Changing Lives through Skill Training

December, 2017

Bikram Chepang, 30 of Sarikhet VDC-4, Makawanpur used to live in a hut with a family of eight until May 2017. However, his life changed after he heard of a mason training provided by Sana Byabasaya Paramarsha Kendra, a partner of Employment Fund/ Helvetas Nepal 
Capitalizing on its extensive experience in the skills and the employment sector, the Employment Fund provided 50 days onsite skills training for reconstruction through private Training and Employment Service Providers immediately after the earthquake. 
The training had been conducted in, Kavre, Makawanpur, Okhaldhunga, Ramechhap, Rasuwa and Sindhuli with funding support from UKaid's Department for International Development (DFID). 
During the 50 days training period Bikram and the rest trainees were oriented with a 5 day theoretical session in which they learnt about building a seismic resilient house incorporating the seismic component along with the theoretical concept of site selection/layout/safety measures and so on. For the rest of the training period i.e. practical session, they learnt sketching of the house plan, foundation excavation, and wall construction with the layers of bands at a specific interval in close coordination/sharing of knowledge from lead instructor and co-instructor.  They also learnt how to make proper placement of door/windows and its connection with the band creating the box effect, tying the band with the light weight roofing system and finalization of roofing works during the training period.

During the training, a group of 10 trainees along with lead instructor and assistant instructor builds two earthquake resilient houses that helps in disaster risk reduction. The group of trainees decides whose houses are to be built and then the practical work is started. Bikram’s house was selected for during training construction. 
Along with having an earthquake resilient house for the first time in his village, Bikram’s livelihood has also changed with an increase in income from Rs 300 a day to Rs 1,000 a day after the training. “Earlier I used to request community people to provide me work but now they search me to build earthquake resilient house for them,” says Bikram. 
Bikram’s family had enough food storage only for 3 months and for the rest of the months he used to panic how to nourish his family. Now with the regular earning he not only provides proper food to his family but also saves money in local cooperatives. Bikram has already constructed three houses in his community after the training.
Employment Fund not only provides training but also ensures that the graduates work after the training. The project had introduced outcome based financing system in 2008 and the reconstruction training also followed the same system under which the private training providers are paid based on the achievement of the agreed output and outcomes.
Like Bikram, other 10,850 youths from earthquake affected districts have received masonry and construction carpentry training from the Employment Fund till date. These youth have contributed in construction of around 3,000 earthquake resilient houses during and post training period.