11/20/2018

Excavations for the foundations are starting today. They are very important for the earthquake resistance of the building. However, the specifications issued by the government after the earthquake appear to us oversized and thereby expensive.

11/22/2018

It’s Ram Kumar’s birthday today! Cordial congratulations, dear Ram!

The bagger is smashing the rocks. This work continued even into darkness. The stones will later be used for the construction of the foundations.

11/23/2018

The foundations are developing. While for the school building in 2016 all the material still had to be carried to the building site, today lorries can reach the site. Curse and blessing. They eliminate work but open up other jobs.

11/24/2018

Today, preparation of the pillars continues. Then the building site will be at rest till Nov. 29th. Another very important regional festivity is calling the workers home. Would Ram forbid it, they would go anyway and not come back. Many other NGOs have made that experience, because they tried to impose western attitudes to work on the people. The cultural concerns of the workers have to be respected. Even if this does not match our notions of cost-effectiveness and functionality. The people there, too, achieve their goals but they do it their own way. Differently. And … Ram and Madhav can return to their families in Kathmandu during this time.

11/30/2018

We continue, all workers are back. Thanks to the gravel path and the dry season the material can be delivered without problems. The impressive pillars have been erected and the bricks are waiting to be used.

Ram is in control of everything. The people respect him and Madhav, the architect, because they stay and live with and the people instead of aloofly appearing on the building site from time to time.

12/06/2018

The foundations are taking on shape. As mentioned before, they will partly be made from the rocks which were removed from the plot. Thus existing resources can be used.

12/07/2018

Today Ram had high level visitors: the women’s committee of Bhorle. These women organize a literacy course financed by Gecotec e.V. and NB&G CH. It will begin in January 2019.

12/13/2018

The foundations have been completed. An important milestone has been achieved. Cordial congratulations to Bhorle!

You will receive more news from the building site and from life in Bhorle in the new year.