Hundreds of school buildings in the district of Nuwakot, Nepal, were so badly damaged in the 2015 earthquakes that they are unsafe for occupancy. Many months following the earthquake, children continue to study outdoors, in temporary learning centers or – in some cases – in the dangerously damaged buildings.

All Hands Volunteer (AHV), a volunteer-driven US based non-profit organization, has partnered with Nepal’s Department of Education and Miyamoto International Nepal, in order to reconstruct and safely reopen eight school campuses.

On behalf of AHV, Miyamoto conducted the structural assessment of five of the school campuses, which are scattered across the hard-hit Nuwakot district in remote and difficult to reach rural villages. Each of the school campus are made up of four to eight structures of different building types which have sustained various degrees of earthquake-related damage. Miyamoto analyzed the school building stock and engineered repair and retrofit designs for each school building typology. Miyamoto also reviewed the structural plans for the new construction of three campuses and is training AHV’s field engineering teams on construction supervision and quality control on site. Through periodic field visits and spot checks, Miyamoto’s engineers supported AHV’s field teams in ensuring that the school rebuilding program meets international standards for life-safety. Through this program, 1655 number of children are returned to safe school buildings.