A ray of hope after the storm

The sun is scorching hot in Khalte, Dhading and I am literally covered in sweat. I reach the place after an uncomfortable 90-minute ride from Dhadingbesi on a very harsh road but as I step down from the vehicle I forget all my worries as I see an adorable 3-year-old boy washing a plump green cucumber with tap water. The fresh cucumber is too big for his tiny hands but he is trying hard to clean it.

I hear his grandfather calling from the distance, "Nischal, do not eat that cucumber. It is too big for you."

Nischal laughs and quickly runs away with his prized possession towards the nearby cowshed. His grandfather, Ramhari, tries to go after him but the little boy is already enjoying the cucumber. "Okay, you win. Have it but do not finish all at once," Ramhari suggests.

Ramhari is one of the several beneficiaries at Khalte Village Development Committee who received cash voucher worth NPR 7,000 (US$ 70) from World Vision after last year's earthquake destroyed his home and left his wife injured.

He recollects the tragic incident, "My two-storied house, where I have spent my entire life, has been completely ruined by the earthquake. Since then we have built a temporary hut and me and my 8 other family members are surviving in that congested space."

With a strong desire to return things to normalcy, Ramhari utilised the cash voucher and bought vegetable seeds, farming equipment and fertilisers. He was also provided with farming training. "The training really opened my eyes as I learned about new methods to properly manage and run a vegetable farm. Earlier, I did not use any fertiliser and I did not even know how to properly plant a seed. But after implementing the techniques learned from the training my vegetable farm is really flourishing and I have even switched from subsistence farming to commercial vegetable farming."

Suddenly, Nischal returns with the half-eaten cucumber and listens to our conversation. He is eyeing on a pomegranate next to his grandfather's chair.

Now, Ramhari's vegetable sales in the local market is booming and he earns up to NPR 50,000 (US$ 500) per month. Holding Nischal tightly in his arms he shares his dream, "My family cannot live in the temporary hut much longer. When I save enough money I will build a new house and I will also send this little fellow to school. I want him to study and be a good man. He is the future of our family."

To date, World Vision has provided cash vouchers to around 2,000 earthquake-affected households in Dhading with the support of Aktion Deutschland Hilft.