The 4.25 Nepal earthquake in 2015 destroyed all homes, schools and killed people in Katunge Village where our NGO (Future Village) has worked since 2004. Although villagers can feed themselves by working extremely hard, the reality is the school collapsed, children can only have class in temporary classrooms, villagers’ temporary shelters made with sync also kept leaking. Our NGO thus determines to go from relief to development and sustainability. We launched the Chance Initiative aims to rebuild the village to be lively place and towards sustainable development, and where in one of projects was Build the Home, Build the Future. In this project, we work together with villagers to rebuild 100 houses. We build a community-based multiple-purposes centre (earthquake memorial and training centre). The centre allows the villagers gather and preserves visible records of their experience of 4.25 earthquake. It will serve as an educational hub for learning more about earthquake and disaster prevention training. All these help increasing villagers’ self-esteem, identity and belonging, as well as diverse their income means.

Instead of short-term humanitarian assistance, the integration of social, economic and environmental dimension which emphasizing economic resilience, community revitalization, and ecological friendly are all key pillars to build the sustainable society. As one of the villagers who has successfully rebuilt his house said 'I never think I can rebuild my house. Now I did it, I am confident for the future.'

1) Social Dimension

Encourage the villagers as key stakeholder to carry out housing rebuild projectAll of the houses and schools are built by the community through a self-help process, which has included training by qualified engineers. This practice strengths the social capital and help preserving culture and heritage

2) Economic Dimension

Local bares 30 ~50% financial contribution, they will learn how to better manage their finance

Diverse income sources: mansion training program and homestay service

3) Environmental Dimension

Stones, wood and any other available materials from ruins of the houses after the earthquake were deliberately used for construction materials to reduce the construction and transport expense.Use of light-steel frames as major structure for new earthquake-resistant houses, this reduce the pressure on cutting more trees.

We strong believe that a good design does not just serve for its physical functions, what’s more is that it brings HOPE, the long-term capacity of the community. The wise architecture practice can bring the new development. We hope our project make important lessons in disaster relief and rehabilitation. We hope our work can be a prototype, and an encouragement for others working in this field. Indeed, our current project has shown positive sign for the post-disaster redevelopment, hundreds of other obliterated towns and villages may achieve a better and sustainable future out of poverty by referring our model and experiences.

This is definitely a project clearly demostrate how through the architecture can contribute to the sense of owenership and identity of the community.

Finally, we are a team of DREAMERS, we not only want to build a school, a few houses, but to rebuild the whole village, moreover, we want to build up villagers' confidence for their future. To achieve the desired goals, we need more funding and support from the professions to advise the long-term recovery plan.

In our project, villagers are not "receivers", who do not have rights to talk and choose. Villagers are encouraged to lead the roles and rebuild their home and schools together with professionals and volunteers.

How we Build?

Participatory Design and Empowerment

• In 2015 Dec, a local reconstruction committee was formed. The committee is responsible for liaising the list of beneficial families based on the principles of fairness and democracy. It is also in charge of all construction work.
• 18 villagers represented different hamlets joined the housing rebuild training program. From making the foundation, electing the light steel frames to the completion of the house, all led by the villagers- based working group.
• Both men and women villagers can participate in the decision-making.
• Villagers are bare around 30-50% of rebuilt cost.
• We encourage and assist families to exchange their social capital for labour, in the spirit of the community

Suitable Professional Involvement to Improve the Traditional Architecture

• Besides our project partner IDEA Foundation Ltd, we invited a Taiwan architect Hsieh Ying Chun and his team to be our technical consultant. Mr. Hsieh and his team experienced in many rebuilt project after seismic such as Sichuan and Taiwan. We made reference to their anti-seismic design structure. The main structure is formed by a lightweight structural system with a underground foundation.
• The main steel frame components is per-fabricated. Bolt and nuts connections allow easy in-situ installation by the villagers. The villagers can handle the technique easily after the very first instruction together with the professions. Local materials such as stone, soil, brick and wood will be adopted for secondary structures including wall, floor and roof. Locals can use their own knowledge to contribute to the house construction and future maintenance.

We have collected over USD 250,000 that has provided emergency relief, have rebuilt 3 schools and funding 50 homes. Villagers have completed 7 houses and another 20 houses are in progress.