THE STORY
Nov 2017. It took me 12 days since I’ve crossed the border of Banbasa in the west side of Nepal, my motorcycle ride started again after I left my friends in Manali and I made way towards Kathmandu. Strangely enough after 18 months of riding across India, this new land and roads were still challenging to me.
I met Narayan in 2015 after the devastating earthquake. That’s him sitting with his wife Saraswati, daughter who is 14, and son who is 8 now. Narayan works as the kitchen staff, at the guesthouse (Yellow House Guesthouse) that I stayed in during the disaster relief missions.
Narayan left his apartment due to financial issues since the earthquake, like many other locals who suffered with lost of property, no incomes, basic needs and poverty.
With the help of a friend from Holland, they took a small loan and purchase some materials, which were not enough to build a proper home with land, just a small zinc shelter and a septic tank. As I was told by him, Narayan only earns about RS9,000 (US$90) a month as a waiter here.
After a few days here in Kathmandu, I made a visit to Narayan’s new home. I saw a little zinc shelter, leaking with drips of water, with no plumbing, no toilet or bathroom. The girl sitting beside him is his teenage daughter, Ashima. She is 14 now. I met her for the first time and we spoke for a little while, she was looking very sad and numb.
“Do you go to school here?”
“Yes I do.. a school close to the city”
“How did you end up living here?”
At this moment tears started flowing down her cheeks.
“We would like to help build you a better home, can I do it here and rebuild this place?” Her eyes glanced directly at me by now. “Yes sir, please if you can help my dad. My education is being sponsored now by a very nice lady from Holland, but we cannot afford a new brick house. This is a good family who has lend us this little land, and I hope you can help my dad too.”
“I will see what we can do okay.” I gave her a pat of her back, and left knowing that we will build them a new home. This family deserved it, she deserves some privacy as a young women. Ashima is an intelligent girl, spoke English well and has a bright future.
Follow #Home4Ashima
THE IDEA
So friends, here the idea! It’s not just to build a brick shelter but comfortable home, with a sustainable income for the family. We have a few phases of this build.
Phases:
1st Phase – Materials for brick house, 3 rooms, 1 living, bathroom, wash area. (US$7500)
2nd Phase – Roofing, windows, doors. Water source. Power grid would be with solar panels. (US$4500)
3rd Phase – A sustainable income (Cooking classes/ Homestay) (US$1500)
Since Narayan has the experience working in a guesthouse (The Yellow House) for many years, he will be able to manage travellers looking for a peaceful quiet farm house. Maybe Ashima’s Homestay/Cooking Classes? We will share this idea soon after the house is completed.
Currently they live in a metal zinc and tarp shelter, which is leaking, with no electricity, dark and dusty, no proper water system, no proper bathroom or living space. Ashima and the mother has to shower outside in the open space. All their belongings are just stuffed into this small 6 x 10 space.
CURRENT PHASES (Nov – March 2018) Updated.
#Home4Ashima Important updates…
Hi guys! It’s been 3 months since we started this little idea, from a little tin zinc shelter, ideas that brought many together and it grew to something we all never expected!
A Home for Ashima is nearly ready!! They family will move in very soon in this next few days… BUT… what’s missing?
There is one more thing remaining for this phase, WINDOWS & DOORS… so we need your support here, this is for my Malaysian friends/family, since this is also about Malaysian wood and to all my travelling friends and family.
We have not much funds left for the wood… yes. That’s our reality here… and they cannot install them if we don’t pay the suppliers/carpentar. And the family cannot move in without doors or windows. Reality too. (They still live in the barn with the cows)
Balance funds needed to pay wood carpentar: $1225 (RS126,168 / MYR4770). 7 window panels, window glass, 6 doors, 1 main door. So my personal request and wishes to all of you, my friends, my universe, if each of you lovely souls donated $5/$10, we can get it done in 2 days and finally give this family a HOME!
Update
15th April 2018. A total of $12,550 was raised. Funds were for material cost, workers salary, worker and family food, other expenses, transportation. Funds from sponsors were used for payments of my accommodation and travel expenses. All billing and credits to suppliers PAID!! Project is complete and house is ready!
THANK YOU EVERYONE! BIG BIG HUG!!
THE GOAL
To provide Ashima and her family of four a living space they can call home, a sustaining income for a comfortable life. To raise US$12,500 or more to complete this project by end of February 2018.
WAYS TO HELP:
1. Send funds Directly to my Paypal account via PAYPAL.me (mobile friendly)
2. Malaysian Bank Transfers:
Bank Name: Malayan Banking Berhad
Social Enterprise : iMKIRAN Nation
Account Number : 514123632561
Swift Code: MBBEMYKL
Please SHARE the light!