By Stephanie Sharp
Nepal is home to the world’s 10 highest mountain peaks, incredible historic temples and a population stricken by poverty. 45 percent of the almost 30 million people living in Nepal live in poverty. The landlocked country is rich in culture and heritage, but the Nepali people face the threats of severe floods, landslides and earthquakes on a daily basis. 90 percent of the country’s population lives in rural areas, with more and more people moving towards urban centers such as Kathmandu to escape the trials of rural life.
This influx of population in urban areas has resulted in a shortage of adequate housing and Habitat for Humanity’s Everest Build II hopes to make strides towards eradicating this issue in Nepal. Habitat for Humanity has helped 15,000 families make safe and secure living quarters a reality and plans to help 100,000 families by 2016. The 500 person team of Everest Build II will dedicated a week to building 40 more houses for Nepali families.
In a promotion of sustainable and environmentally-friendly housing solutions, the houses constructed by Habitat volunteers and home partners will consist of local materials such as clay or mud bricks and treated bamboo. The houses will feature two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a detached toilet. These houses will be a safe and affordable improvement on common thatch, mud, and straw structures found in rural areas.
The Pensacola Habitat Global Village 2012 team will send 20 volunteers to Nepal October 5-13, 2012 to participate in Everest Build II. The 40 homes to be built during the build will be situated in the Kavre district, located at foothills of Himalayas. Volunteers participating in the build will also have a chance to experience the vibrant culture of Nepal beyond their construction duties.
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ADDITIONAL INFO
The registration for this trip is already full, but if you would like to be put on the waiting list you can contact Pensacola Habitat for Humanity or you can visit Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village page for information on other international builds. You can also make donations to Everest Build II here.