Build-A-House Progress Report

Build-a-house project is a special project designed and implemented by VAST Bhutan. The mission is to re-educate the young people in a rural setting, and help them get a better understanding of life. This project will hopefully make the young people realize their potential and importance in our society, and change their attitude towards human suffering. This will also help them develop a deeper sense of volunteerism, and inculcate the desire to help the needy truly from the heart.

VAST would like to thank all the people without whose support this project would not have realized. Contributions have poured in from as far as Singapore, and the US. As of 5 May 2009, the contributions amount to Nu. 198,000 (USD 4020). The VAST committee has decided that the money remaining after this project will be utilized to carry out another build-a-house this winter.

Due to not being able to find a suitable head carpenter (in Bhutanese construction, the head carpenter is the main man), and the late arrival of funds, the project could be started only towards the end of April.

Sponsors

• Li-Ping, Singapore
• Peter Ng, Singapore
• Chua shop fong, Singapore
• Teng Qianxi, Singapore
• Leow Soo Leng, Singapore
• Ong Zhun Yong, Singapore
• Lam Choy Har, Singapore
• Goh Ah Heng, Singapore
• Nicolas Poh, Singapore
• Cindy Ding, Singapore
• Yeok Ying, Singapore
• Aili Teo, Singapore
• Yap Soo Tin, Singapore
• Diana Fan, Singapore
• Amy, Singapore
• Ivan and Anna, Singapore
• Jacq, Singapore
• Tammy, Singapore
• Jaslyn, Singapore
• ZhiQiang, Singapore
• Audrey Poon, Singapore
• Rose Lee, Singapore
• Bee Pheng, Singapore
• Agnes, Singapore
• Ivy Neo, Singapore
• Yap Hwee Hoon, Singapore
• Tan Lay Keng, Singapore
• Kok Tiong Yun, Singapore
• Lisa Napoli, USA
• Lily, USA
• Tsering Dolma, USA
• Dillu Giri, Thimphu
• Phub and Laurance, Thimphu
• Sangay Wangchuk, Thimphu
• Lopen Lungten, Thimphu
• Aku and Tshering Om, Thimphu
• Asha Kama, Thimphu
• Yannick, Thimphu
• Tsoki Tenzin and friends, Thimphu
• Ama Bidha and Apa Dorji, Kabisa
• Nima Seldon, Thimphu
• Thinley and Karma Yangzom, Thimphu
• Karma Doma Tshering, Thimphu

Volunteers

• Apa Dorji and Ama Bidha, Kabisa
• Li-Ping and Cindy, Singapore
• Kuenga Zam, VAST Bhutan
• Gelay Jamtsho, VAST Bhutan
• Rajesh Gurung, VAST Bhutan
• Aku Sonam, VAST Bhutan
• Tenzin Norbu, VAST Bhutan
• Sangay Dorji, VAST Bhutan
• Pema Tshering, VAST Bhutan
• Sonam Wangchuk, VAST Bhutan
• Dorji Wangchuk, VAST Bhutan
• Pasang Tobgay, VAST Bhutan
• Asha Kama, VAST Bhutan
• Garab Dorji, Motithang

We hope the following pictures will suffice to take you to Punakha, where Ap Khen and his family are about to get a shiny new house.

>> Click here for more pictures on flickr

Volunteers loading construction materials in Thimphu.

Apa Dorji, a senior volunteer, with the old door from VAST.

Old window on its way to a new home.

A train of corrugated tin sheets.

Arrival of corrugated tin sheets for roofing. Corrugated tin sheets for roofing are much desired in Bhutan.

Aum Zam offers a white scarf “Dhar”, welcoming the new shiny tin sheet roofing.

A small celebration. Wine is offered to the local deities and the local volunteers on the occasion of the arriving of the tin sheets.

A small celebration. Wine is offered to the local deities and the local volunteers on the occasion of the arriving of the tin sheets.

A small celebration. Wine is offered to the local deities and the local volunteers on the occasion of the arriving of the tin sheets.

Aum Zam’s dream of having a house of rammed mud wall.

The head carpenter figuring out his cell phone.

One door is a mistake. To be removed.

The journey of the “Shuep” is long, and through a leech infested jungle.

10 strong men vs. the 30 feet hard wood. The struggle was for 3 hours, just to get it to the trail.

Ap Khen’s 4 children giving a helping hand to their new home.

A young axe man – Ap Khen’s son.

Lunch time.

>> Build-A-House Project.
>> Click here for more pictures on flickr