One year after massive quake, Fuller Center’s work in Nepal continues

It was one year ago today that a massive earthquake registering 7.8 on the Richter scale rocked the mountainous country of Nepal, killing more than 8,000 people and injuring another 21,000. It also damaged or destroyed more than 800,000 homes.

The village of Trishuli, about 30 miles from the quake’s epicenter, was as hard-hit as anywhere in the country with houses in ruins — except for the 12 Fuller Center homes that had been built there before the quake. Those dozen homes were unscathed.

Because of that success, The Fuller Center for Housing felt compelled to not only ramp up its work in Trishuli but also to share the safe-building techniques that proved crucial to protecting its partner families in the region.

The Fuller Center embarked upon a campaign to raise funds for another 200 homes. The march toward 200, though, has been slowed by obstacles, both foreseen and unforeseen.

The anticipated monsoon season hit shortly after the quake, putting off major construction. But a major hurdle unexpectedly appeared when a blockade along the border with India massively slowed imports of fuel and building materials into the country. Desperately needed nonprofit work in the country slowed to a crawl. The Carter Work Project planned for November had to be canceled for the first time in 32 years.

Despite the hurdles, The Fuller Center built 15 new homes in Trishuli and trained dozens of masons in safe-building techniques. Unfortunately, the tragic events in Nepal did not spur the kind of outpouring of donations that was seen in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. With Nepal no longer in the spotlight, raising funds for the families in need has proven difficult.

“We have changed the lives of 15 more families in Nepal,” said Ryan Iafigliola, The Fuller Center’s Director of International Field Operations who visited Nepal in June. “They’ve moved from rubble to safe, permanent and affordable homes — that brings hope to everyone. That makes us happy, but we’re not satisfied.”

The village of Trishuli, about 30 miles from the quake’s epicenter, was as hard-hit as anywhere in the country with houses in ruins — except for the 12 Fuller Center homes that had been built there before the quake. Those dozen homes were unscathed.

The blockade that brought the country to a virtual standstill may have eased, but funding remains a major hurdle. The Fuller Center still plans 200 new, safe homes in Trishuli if the funds can be secured.

“Our work managed to continue but was noticeably slowed,” Iafigliola said. “That crisis is now ended, and we anticipate expediting construction between now and the rainy season over the next few months.”

In the years following the Haiti earthquake, numerous reports emerged alleging misuse of funds by various organizations. While that may have contributed to slower donations for Nepal, The Fuller Center’s success in Haiti — where The Fuller Center has built 180 permanent homes since the earthquake with a tiny fraction of funds other organizations received — gives Fuller Center President David Snell hope that people will want to replicate that grass-roots efficiency in Nepal.

“While some nonprofits faltered in their response to the Haiti earthquake the Fuller Center was able to marshal our resources and assure that donations were properly spent,” Snell said. “The result is that 180 Haitian families have a decent place to call home. We’re doing the same thing in Nepal, helping families in need recover from the devastating earthquake they suffered just a year ago today. We’re grateful to the donors and volunteers and to the incredible Nepali Fuller Center for bringing hope to God’s people in need.”

“The fact that we worked with you guys in Haiti worked to build that trust. And that’s really what it’s about — the trust and the relationships.” — Zach Wolgemuth, Executive for UCC Disaster Ministries

The United Church of Christ has been The Fuller Center’s main supporter in Nepal with a plan to help fund 50 homes. The two main reasons for the UCC’s support are that The Fuller Center already had an established presence on the ground in Nepal and that they repeatedly funded Fuller Center homes in Haiti and saw that their donors’ funds were properly used.

Related link: UCC reaffirms commitment to fund 50 Fuller Center homes in Nepal. (April 25, 2016)

“That makes a world of difference,” Zach Wolgemuth, Executive for UCC Disaster Ministries, said. “We’re dealing with donated dollars, folks that have given from the depths of their heart and out of conviction, so a major part of my job is to make sure that those donated dollars are utilized in an appropriate way — that they are going to the things that they need to go for but also that funds are utilized wisely and not squandered or wasted. The fact that we worked with you guys in Haiti worked to build that trust. And that’s really what it’s about — the trust and the relationships.”

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