Offering Livelihoods Through Bamboo

Nepal faces interconnected challenges that present compound hardships for many of its people. With its vulnerability to extreme weather and natural disasters, communities are often struck and displaced. Their homes and land are destroyed beyond recovery, leaving families to resettle in informal settlements that lack legal recognition and access to essential services. Facing economic constraints, many people in these areas live in temporary bamboo huts that require constant upkeep to withstand the monsoon season’s heavy rains and winds. Even if families save enough to improve their homes, the insecurity of living on informal land often discourages them—any investment could be lost overnight due to potential eviction, taking both their shelter and hard-earned savings. 

These families find themselves in a cycle of poverty, held back from establishing stable livelihoods. This is why, at the Hilti Foundation, we recognize the need for a holistic solution that not only provides the physical foundation of housing but also paves the way for long-term prosperity. We focus on building more than homes; we aim to strengthen an ecosystem. The bamboo supply industry is developing rapidly, and the first set of professional standards is about to be issued by the national government. As people in need are benefiting from stable houses, employment opportunities in bamboo harvesting, treatment, construction, and the training of skilled builders are continuing to stimulate the Nepalese economy.

But don’t just take it from us—hear from Netra and Bhim about how bamboo has transformed their lives.