Ram Rijal is the NCEF area coordinator for Patan. He runs the Bloom Nepal school which was damaged by last year’s earthquake and which NCEF helped raise funds to repair. Here, Ram explains the long- and short-term impact of the earthquake and sends his most sincere thanks to our generous donors.

Ram Rijal, Area Coordinator: Patan

Where were you/what were you doing when the earthquake hit? What was your experience?

I was working on my computer when the office began to shake. I had some urgent tasks lined up for the day, so I wasn’t willing to let go of my computer. But everything started shaking violently and I realized that I had to run out. I left my computer underneath the table and hurriedly scurried towards the corridor and outside the office.

There was another door at the exit, which was locked. I got hurt a little bit while trying to unlock the door. Violent shaking made it impossible to balance and move well. Nevertheless, I was able to make my way to the open.

In that instant, I saw that our students staying in the dorms were running down the stairs. They must have been scared to death. I went upstairs to guide them outside into the open.

In less than two minutes, we were all gathered in the courtyard. The tremors had subsided, but the hearts of the kids were filled with tremendous fear. They wanted to call home, but the telephone network had become dysfunctional. Nonetheless, we were able to connect with family and friends that same day. It was very hard digesting the information that our new school in Godavari had collapsed completely, taking the lives of two custodians.

What was life like in the weeks and months after the earthquake?

About 25 children and 5 teachers, including myself, shared a space under a tent for more than a month and a half. We received a lot of love from our friends and family, but also from strangers, who were readily distributing water, food, and medicine. This kindness helped us handle the situation with bravery despite having to take care of many children.

We knew we had to provide them with clean, hygienic food and a safe living space. However, the relentless tremors and occasional winds and rain did not help.The school and work spaces were closed, which meant we were able to spend time with the children; they needed psychological and physical protection.

When did life start to get back to normal? What reminders of the earthquake are still around today?

Public and private institutions started normal operation in about a month. Unfortunately, this was around the time when our true difficulties came to the surface: we had to find a new location for our school.

Due to widespread damage, we could not find a space which fit our requirements. We were also not in a position to build anything new. Fortunately, we found some land in Lubhoo which could be rented to us. The next two months were spent constructing a temporary school using bamboo, mud, and tarpaulin. Many good-willed people came forward to help us.

We are grateful to NCEF for helping us buy beds, furniture, and computers which were lost during the earthquake. Without this support, we would not have been able to resume school; these items are absolutely the basic backbone of a residential school. Because these resources were made available, our temporary school is a livable space for our students to learn in a nurturing environment.

Do you and your friends or family still talk about the quake? What kinds of things do you discuss?

The earthquake has become a painful part of our history. We don’t talk about it often, but sometimes it gets woven into the discussion.

Now that a year has passed, how are things different?

A year has passed now. We had to perform and we worked our tails off to get the school running. Due to widespread damage, we could not find a space which fit our requirements. This has made us mature, and has taught us the importance of not giving up. We feel that we can now take on any major challenges which might come up in the course of getting Bloom Nepal School to be the best it can be.