The Earthbag building method is both eco-friendly and economical, as well as earth-quake resiliant. First Steps Himalaya has been one of the leading players in introducing this building technique to Nepal.
Between 2015 and 2024, First Steps Himalaya constructed 5 earthbag built schools, a training centre and residential accommodation for 28 trainees. These buildings provided education facilities where they were most needed.
Work began on our first earthbag building at Sangachok Nursery in February 2015. The earthbag building method had been selected as it was eco-friendly, sustainable, economical and reported to be earthquake resilient.
We had no idea how soon this would be put to the test!
On April 25th 2015, a massive 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal destroying homes, lives and schools. Sindhupalchok was one of the worst affected areas. The new earthbag building stood up to not one but three massive quakes with just superficial cracks in the plaster.
Watch Durga, First Steps Himalaya founder, talk about how FSH started and see our first earthbag build in action!
OUR EARTHBAG PROJECTS
2015: Teacher Training Centre
Located in First Steps Nepal’s (our local implementing partner) headquarters in Sangachok Nursery, Sindhupalchok, the training centre is at the centre of our Nepal operations. Offering a tranquil space for residential teacher training, groups of teachers from across Nepal now attend workshops here.
2015: Earthbag Rebuild Nepal Summit
Held in Kathmandu, following the 2015 earthquakes, First Steps Himalaya co-organised this event being held for the first time in Nepal. The event spurred community groups and organisations to construct their own earthbag buildings.
2015: Earthbag Training
Over 80 participants attended practical hands on training in Sangachok Nursery, learning all the necessary techniques to go away and build their own earthbag buildings.
2016: Teacher Training Accommodation
Located adjacent to the Training Centre at Sangachok Nursery, this large nine room building can cater for up to 24 trainees at a time.
2016: Classrooms at Mulkharka
Following a request from the community, we rebuilt Adarsha School in the village of Mulkharka, Sindhupalchok. Six classrooms were constructed, creating a model earthbag school that was commended by international expert, Owen Geiger for its ultra strong construction.
2017/18: Sangachok Nursery
Following the earthquake of 2015, the ECD was rebuilt at Sangachok Nursery, Sindhupakchok. A circular play group room was added as well as the reconstruction of four classrooms at Jana Jyoti School using an approved recycled brick method.
2017/18: Classrooms at Dyali
This earthbag project provided two spacious classrooms at Jana Jyoti School, Dyali, Sindhupalchok. This meant that the youngest children could move out of the temporary learning centres that they had been crammed into since the 2015 earthquake.
2019/20: Classrooms at Aptar
Children at Shree Pragitsheel School in Nuwakot had been learning in temporary learning centres since 2015. This project provided three large classrooms, so that they would have spacious nurturing learning environments in which to develop a love of learning.
2023: Classrooms at Payunswara
Children in the remote village of Payunswara, Nuwakot had no school in their village. The nearest school was a 90 minute walk through forest often frequented by leopards. Too scared to go, young children stayed home without any education. Our earthbag school has 3 classrooms and is now open to children with an excellent learning environment.
EARTHBAG BUILD SUPPORT
There is growing interest globally in earthbag building and First Steps Himalaya has been one of the leading players in introducing earthbag building to Nepal. This would not have been possible without the dedicated support of numerous companies and individuals, passionate about making a difference.
COURT CONSTRUCTION LTD
Cameron and Tracey Court and their New Zealand based company, Court Construction Limited, first approached First Steps Himalaya in 2013, wanting to get involved. The result was not just one earthbag building project but many and ongoing support through fundraising, technical advice and volunteer work in Nepal.
We would also like to acknowledge the ongoing support of Mark Clayton and friends, Peak Freaks Canada, Owen Geiger and all the wonderful volunteers and Nepali locals who have helped create these eco-friendly sustainable and earthquake resilient buildings.
