Lunch with the President of Nepal

There was a sense of excitement and anticipation in the air on the last day of Habitat for Humanity Nepal’s Everest Build in Pokhara, about 200 km. west of the capital Kathmandu. More than 460 volunteers helped to build 40 bamboo houses over six days.

While international volunteers were painting the bamboo wall panels in colors similar to Habitat’s blue and green, the local community was getting ready to greet Nepal’s President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav on his first visit to Pokhara.

In the afternoon, the President arrived in a helicopter near Begnas Lake, about 20-minutes’ ride by bus from the build site. Several hundreds of Habitat volunteers, home partner representatives, the Lekhnath municipal government and the local community were present at the closing ceremony.

In his speech, Dr. Ram welcomed international volunteers and thanked them for their contribution. He unveiled a cement marker in the community, signifying the partnership between Habitat for Humanity and the Lekhnath municipality. He also graced a house dedication.

At the start of the dedication, Habitat home partner Man Bahadur Sunar and his wife Chija Maya lit a lamp for blessings. Chija also applied the tikka, a small red dot, on each volunteer’s forehead as she draped sashes over their necks and presented them with sprigs of flowers.

House leader Brendon Silcock said to his team: “You guys are fantastic and fun. It’s a privilege to work with you.” He then presented the home partner with a drawing done by a fourth grade student in the United States.

Source: Habitat for Humanity