Famous Nepal comedy duo welcome Habitat for Humanity volunteers for ‘Everest Build II’
40 houses to be built alongside low-income families in Dhulikhel
Kathmandu, 8 October 2012 – The comedy duo known as ‘MaHa Jodi’ and Habitat for Humanity Nepal goodwill ambassadors, Madan Krishna Shretha and Hari Bansha Acharya, welcomed 500 volunteers to Nepal in historical Bhaktapur Durbar Square last night.
The Habitat for Humanity volunteers have come together for ‘Everest Build II’, to build 40 environmentally-friendly homes, made with sun-dried soil blocks and locally grown bamboo. They start work today in three communities in Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchok district, to build homes alongside local families.
Guests of the welcome ceremony, including senior government ministers and home partner families, were entertained with a variety of traditional dances from across Nepal and a fashion show.
Aruna Paul Simittararachchi, Habitat for Humanity Nepal, country representative, said:
“These volunteers have helped raise money and will shine a spotlight on the substandard housing situation in Nepal, as well as physically building homes and changing the lives of low-income families in Dhanwar, Pariyar and Sarki communities.
“A decent home can help transform lives. It opens the doors to improved health, better performance in school for children, greater economic opportunities and increased community spirit. These volunteers will play a part in transforming lives.”
Everest Build II builds on the success of a similar occasion in 2010, when 40 families were also supported to achieve safe, decent and affordable housing. Build events bring together Habitat volunteers and supporters to show how building homes and communities can help break the cycle of poverty.
This event is also a celebration of the 15,000 families already supported by Habitat for Humanity Nepal in the last ten years, and is a major marker in their target of assisting 100,000 families by 2016.
To find out more about Habitat build events, and to sign up, visit habitat.org/asiapacific.
Everest Build II is one of three ‘Big Build’ events taking place in the Asia-Pacific region in 2012. Earlier this year, in August, 24 homes were built in Sri Lanka, and 10 homes will be built in Bangladesh in December.
Everest Build II runs from 7 to 13 October 2012.