1780 Construction Workers for Sindhuli

Four years have passed since the catastrophic earthquakes struck Nepal in which 8,790 people lost their lives and 22,300 were injured. 498,852 houses were fully and 256,697 houses partially damaged by the earthquake. In the district of Sindhuli, an estimated 4,200 skilled masons were required for a safe reconstruction, available were only 150. Hence, Swisscontact through the Skills for Safe Reconstruction Project (SSRP) filled the skills gap by training new masons and upgrading the skills of existing masons.

The objective of the Skills for Safe Reconstruction Project (SSRP) was to contribute to the future risk reduction of the most affected population by the April and May 2015 earthquakes in selected areas in Sindhuli district.

SINDHULI DISTRICT

SSRP operated in Sindhuli district in the South East of Nepal with a hilly topography and limited road infrastructure to the rural settlements. Within the Sindhuli district the project operated in Kamalamai Municipality, Golanjor Rural Municipality, Marin Rural Municipality and Sunkoshi Rural Municipality.

GOALS OF THE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Awareness raising: SSRP aimed at sensitizing house owners about safe reconstruction practices by increasing their knowledge on building safe houses. This should ensure that they would employ skilled workforce for repairing or building their houses. Initiatives ranged from door to door household visits and street dramas in villages to a national TV programme. The objective of the campaign was to enhance people’s skills in earthquake-safe construction to ensure that they are better prepared for any potential future natural catastrophes.

Skills training to construction workers: The project trained new construction workers. During the 50-day on-the-job trainings, trainees learned hands-on all the steps required for earthquake-safe construction. Around half of the participants were women. The trainee groups built two earthquake resilient houses were constructed for vulnerable families (10 trainees per house). In total, 108 houses were built during on-the-job trainings. After the training, most of them found employment for reconstruction work in Sindhuli district.

For professional masons and carpenters, SSRP organized 9- and 7-days skills upgrading trainings during which the trainees acquired skills to build earthquake-resilient houses.

VIDEO: ON THE JOB TRAINING

The house of Sundari Devi Varma Shah was rebuilt by a group of trainees during their 50 days on-the-job training.

VIDEO: IMPROVED LIVELIHOOD THROUGH MASON TRAININGS

Arjun Shrestha is a graduate of the 50-days-training by SSRP.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE APPROACHES ADOPTED BY SSRP

1. A community-led and participatory approach to implement project activities to ensure that the most vulnerable and marginalized communities benefit.
2. Mass media campaigns contributing to increased information dissemination and engagement and accountability of local authorities.
3. On-site technical advice and guidance on disaster resistant construction technology, design options, government norms, material procurement and construction management.
4. Support of activities of the National Reconstruction Authority through the development and dissemination of information, education and communication materials and the broadcast of Public Announcements in all earthquake affected districts.
5. Construction of private houses of vulnerable families as part of the on-the-job-training.
6. Construction of demonstration houses by the existing workers to upgrade their skills using earthquake resistant construction technology.
7. Provision of toolkits to each graduate to support their labour market insertion after training.
8. Provision of post-training support to graduates to find gainful employment.

The project ended on 31 July 2019.

SSRP was financed by Swiss Solidarity and implemented by Swisscontact.

VIDEO: SKILLS FOR A BETTER LIFE

Through training as a construction worker, Purna Bahadur Sarki managed to find a way out of debt.