On October 5, 2005, a devastating earthquake struck South Asia, displacing tens of thousands of people in Pakistan. In the mountains of the Himalayas, entire villages were lost to the tremors, and harsh winters and monsoon rains made life in camps for the displaced precarious. Returning to destroyed villages and homes, families are working to regain what they lost in the quake – a process that will continue for years to come.

Church World Service and gifts from One Great Hour of Sharing are helping communities rebuild by training skilled craftspeople. Students are learning masonry, electricity, welding, plumbing, and carpentry, and taking ownership of the construction efforts.

With valuable skills in hand, the participants are not only building new homes for their families. They are also passing their knowledge to others and spearheading construction in their communities – working and leading in reconstruction efforts throughout the region