needs-oriented and combined with awareness-raising measures and those which enable a real competence building. In addition, the support of deaf children in Jumla should be ensured.
The earthquake in Nepal 2015:
The young SDA team was involved in the field of basic analyzes (by means of the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), when they were suddenly surprised by the first earthquake on April 25, 15. About one million schoolchildren lost their school by the tremors in 2015 and a hundred thousand families A large part of which still awaits support.
A significant contribution to the emergency aid of 36414 people and the construction of 106 houses
SDA ensured the project security of our orphanage right after the disaster. Not enough that there were needy people with more than 55 tons of Nepali and Indian relief supplies in 126 villages and 11 of the 12 most affected areas, 36414 people were supported. In the monsoon following the earthquake, a further 5000 people were supported.
In the reconstruction project they mastered the most difficult project conditions
Last year, 104 families, thanks to the professional and dedicated work of 431 employees, 104 families, became an earthquake-proof home by the first organization in Nepal who completed its Owner Driven Housing Reconstruction. Beside this the community hall in Champi as well as the SDA Literacy Home has been completed. The region in which SDA headed the reconstruction is in contrast to many other project areas where houses and schools are built mountainous and secluded. There are no roads and the necessary building materials have to be transported over several hundred heights on the back of the people. In addition, the high illiteracy rate in the local Chepang population is a big challenge.
Four schools of youth Nepal for future generations
With the completion of the reconstruction of four schools in Makwanpur with SDA this week, the houses 107-110 were completed. 900 children now experience their lessons in earthquake-proof, larger and more colorful school buildings. A total of 130 Nepalese were currently working on the construction of schools. The implementation of this reconstruction project could build on the learning experience in the construction of the first 106 houses. The project was implemented with even lower administrative expenditures in the reconstruction project in Nepal (3.73%) and achieved an efficiency in favor of the people of Nepal by the intensive involvement of the population, high field presence and excellent personnel, material and time management with savings of 31.62% (More details in the final report).
But this is not all. After months we can see in Makwanpur and Lalitpur a very pleasing multiplication of our house designs by private individuals and several NGOs. In all projects we have implemented a structured concept for the transfer of skills, which focusses earthquake-proof constructions in the future.
Govinda and Shangrila have been creating a total of 16 school buildings since 1998. We were able to help Nepal through this. When reaching Sustainable Development Goals 4: “For all people inclusive, guaranteeing opportunities and high-quality education as well as opportunities for lifelong learning”, energetic support. Since 1998, we have been able to support almost 60,000 people in Nepal.
Teamwork and 40000 euros saved by honorary, professional work
In the 24 months since the earthquakes, emergency aid, monsoon aid, reconstruction and the development / stabilization of existing projects, many team members have not had a day off to realize these successes.
Learning processes, and a wealth of experience that exceeds the period of 2.5 years
It is hardly possible to describe the complexity of the work that our former orphanage dwellers had to cope as a result of the earthquakes. The community projects themselves are already complex. Added to this were construction projects and financial management, the planning of material and work use, market analyzes, project processes with the population, field activities, the development and certification of trainings, practical solutions in risk and project management, contract workings, international meetings, the steady recruitment of personnel and more.
SDA – A bright spot for the future of Nepal
We do not know whether there is another organization in which twenty-year-old young Nepalese, successfully implemented such a density of work in two years, and comparisons do not play any role at this point. What we know is that SDA is an exceptional example of what the future of Nepal can do. Behind this team are thousands of overtime hours needed to reach the project goal, hundreds of setbacks that they could not be discouraged and project results who are not comparable. Success has been achieved because many members of SDA believed that they could achieve these goals, which were almost inaccessible, and grew beyond themselves. In addition to knowledge and the managerial skills learned in the short of time, there were once again attitudes that were decisive.
SDA – led by the first generation of the Shangri-La Orphanage, is a living and impressive example of the fact that Nepal can be a hopeful future.
Thanks to you and many of the other 20 years
The success of SDA is the merit of hundreds of people in Nepal, Germany and Switzerland, who have worked continuously for years. The support of our first generation at the Shangri-La Orphanage, reintegration and the time after, has been ensured by 20 years of daily work, hundreds of meetings and trainings and innumerable financial support. We sincerely thank you for this. A special thanks to those who have continually moved in, because development requires not only knowledge and funds, but also time, experienced experience processes, previous aberrations, critical reflections, a firm belief in the common goal, and each period has its own dynamic.
The future is now.
Best regards
Rocco
(On completion of reconstruction of Schools- Rocco Umbescheidt, Founder Chairperson- Govinda Association, Germany)