All Hands Mob-D
From January to May 2016, I volunteered with All Hands in Nepal as part of their earthquake recovery program. I was quickly enrolled and trained into demolition. Because of the gas crisis the country was facing, All Hands needed to save on transportation costs. To avoid multiple weekly trips back and forth the working sites, the demolition teams started installing temporary camp while working in a specific area. Therefore, becoming "Mobile Demolition Teams"...
All Hands provides tee-shirt to every volunteer to wear during working hours.
Using the digging bar was the best way to separate the traditional Nepali houses walls made of two leaves of rocks.
Pradeep, one of our Nepali staff workers, talking with the beneficiaries to assess their needs.
Most of the demolition was operated with manual tools. The team had almost no access to electric tools.
Trying to salvage all personal belongings from the benefiary's house before demolition.
Daryl, 23 years old, starting his first project as a team leader. Being in charge of the safe demolition of a concrete-made-collapsed-school.
The 7.8M earthquake from April 2015 left heavy signs of damages on all buildings.
The second floor of the school entirely shifted and crushed the first floor. Luckily the earthquake happened on a Saturday when kids don't have class.
First step was to remove the remaining wall bricks, then weaken the concrete columns and finally pull the building down.
Nineteen years old Will removing overhead hazards from the roof.
Basic comfort on the camp, where the team spent almost two weeks.
Team members were alternatively demolishing or spotting. Spotters role was to prevent any hazard or incident from outside while the volunteers were working on the building.
Hard work and hot weather made hydration a key element in safety measures.
After more than ten days sledding concrete, the bodies started to show signs of weakness and exhaustion.
Hello! What is your name?
The most used sentences by Nepali children with volunteers.
Team picture to celebrate a successful and safe demolition.
Working in hard and dangerous conditions creates strong bonds amongst the team members.