Earth Bag Rebuild Underway- Nepal

Everyone including Tim are now on site in Sangachok. This is the second day for the team and they are working hard. Today they built a diversion trench with rebar and earth bags. Tim's welding fabricating skills have come in handy. Tomorrow he will be welding the roof frame together with the help of Dan Brown. They should have this complete in a couple days.

The building you see below now has all the walls and doors and window frames in thanks to the team that was in here before us, our team will now begin to assemble the mesh and begin plastering.

The building starts at 0700hrs and with breakfast at 1000hrs in an attempt to escape the day time heat, finishing up around 1800hrs.

Durga took Tim around to explain and explore new ideas and opportunities in rebuilding this area. "Warning"..... there is a renewed spark in Tim's eyes.


To donate:
First Steps Himalaya

Canadian team heads to Nepal for Earth Quake Rebuild

It's that time of year in the Himalayas when weather allows mountains to be moved. Tourist flock to the Everest and Annapurna region for trekking and climbing,  providing income to everyone working in the industry. Rebuilds and an array of volunteer projects also get underway this time of year.  There is a lot of activity in the hills getting in as much work as possible before the small weather window closes bringing winter chill and snow.

Durga has been in Sangachock since September initiating autumn rebuild projects. His assessment for our team will be completing the earth bag project shown.  Touch ups on the round earth bag classroom, and finishing a recycled brick classroom plastering, painting and so on. There will be a lot of jobs going on at the same time, so much to do to get the educational training facilities ready for local kids and teachers.

Our team will arrive on site early November. We've formed a great bunch of friends to help. Here's some names:

1. Owen Thurston- Nelson, B.C.
2. Christine Bialkowski - Nelson, B.C
3. Taylor Pritchard - Nelson, B.C.
4. Gill Brown- Summerland, B.C.
5. Mandy Brown- B.C.
6. Dan Brown - B.C.
7. Gerry Harmon - Rossland, B.C.
8. Derrick Felkar- St. Thomas, Ontario
9. John Wall- Comox, B.C.
10. Jeff Karry-Carlisle, Ontario
11. Tim Rippel- Nelson, B.C.
12. Becky Rippel- Nelson, B.C.

This team will be gathering in Kathmandu the end of October and are looking forward to getting on with helping out.

Anyone wanting to donate to an excellent organization, First Steps Himalayas are doing just a fantastic job in the name of education in Nepal. We feel that investing in quality education for an entire village is better than the individual education sponsorships that have become a booming business in Nepal the past couple of years. The government schools have failed their children, but taking them away from their homes and families to sponsor organized orphanages is not a good solution, instead providing it for the children at home is a much better way. Pooling the funds to benefit "all" children and to teach Nepalese men and women to become teachers makes sense and is working.



We will update here when we can on our progress. Communications are limited but we'll try our best.


Becky Rippel

http://peakfreaks.com
http://peakfreaks.com/everest_mountaineering_course.htm  Tim Rippel is currently in Nepal leading the program. He's been sending photos and updates on this link.

EARTH BAG SCHOOL - SKILLS LIST

Here's a list of skills required for the earth bag school rebuild projects October 12 and November 11.

We are looking for volunteers to work on the following:

• Digging foundations (this is hard physical work)
• Building earth bag walls (also hard work but there will be plenty of jobs for all).
• Plastering (this can be done by anyone qualified plasterers are welcome)
• Roofing (qualified builders preferred).
• We also need general labourers to mix concrete, etc.
• Structural Engineers
• Electricians

Alongside the actual re-building of the schools we are looking for qualified and experienced teachers and educationalist who can continue to up-skill and help train First Steps Himalaya Nepali teachers. 

To donate..... https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/earthquakenepalrelief#

Becky & Tim
www.peakfreaks.com