More than 8,800 people were killed and over a million displaced by the April 25 earthquake in Nepal. Eight months after the quake, and people are still dying, not anymore because of the quake but the freezing cold. Recently, the earthquake survivors of Dhading district gifted some warm clothes to the political leaders, as a symbolic protest as the governement has not distributed relief materials for the winter so that they can survive this fatal weather. This is one of the many examples of how the devastating quake has been affecting the lives in Nepal even after all these months.
School children are forced to read in an open area or under the temporary tents. And to add to the misery, the recent blockade has been playing a crucial role in making sure that this Himalayan nation doesn’t be able to get back to normalcy anytime soon.
But on the other hand, hundreds of organizations which are willing to help in rebuilding of the nation, are still waiting for a green signal from the government in order to implement their plans. One of such organizations is Freedom Matters, a UK based NGO, supported by Joanna Lumley. Joanna fronted fundraising appeal for Nepal quake relief through Disaster Emergency Committee and raised £33m quake aid to Nepal.
Most of the project work of Freedom Matters is currently conducted in Nepal. The organization’s primary focus is the rescue, protection and rehabilitation of the children and young people from conditions of enslavement, violence or exploitation. Right after the earthquake took place, they have been working to provide relief and reconstruction support in the worst-affected areas. One of the saddest effects of the quake has come in form of human trafficking, especially for those living in remote districts. The organization looks forward to empower the communities so that they do not get trapped in this racket. Post earthquake, the organization is a part of a consortium of funding agencies, working through an organization based in Pokhara. Apart from Freedom Matters, the other funding agencies are OEG-FNEL from Luxembourg and CWS HK (Child Welfare Scheme Hong Kong); and the implementing organization is Right4Children.
Freedom Matters is currently more focused in Dhading, more specifically in rebuilding Marpak VDC which has 1 health post, 11 schools and 1096 houses, of which only 6 are now habitable. The organization expects to complete the project in two years, with a budget of $1 Million.
Speaking with NeoStuffs, the chairman of the trustee (Freedom Matters), Mrs Sarah Stacpoole said, “We will provide technical expertise and materials, training those who wish to learn to build their own homes and employing those who have learnt to rebuild the public buildings. We want to focus on making these hill villages more sustainable”. She further added, “For the second phase, we are planning for some income-generating schemes. It is believed that this is a notorious region for child trafficking and such schemes will certainly help the families.”
The organization is also focusing on creating ‘child-friendly’ schools in order to be able to keep the children in school until their higher secondary education and discourage children from dropping out of schools for any reasons.
The organization has committed to completely rebuild 9 primary schools and 2 secondary schools but are still waiting for the permission by the governmen to start the work. The organization has good funding and a dedicated team. They have been working very closely with the local people to understand the needs of the 11 communities in the VDC for 6 months now, but are unable to start the construction work without the approval from the governement.
