WHEN ANY DISASTER STRIKES, CREASION IS ALWAYS AT THE FOREFRONT PROTECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AND SECURING THEIR LIVES AGAINST ALL ODDS.
Our motto for the project is Building Back Better where we not just provide temporary relief to our beneficiaries but ensure that their capacities are strengthened for the long- term as well. Our beneficiaries are not just passive recipients but also active members who envision, plan and implement the changes that they wish to see in the communities.
The primary strength of the Emergency Disaster Response as the name suggests is that we are always at standby for any type of disaster. From the 2015 earthquake to the 2017 flood and the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, we have stood at the front line helping the most vulnerable communities by providing relief and rehabilitation support. The project has helped children get back to school, households regain their normality and communities build their lives impacted due to natural disasters and unforeseen circumstances.
WHEN WAS THE EMERGENCY DISASTER RESPONSE PROJECT LAUNCHED?
Emergency Disaster Response is a compassion-based community regrowth initiative, which was born in the aftermath of the major earthquake and aftershock that hit Nepal on 25th April and 12th May 2015, respectively, and has continued its objectives of helping those at the time of need. As this project started from the 2015 Earthquake the project has continued to work and help people during the COVID-19 crisis and flood to help people regain their normality and build their communities.
WHAT LED TO THE INITIATION OF EMERGENCY DISASTER RESPONSE?
We realized that despite the huge amount of international fund disbursement, many villages have not been reached by the national government and international organizations. This made us reflect on the need of a different type of approach to humanitarian aid, that has to start perceiving the communities as active actors of the reconstruction, and no longer as passive beneficiaries, as we believe that empowered and self-reliant communities will be less dependent on external funds.
WHAT IS THE MAIN AIM OF EMERGENCY DISASTER RESPONSE?
Through the project, we intend to assist individuals and communities affected by disasters. We aim to bring long-term and sustainable change to communities where beneficiaries act as active recipients of help. It is also a way for us to give back to the community and to build stronger bonds and communities by helping those at the time of need.
WHAT ARE THE INTERVENTIONS THAT EMERGENCY RELIEF PROJECT HAS CONDUCTED UNTIL NOW?
In the 2015 Nepal Earthquake, Rebuild for Change (RFC) was introduced. RFC is a one-of-a-kind project that successfully integrated technology, communal feeling, and eco- sustainability. It activated and empowered the local community and provided vocational training to them while initiating rehabilitation programs such as Model Village in Burunchuli, Lalitpur, RFC Schools, and Padhero. Community initiatives to rebuild 50 houses in Burunchuli and 1500+ temporary shelters for displaced households along with reconstruction of schools such as Shree Higher Secondary School of Sindhuli in 2017 are some of our prominent activities.
The 2017 Flood was another disaster where the project intervened with its initiatives such as Alliance for Disaster Relief and Bamboo Banks. Similarly, the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak led to the start of a landmark project for waste workers- Waste Workers Emergency Relief Project (WWERP) as waste workers were the frontline workers. We took an initiative to appreciate and help waste workers in providing proper training facilities such as basics in handwashing, personal hygiene, menstruation programs, and Occupational Safety Health Camps for the waste workers.
REBUILD FOR CHANGE AIMS TO REBUILD SUSTAINABLE AND EARTHQUAKE- RESILIENT HOMES AND CREATE A FOUNDATION FOR LONG- TERM SOCIO- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
FUNDS SPENT ON REBUILDING SCHOOLS
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS CONSTRUCTED
STUDENTS IMPACTED
HOUSES REBUILT
TEMPORARY SHELTERS CONSTRUCTURED
The 2015 Nepal Earthquake uprooted many lives. Many died and many were left without any means to survive- their lands and houses were all destroyed by the earthquake and its aftershocks. Children were vulnerable due to consequences created by the destruction and their future was at stakes. 32000 classrooms were destroyed and 15352 of them were damaged.
This presented a bleak future for children and put a question mark on their education. Not just students, but the general lives of many were shattered with no shelter and scattering of communities that they relied on. Social cohesion of communities was shattered and the road to normalcy seemed like a battle.
Rebuild for Change (RFC) was introduced to cater to the destructions caused by the earthquake. It is a compassion- based community regrowth initiative undertaken to help communities build back their lives. The other motive behind the initiation of the project was to channelise the relief funds for the right purpose and to the right beneficiaries.
RFC is a symbiotic rehabilitation model, where the beneficiaries are not just passive recipient but active members of the process who envision, plan and implement the changes they wish to see in their communities. Through the project, the inculcation of local ethos and technology has always been the topmost priority which can be seen through its projects Padhero and Model Village of Burunchuli. Similarly, vulnerable schools in areas affected by the earthquake were also identified and a project titled RFC Schools was initiated to rebuild schools and classrooms..
Through RFC, we focused on two aspects while building schools- Construction and Community Engagement. A total of nine RFC Schools in different districts were built to ensure students are not refrained from their right to education. The schools were rebuilt in Dhading, Sindhupalchowk, Sindhuli, Saptari, Nuwakot and Lalitpur. One of the most remarkable school reconstruction project was conducted in Shree Higher Secondary School in Sindhuli made possible through the support of ANSSSJ.
Padhero was conceptualized to provide a communal bathing facility as well as create a hub to share and discuss problems less easily shared in the family. Other communal facilities such as a proper latrine was also built at Shree Bhimsen Secondary School. The toilet used by 325 students and 20 teachers was destroyed in the 2015 Earthquake which was rebuilt through RFC.
CREASION in collaboration with Rotary International District 3292 Nepal- Bhutan initiated a construction project to build permanent housing for 50 families by addressing both infrastructural and social components. The striking feature of the project was the involvement of local community throughout the process to address the sustainability of the houses built.
A COMMON PLATFORM FOR LIKE- MINDED AND INTERESTED VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST FLOOD- AFFECTED COMMUNITIES
FUNDS COLLECTED
PARTNERSHIPS FORMED
BENEFICIARIES REACHED
AREA COVERED
Flooding in Nepal is an annual occurrence that wreaks havoc in many communities. Reports suggest that since 1990 more than 10000 casualties have occurred every year in the six districts- Dhading, Makwanpur, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Sindhuli and Chitwan. The intensity of disasters especially in the Terai region only seems to be aggravating. Despite the repetition of the same pattern every year, the efforts to prevent this mishap is very bleak.
Realizing the need for a collaborative effort to tackle the impacts of the flood especially since the 2017 Flood, Alliance for Disaster Relief was launched. It is an alliance of youth clubs, vloggers, students, disaster experts, ex-armies and volunteers and serves as a common platform for those who want to help the affected communities. It was created under the leadership of CREASION and served as a reliable platform to dispatch help when needed for flood- affected communities.
Alliance for Disaster Relief is a reliable platform to collect in-kind donations from different interested donors and business enterprises and disseminate them to the neediest communities affected by flood. During the 2017 flood, CREASION’s head office served as the main centre of communication where real time information on the disaster- hit area were effectively collected from Nepal Police and the local people. Birgunj was the main logistic hub where the materials were transported to various affected areas. Every year as in the 2017 flood, CREASION steps on the front line and acts as a bridge to dispatch relief for disaster affected communities.
TOGETHER FOR WASTE WORKERS
WASTE WORKERS REACHED
BENEFICIARIES IMPACTED
MEALS SERVED
KG RATIONS PROVIDED
PROTECTIVE JUMPSUITS PROVIDED
The COVID-19 outbreak has dismantled sense of normalcy from the world. Our lives have been toppled and the economy, environment, society is at its lowest. Amidst this crisis, many groups of people have a struggle earning their daily livelihood. Waste workers are one such community of people who still need to work in the front line despite the threat of the virus but whose contributions have not been well recognized. They still face stigma attached to their profession as well as struggle to sustain their livelihood in the wake of COVID-19.
The Waste Workers Emergency Relief Project (WWERP) was introduced in response to the challenges faced by waste workers due to COVID-19. It is an initiative for waste workers to ease their livelihood and ensure their safety while at work. The plan of action of the project involved provision of ration materials, awareness sessions, safety gears and free medical consultations to waste workers and their families so their survival was easy and without risk even when their profession demanded them to be on the ground despite the risks of the virus.
The waste workers of Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Chitwan, Parsa, Sarlahi and Saptari were reached out through WWERP. The list of waste workers who would receive the assistance was curated with the help of our consortium partners- Doko Recyclers, NEPSEMYAK, Khaalisisi, Blue Waste to Value and Recycler Saathi. As per the plan and by following the rules of social distancing they were provided with the assistance materials and awareness sessions. The waste workers who were stationed at hospitals were given special priority and provided with awareness sessions on proper hospital waste management. In support of The Bhrikuti Devi Trust, 15 hospitals from Province 1,2,3,4 and 7 were also provided with safety gears. A total of 887 PPE Suits, 1174 N95 Masks, 1300 pairs of Surgical Gloves, 140 Safety Goggles, 749 Shoe Covers and 749 Hair Covers were given to the front- line workers stationed at hospitals. Other front liners including security personnel were also assisted by providing safety gears.
TOGETHER FOR WASTE WORKERS
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES
PPE SUITS
PAIRS OF SHOES
MASKS
PAIRS OF GLOVES
In regards to the expanding impacts of the pandemic, the risks imposed on the lives of waste workers was worsening. They are constantly exposed to risks of injuries, health concerns and above all the threat of COVID-19. The lack of a proper mechanism to make protective gears available to all waste workers on a sustainable basis is still lacking which has added challenges to their occupation amidst the COVID-19 crisis.
CREASION in support of the World Bank Group- Nepal provided safety gears, awareness and medical consultations to waste workers of Chitwan and Kathmandu. As a means to help them continue with their occupation, PPE suits, masks, gloves and protective shoes were provided. Further, medical consultation and awareness by a medical officer was also given to the waste workers on site to help them take better safety measures while working.
Oxygen for Nepal aims to avert a possible health catastrophe and fulfill the rising need for essential health infrastructures required to address increasing cases. We are a part of COVID Alliance for Nepal- a volunteer group of Nepali individuals – in Nepal and overseas -, companies, and foreigners - all with a love for Nepal.
Through our collaboration, we focus on fund collection, procurement, and effective distribution of life-saving oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, immediate setup of oxygen generators, and fully equipped isolation centers. Our interventions are already underway but to meet our goal of setting up 11 oxygen generators, procuring and distributing 1000 oxygen cylinders and 500 oxygen concentrators.
Nepal's Test Positivity Rate is almost 50%, the world's highest by now.Daily death count is raising but with the limitations of essential commodities such as oxygen, the crisis is worsening.
The intervention for this solution is through the distribution of Oxygen Plants, Oxygen Cylinders and Concentrators, Isolation Centers, and Covid 19 Safety Resources.
CREASION's Covid-19 Response has initiated multiple solutions in collaboration with different partners to fill the supply and demand gap of essential infrastructures.
