More than bricks and mortar

Thanks to your support, we have built 150 earthquake-strengthened classrooms at 36 schools, as well as toilet blocks and a water supply, in the Everest region of Nepal. More than 7000 children are now able to study in safe, strong classrooms.

Satya Man Lama, the Engineering Project Manager with our partner Himalayan Trust Nepal, explains some of the features of the earthquake strengthening design in these new classrooms.

Traditional design – only stronger

“During the design phase of these schools, we had an assessment team from different villages from the upper to lower Khumbu to find out what kind of design is suitable for these areas.

“The design agreed on was similar to the traditional buildings but we strengthened many of the parts of the building to build earthquake resistance.

More than mortar

“Traditional buildings, and the previous school buildings, were often built without mortar and during the earthquake, many of these traditional buildings fell down.

“So to make this building stronger we have used cement mortar between the bricks This helps to strengthen the wall and it prevent the bricks from falling down during the earthquake.

“We have used different concrete bands with reinforced concrete – we have used horizontal bands and vertical bands. These bands provide even more strength and stability to the walls.

Robust roof

“We have made the roof stronger than on previous buildings. We used local timber available but made the roof connections much stronger by using metal plates.

Stable gable end

“If you look at the gable wall in the previous school building and in many residential buildings, it is constructed with heavy stone, only dry stone and no mortar. The gable walls in particular are very vulnerable during the earthquake and we saw that so many gable walls in the community fell down.

“So for these new gable walls, we have used a light weight structure. We used timber and corrugated metal for the outer cladding work. It safer during the earthquake it doesn’t fall down during the earthquake.

Thank you New Zealand

“After the completion of these buildings we are happy and proud. Now after the devastating earthquakes the children are now studying in safer classrooms so they can feel they are safe and they can learn in a better way. And not only children but their parents are also happy.

“It was not possible to complete this rebuilding project without support from Himalayan Trust New Zealand and its supporters. So I would like to say thank you to all Himalayan Trust supporters.”

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