Good Neighbors International (GNI), in its plan to operate relief and rehabilitation projects, aims to build safe infrastructure, provide quality education, increase access to safe water and health services and improve livelihood of the earthquake affected communities in Gorkha, Kathmandu and Lalitpur. The operation plan will not be limited to immediate relief support and ensuring emergency needs. It ultimately aims to enhance capacity of community people and support safer self-recovery.
Good Neighbors has been acknowledged by UNOCHA as co-leading agency in Protection Cluster of Gokha Distric Disaster Relief Committee and served to coordinate among humanitarian agencies. GNI has increased its budget to 3 million USD and has long-term objectives in relief and rehabilitation measures in shelter, education, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) and health sectors.
GNI prioritizes child protection as its number one issue in all projects. To ensure child protection and equitable access to education in humanitarian crisis, 14 Child Friendly Spaces and 111 Temporary Learning Centers are being constructed and operated. 42 damaged schools in the area will undergo reconstruction as well, until the demolished educational infrastructures have been rebuilt in the future. Many children will benefit from this Psychosocial support will continue in order to prevent Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and reduce anxiety symptoms after the earthquake. Also, GNI delivers protection messages such as prevention of gender based violence and child abuse on local major radio channels as well as on flexible banners in prime locations.
GNI strives to improve the water and sanitation environment of the community by providing 54 latrines, 10 water tanks and water pipes in schools and public health facilities. Health and sanitation education is conducted along with distribution of hygiene/dignity kits to raise awareness of WASH To increase the health accessibility of the local population, GNI has been deploying 11 health workforces and operating temporary health posts and outreach clinics in hard-to-reach places. Relief and Rehabilitation operation plan will not be limited to conducting projects in Nepal. It intends to take strategical move focused on networking, capacity building and program management. GNI will work to establish network with partners at both central and local level and constitute strong communication mechanism for disaster response.