Deukali and her community rebuild together
Meet Deukali, a 38-year-old who, alongside her community, is gaining new skills and essential tools to clear debris from her damaged home after it was struck by an earthquake. She is now actively building a temporary shelter for her family.
In the remote hills of Rukum West in Nepal, 38-year-old Deukali relies on her husband’s seasonal work as a migrant labourer in India to sustain their household. With no land of their own to farm, Deukali balances the responsibilities of caring for her family and tending to their livestock.
Shattered by disaster
Despite financial hardship, the family was happy in their modest home, perched on the side of a hill. Deukali and her husband Kaliram, 39, faced their daily struggles together and took great pride in the accomplishments of their children. However, their lives were abruptly disrupted when an earthquake struck in November 2023, leaving their home cracked and unsafe.
Deukali recounts the terrifying moment when the earth shook violently, forcing her to hastily gather her children and flee to safety. “We were fortunate to escape unharmed,” Deukali recalls. “If we had stayed inside, the consequences could have been disastrous.”
“We were fortunate to escape unharmed. If we had stayed inside, the consequences could have been disastrous.”
Deukali
For her young daughter, the experience was equally harrowing. “I didn’t understand what was happening,” she shares. “But my mother’s urgency compelled me to follow her outside. My heart was pounding so loudly, I could hear it echoing in my ears.”
Kaliram, who was away working in India at the time of the earthquake, reflects on the potential devastation that could have unfolded. “Our homes are scattered across the hillsides, not clustered together. If they were, the consequences could have been catastrophic.”
“Our homes are scattered across the hillsides, not clustered together. If they were, the consequences could have been catastrophic.”
Deukali’s husband
Anxieties and challenges
The absence of electricity and communication networks heightened Deukali’s anxiety as she longed to reach out to Kaliram and update him on the situation back home. For Kaliram, the days spent in India during the aftermath of the earthquake were among the most challenging he had ever faced.
“It was distressing to hear news reports and see videos on Facebook discussing the devastation in Jajarkot and Rukum West,” Kaliram recalls. “But what troubled me the most was the lack of information about my village. The uncertainty was agonising.”
“It was distressing to hear news reports and see videos on Facebook discussing the devastation in Jajarkot and Rukum West.”
Kaliram
Moving ahead
Having successfully cleared the debris from her own home, Deukali didn’t stop there. She extended her support to her neighbors, assisting them in clearing their properties and ensuring their safety. Her community spirit shone through as she helped others navigate the difficult aftermath of the disaster.
Today, Deukali’s situation is steadily improving. She has completed the debris cleanup and has started constructing a temporary shelter for her family. After the earthquake Deukali acquired new skills and essential tools during her participation in Plan’s cash-for-work scheme and is now using these to create a safe and secure space for her loved ones to live in while the long-term rebuilding process continues.
Plan International’s cash-for-work initiative
In our continued efforts to assist communities affected by the earthquake in Jajarkot and West Rukum, Plan International, in collaboration with SAC Nepal, launched a cash-for-work scheme. This initiative is being conducted in close coordination with local authorities and is designed to assist the most vulnerable populations, with a particular focus on women. The cash-for-work programme provided payment and training to the local community, so people could support their families while contributing to the restoration of their community and homes.
At the end of December 2023, as part of the programme, Kaliram and Deukali were equipped with the necessary tools and safety equipment to start their clearance work. Under the supervision of trained engineers, they, along with their families, received hand tools such as shovels, pickaxes, wheelbarrows, gloves, masks, and hard hats, essential for clearing debris from their homes, community, and schools. Now they are in the process of constructing a temporary shelter.
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