How Coca-Cola is Helping Communities Rebuild Post-Earthquake in Nepal

Coca-Cola has sponsored my travel, accommodations, and other expenses for my trip to Nepal. All photography is owned by Mom Spark Media unless otherwise noted.

A week ago, I (and a handful of bloggers) traveled halfway across the world to the country of Nepal, courtesy of Coca-Cola.

During my short visit, I witnessed various initiatives and causes that Coca-Cola is currently supporting in Nepal. I will be sharing these experiences in a series of posts here on Mom Spark.

Today’s post is focused on Bhurunchuli Village.

A Massive Earthquake

On April 25, 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal. This powerful quake affected an estimated 8 million people in 39 of Nepal’s 75 districts, including Nepal’s two largest cities – Kathmandu (where I spent most of my time last week) and Pokhara.

The Coca-Cola Foundation quickly jumped into action by giving a $1 million grant to the American Red Cross in delivering assistance to 75,000 people in 15,000 households by providing emergency healthcare, emergency shelter, and restore family links.

Rebuilding in Bhurunchuli Village

Bhurunchuli Village, a small village of the Tamang people, was one of the many communities affected by the earthquake, with over 50 homes completely leveled.

Despite the devastation, hope was not lost in Bhurunchuli Village. Rebuilding started immediately, with the help of the Kathmandu non-profit CREASION (Center for Research and Sustainable Development in Nepal), Bottlers Nepal Limited (BNL), Rotary Club of Jawalahkel and close to 400 amazing villagers.

The CEO and founder of CREASION, Aanand Mishra, chatted with us about the rebuilding of Bhurunchuli. Mishra shared that it was important that the community be involved in this process, as it gives villagers a sense of pride and worth during a season of grief that post-earthquake damage brings.

photo credit: Coca-Cola Company

In fact, the women of this village create the bricks that are used for the new homes built.

Talk about girl power. It was impressive to see.

photo credit: Coca-Cola Company

There are 24 completed homes, with 10 halfway finished and eight left to go.

Each home costs around $5000 to build.

Each home is also structurally sound for a future earthquake, with steel rods running through each brick and a metal roof.

Bhurunchuli does not plan on falling victim to mother nature again.

Padhero (Bath House) Blessing

The partnership that was been built between BNL and CREASION created more than these family homes, too. Seeing that the post-earthquake damage would be a potential community water and sanitation health issue, the BNL stepped in to address something Bhurunchuli had never had in its village before – a bathhouse (or padhero).

Before the quake, homes in this village didn’t include a bathroom of any type, so it wasn’t uncommon for women to bathe publicly. For all of the obvious reasons you can possibly think of, this was not an ideal situation.

During our visit, the grounds for the new padhero received a Buddhist blessing that we were fortunate enough to be a part of.

photo credit: Coca-Cola Company

There may have been a bit of dancing afterward, too.

photo credit: Coca-Cola Company

Now that a padhero will be in the community, women and young girls can wash in a private space without the risk of rape, assault, or embarrassment. This is huge progress for a village such as Bhurunchuli and setting a high standard for neighboring areas that are watching its growth and evolution.

photo credit: Leanette Fernandez, Funtastic Life

I’ll be keeping a close eye on them, too.

Stay tuned for more updates on my journey through Nepal in the coming days. xoxo

Coca-Cola has sponsored my travel, accommodations, and other expenses for my trip to Nepal. All photography is owned by Mom Spark Media unless otherwise noted.

Amy @ Mom Spark

Founder of Mom Spark – a lifestyle blog for moms.