Steadfast Nepal

The Cause

On April 25, 2015, a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked the country of Nepal. More than 8,000 people lost their lives, and over 20,000 more were injured. This tragedy was followed by a second 7.3 magnitude quake where hundreds more people were killed. Within seconds as many as 3,000,000 people became homeless when over 500,000 homes were destroyed or severely damaged.

Steadfast Companies responded almost immediately by providing financial resources for the relief efforts. However, it became increasingly apparent that the tremendous challenges that the country faced was going to require much, much more. Steadfast Nepal was born from this disaster and created to address the overwhelming need for sustainable housing solutions that could be easily replicated in the extreme conditions of Nepal.

The Work

Shortly after the quakes, a Steadfast team began exploring various construction techniques that could be implemented in the rebuilding efforts, and quickly began to focus on Earthbag Building technology as a viable option. After consulting with engineers and architects in the U.S. and Nepal, plans began to emerge that honored the unique architecture of the country.

After the designs and engineering were completed, Steadfast Nepal wanted to test the concept in several locations by building model homes in districts impacted by the quake. Prior to doing so, the team needed to assess several important factors: Would the people be receptive to a new construction technique? Could the materials be acquired locally? How much would the homes actually cost? What unforeseen challenges would there be?

Amazingly, all these questions were answered and have since exceeded expectations. While initially skeptical, locals responded enthusiastically and even assisted in constructing their homes. As an added benefit, all the building materials are manufactured and available in Nepal. By sourcing all materials from within the country, Steadfast Nepal was able to help create jobs for one of the poorest economies in the world.

Steadfast Nepal built beautiful homes that are sustainable, environmentally friendly and earthquake resistant, all while providing jobs to an area of the world with tremendous need.

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