100 women, 5 days and 10 houses – Habitat for Humanity’s Hand in Hand Nepal Build pushed its volunteers to the limits to build the first of what will be 250 homes for 250 Nepalese women and their families.

Coinciding with the centenary of International Women’s Day, the initiative was designed to aid women in some of Nepal’s poorest and most remote areas to build their own homes and provide new opportunities for their families and local communities.

Divided into teams, Hand in Hand volunteers had 5 days to complete a house, using basic tools and materials sourced from the community.

For Sarah Hogan, Marketing & Relationship Director of MPA Construction Group and Bridgeen Rocks, Business Development Manager of HASSELL – both on the 8-person NAWIC member team in Biratnagar, Itahari – the experience was physically and mentally gruelling but rewarding and unforgettable.

“We had a very strong group of females in our team,” said Hogan. “There was a lot of raw emotion. People rallied together.”

“Everyone assumed responsibility for what they were good at,” said Rocks of the collaborative process. “It was really natural.”

As well as lending their skills and labour to the project, each volunteer raised $5000 for Habitat for Humanity.

“It was a privilege to make the contribution [of time and labour],” Hogan said, “and the money will continue to be rolled out for many years to come.”

NAWIC
nawic.com.au

Habitat for Humanity
habitat.org