Makhkha Bahadur Shivabhakti-48, resident of Bhumlutar-8 made house and provided shelter to his family, as he had lost his shelter on devastating earthquake of 2015. Now, Shivabhakti’s families are happy and feeling safe inside the earthquake resistant house. He is a person with disability, as he is unable to speak (dumb). Managing bread for family was major challenge as an unskilled disable person. Seasonal labour work in agriculture sector was only the source of livelihood management of his family.

Shivabhakti was able to construct house after Employment Fund Helvetas/Reconstruction Skills project selected him for 50 days on site training and his ten member group selected him for during training house construction as per the implementation module. Materials collection for house construction was one of the major challenges due to extreme poverty, disability and no additional land other than a small plot. He could build house for his family due to community support for wood collection and no any wages expended as it was made by trainees of onsite training. Willingness for construction and active and laborious nature of Shivabhakti made possible to provide shelter for his old aged mother and disable elder brother of family. He showed a good example to people who said him that he is disable not do anything. While many people in his community who are able are still under the shed after two and half years of destruction, Shivabhakti is very happy that he could prove himself. He cannot express his feeling by words but people can easily understand his happiness and enthusiasm by his facial expression.

Now he is busy constructing house of community people. As he is a skilled mason, community people hire him for constructing their houses. He is earning NRs. 600 per day and managing his livelihood easily. ‘50 days onsite training was supportive both for shelter construction and livelihoods management’, now we are happy- his old aged mother said. Shivabhakti’s faces glows when his mother expresses her happiness on his son’s success.

Shivabhakti’s success has conveyed a message to the society that ‘Skilled hand is more important than the speaking mouth for reconstruction’.

By: Rama Timilsina

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www.nepal.helvetas.org/en/news/case_studies/edcase/changinglivesthroughskilltrainings/

The post Case Study appeared first on Employment Fund.

• Sarita Waiba

(A graduate of Stone Layer Mason, Shramthali VDC-2, Danswara, Rasuwa)

Unlike the expectation, even after 1 year of devastation, reconstruction has not taken place as speedy as expected on the ground mainly due to shortage of skilled human resource. In this context, the Reconstruction Skills project (June 2016 to January 2018) funded by the UKaid, Department for International Development, is an investment on the people, both for reconstruction of their houses and sustainable construction sector employment in future.

The overall objective of the project is to improve living condition of people affected by earthquake through skilling and creating employment in construction sector.

Construction related works such as masonry, carpentry are men’s job and women cannot do them well. This is common stereotype in Nepal. But 33 years old Sarita Waiba has proved that women are equally capable of doing whatever men do. A permanent residence of Rasuwa District Shramthali Village Development Committee (VDC) -2 Danswara, Waiba is living with her husband, two daughters, and two sons. After her house collapsed in the earthquake of April 2015, she had been living in a temporary shelter with her whole family.

When she heard about Reconstruction Skills project funded by Department for International Development, that provides 50 days on-site mason training and encourages women participation she discussed with her husband and applied for it. The training provided by Genius Multi Technical Institute, the training implementing partner of Employment Fund- HELVETAS, provides training in a group of 10 under the direct supervision of one lead and one assistant instructor. Like Sarita, other two women also became a part of her team out of 10.

“During the training, I along with my friends built two houses incorporating earthquake resilient technology. In the initial phase, people did not believe us. But when they saw how confidently we build houses following the earthquake resilient technology, our fellow villagers have been asking us to help to build their houses. Another factor behind high demand of trained mason like us is the recommendation from the VDC engineers of National Reconstruction Authority,” Sarita shared.

Sarita and her team have successfully completed two houses during 50 days training. They have almost completed one house in post training period. She is earning Nepalese Rupees 800 per day from last 20 days. They have prioritized to construct all the houses of their own team.

“I am fully confident that we will construct all the houses in our village. I am very happy that people comes to ask us about the earthquake technology that we are using. Now I am a teacher of my husband who has been involved in construction of houses for more than 7 years. I teach him how to construct earthquake resilient house. We have planned to construct own team member’s house and will construct others houses as well. The 50 days training showed the right way for earning as well as recognition of women”, she added.

Sarita is an example of the Reconstruction Skills Project in Rasuwa. About 30% women training graduates are contributing for rebuilding houses and showing how women can make a difference in reconstruction.

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Kami Tamang (36), from Duwachour 2, Dadakhaur, Sindhupalchowk is the sole breadwinner for a family of five, his wife and three children (two daughters and a son) as his wife has unequal and short legs and cannot do outdoor works. His wife also has an added responsibility of taking care of his 10 year old daughter who was born with disability.

Prior to April 25 earthquake, Mr. Tamang had been earning Nepalese rupees 700 a day working as an unskilled mason. However, after the quake, his life changed as it was difficult for him to find works as people in his village wanted to build earthquake resilient homes.

“I was worried about how to earn living for my family as it was hard for unskilled person in getting job of building earthquake resilient houses. When I heard about  training on building earthquake resilient homes offered by Employment Fund- Skills for Reconstruction implemented by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation and funded by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation from my friend, my happiness knew no bound. Immediately applied for training with a hope of getting employment, better payment and gaining added skills of building earthquake resilient homes,” said Tamang.

Now, he is taking 50-days on-site Mason training. He is hopeful that he will get job in reconstruction projects with better payment.

Mr. Tamang hopes that he will be able get at least Rs 1,000 a day after training as building earthquake resilient homes is an urgent need of Sindhupalchwok district.

He also expressed his desire to contribute for reconstruction process after completion of the training. Nevertheless, he has plan to build own house after earning money in a year or so.

“I am very satisfied with the way we are being taught as its very practical and easy for uneducated people like us to understand. I will contribute in building earthquake resilient homes in my district. I am very happy to be able to contribute in reconstruction process,” said Mr. Tamanag.

He suggests others  not to stay idle rather  learn something. “Once you have skills in hand , you do not have to depend on others. Life becomes easy and the way others look at you changes.”

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Life Before Training

I am from the marginalized Nai community. Most of our people are are engaged in the barber profession. However, my skills level was not sufficient to work as a barber. I am from a poor family and dropped out of school at grade 8. My early marriage further added to my problems. When I heard on the FM radio about the opportunity to get trained as a barber, I immediately applied.

I am skilled because I took advantage of the training opportunity

My Gainful Employment After Training

I was giving my best during the training in order to learn a lot. After the completion of training I had no idea about establishing a barber shop as I was new in the field. With the support of the training provider and a credit of 50,000 Rupees from a cooperative, I managed to establish my own barber shop. Due to the quality of my work, I could gradually earn the trust of my customers. Currently, I am earning 300-500 Rupees daily which is enough to put aside some savings. Apart from my improved family situation, I have also gained more social recognition. Recently, I even started to employ one assistant who is helping me in my shop. I am planning to further increase my business.

Age: 20; Attended three months training as Barber. Training & job placement support by Business Consultancy Center, Parsa, Birgunj, Tel: 051-534307

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Life Before Training

In my Muslim community, traditionally women are not working outside their household. Also going to school is not seen as a priority for girls. Thus, I dropped out of school at grade 5. I got married already at the age of 15. As I was giving birth to our children I stayed at home with household work. My husband is selling clothes in the street. When I heard about the opportunity to be trained in Garment fabrication, I applied and got accepted.

If I would not have attended the skill training, I would be always in my house.

My Gainful Employment After Training

Garment fabrication is convenient for me as I can work at my house and on my own speed. Whenever I have completed my household tasks, I sit down at my sewing machine in order to sew the pre-cut pieces of clothes, which are brought from the factory to my home by a middleman. Like this, I could already earn during the training 2,000 Rupees. After completing the training a bag factory offered me to work for them. Nowadays, I can earn 3,500-4,000 Rupees per month without leaving my house. Due to my new skills, I have a much better income and an improved social prestige. Other women even started to come to my home asking me to teach them how to sew.

Age: 26; Attended three months training in Garment Fabrication. Training & job placement support by Business Consultancy Center, Parsa, Birgunj, Tel: 051-534307

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Life Before Training

I was born in a typical Newar family of Bhaktapur. Due to poverty, my life has been a constant struggle. Both of my parents as well as my elder sister work in a brick factory and during days off as labourers on other people’s farms. As I did not complete my schooling, I also joined my parents in the brick factory, where I used to earn 1-1,500 Rupees per month. Then, through some friends, I came to know about the wood carving training.

My skilled hands are enough to guarantee me a better future.

My Gainful Employment After Training

I quickly learnt the new skills during the training and found a job at a local wood carving workshop in Bhaktapur. My initial earning was 3,200 Rupees. As my carving skills will increase, I will also be paid a higher salary. I am planning to continue working in this workshop as I cannot afford to open up my own wood carving workshop. The skills training has been a life changing experience for me. With the newly acquired skills, I am now confident, that I can support my family.

Age: 20; Attended three months training in Wood Carving. Training & job placement support by Skill Nepal, Lalitpur, Tel: 01-5527077

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Life Before Training

I am living with my family of six and four brothers and sisters on a small land plot which is not sufficient for supporting our livelihood. Due to my poor economic condition I did no manage to pass grade 9. I am highly regretting that I could not complete school. Therefore, I am trying hard to support my sisters and brothers to complete their schooling. I heard about the training opportunity as a Building Painter through the local FM radio station and immediately applied for it.

By using my skills, my life has become easier

My Gainful Employment After Training

After completing the training, I worked on a wage basis as a Building Painter. There is a growing demand and lots of opportunities for Building Painters, as there is a lot of construction going on in my home town. I am earning every month 6-7,000 Rupees, while before the training I hardly made 2-3,000 Rupees per month. Nowadays, my life quality has improved and I am able to support the schooling of my sisters and brothers.

Age: 26; Attended three months training as Building Painter. Training & job placement support by Associate Nepal Synergy, Kathmandu, Tel: 01-4373451

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Life Before Training

I left the study after I failed in SLC exam. My family is mainly living from agriculture which is not sufficient for our livelihood. When I should have been preparing my School Leaving Certificate, I was spending most of my time by playing football with my friends. At that time, I used to ignore my parents who ushered me to spend more time with learning. That is why I failed the School Leaving Certificate.

Because of my new skills, I have work in my own shop

My Gainful Employment After Training

After the training, I established a mobile repair shop in a local market town. In order to establish this shop I approached one of my relatives from whom I got a loan of 50,000 Rupees with 24% interest rate. Later I also tried to access a loan from a cooperative loan and succeeded in getting 100,000 Rupees with a rather low interest rate. I am about to pay back this loan by returning daily 350 Rupees to the cooperative. My monthly income is about 15,000-20,000 Rupees and the total capital of my business has increased to 250,000 Rupees. I am planning for increase my business slowly and steadily. The result is that I receive a lot of recognition and respect from my family. Although I have no longer much leisure time to spend with his friends, I am now busy earning a good income.

Age: 19; Attended three months training in Mobile Repair. Training & job placement support by Jhapa Technical Institute, Jhapa, Tel: 023-542488

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Life Before Training

Apart from the household chores, I used to work as a part time helper in a nearby tailoring shop. However, my income was very low. It was difficult to make ends meet and very often I had to take a loan from my neighbours. I wanted to change my situation and earn more income in order to support my family. However, due to my low educational attainment and lacking skills, I could not find gainful employment.

It makes me happy seeing people who wear the clothes which I have been sewing.

My Gainful Employment After Training

During the training the trainers praised me to be one of the best performers. After completion of the training, I managed to open my own shop called “Manakamana Safal Ladies Tailors”. The customers keep coming back to my shop due to the quality of my produce. Nowadays, I am earning monthly 5,000 Rupees. I hope that I will be able to earn even more in future. Before the training, I was depending on my husband’s rather small income but now life has changed.

Age: 28; Attended three months training in Dress Making. Training & job placement support by Skill Nepal, Lalitpur, Tel: 01-5527077

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