Stories of Manakamana

Today our disaster response team of volunteers was very efficient and did not need any help from us so we were able to get a different view of the distribution. Inside the roped off area people are collecting their “food and non-food items”.  Outside the exit where we sat appreciating some precious shade, we watched volunteers from our team plus many local young men – some boys, trying to outdo each other in helpfulness. Beneficiaries who already had their hands full were so thankful that someone would carry their 30kg bag of rice down eight steep steps to a spot where they could load up. Here we watched in amazement at how each community member helped the other tie the heaviest bag to their backs with a special rope sling attached to their foreheads, put the next large but lighter pack on top and leaving their hands free to carry the bucket full of new items and the tarp. Now they were ready to walk the path to their home village, either steeply up hill or down hill.

The children were fascinated by the distribution. Having visitors from another country in the village was a novelty for them so some of the less shy ones were sent to ask us questions.  Earlier we had interviewed a few children for beneficiary stories for World Renew so they were returning the favour. The children all love to be photographed with a digital camera and laugh and smile when they see themselves on the screen.

Here are the stories of two of the children we interviewed in a village in Manakamana, in Nuwakot District.

Ranjita is a young girl who although she was shy about talking to us, was willing to be interviewed and have her photo taken. Ranjita has a well-worn necklace that she has salvaged form the earthquake and she wears it with pride.

Ranjita is in grade five and really enjoys going to school.  At this time her school is in shambles and her teachers are busy repairing their own homes and caring for their traumatized family members. She is hoping someone will soon send help to rebuild her school.

Her family consists of her mother and father and a 14-year-old brother.  Because their home is no longer safe to live in, they now share a make shift tent with her grandfather.  She lives in a village of 108 families.  Eight people died in the earthquake and 14 were injured.  Of the 108 homes, 96 have been totally destroyed and 8 are partially damaged.  Only four homes remain intact.

Ranjita was excited about the delivery of many relief supplies from World Renew and said the tarp and length of rope would be good to shelter their animals during the monsoon rains. The people in her village are mostly farmers who grow corn and rice and raise goats and cows. Some have water buffalo that help with work in the rice patties. Unfortunately many animals were killed in the earthquake.

Dawa is shy young fellow who was willing to be interviewed with the help of a translator who knows the language of his village.

Dawa is twelve years old and is in grade one.  Education is not easy to come by here as it is usually a far walk to school and some school fees and a uniform is required.  Dawa is wearing pants that are very short on him. We assume he needs to use the same ones for several years. School is taught in Nepali (not in his local language) and this is sometimes challenging is for him.

Dawa lives at home with his father and mother and is the youngest of seven children. He was at home when the first, strongest earthquake hit but was outside playing with friends. His home completely collapsed but fortunately none of his family was inside at the time.  Sadly his uncle died in another collapsed home nearby.  Two other villagers also died.  There are 82 homes in his village and 75 of them have been totally destroyed.  The rest were partially destroyed.

Presently, Dawa and his family are living in a tent. Although he does not like to admit he was frightened during the first and second earthquake and the many aftershocks he did express concern about having only a tent for shelter when the monsoons (very heavy rains for about a month and slightly lighter rains for two months) and the colder weather come. World Renew brought relief supplies today and he knows his family will appreciate the food, the tarp and rope to make more rain shelter, and especially the hygiene kit. His family shares one toothbrush and now they will have six brand new ones!

These are only a few of the stories that have deeply touched us. The photos capture other aspects and help us remember not only the plight of the Nepali people but also their character and resilience. Although we have only been able to spend a short period of time helping in Nepal, the people we have met here will live on in our hearts for a very long time.

We leave here on Saturday to return to all the special people in our lives in Canada.