On 25 April 2015, a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, causing massive destruction and shattering millions of lives. This natural disaster affected around 8 million people, almost a third of the country's population. More than 9,000 lives were lost and 22,000 injured, while entire villages were razed to the ground and essential infrastructure destroyed.

The education system has suffered particularly badly: thousands of schools have been damaged or reduced to rubble, depriving 1.5 million children of a stable learning environment. In response to the emergency, temporary schools have been built, but many remain inadequate to meet long-term educational needs.

For families, the earthquake has brought insurmountable challenges: loss of income, food insecurity, and the agonising choice between sending children to school or making them work to support themselves.

This tragic context has highlighted the importance of rebuilding not only buildings, but also lives, by putting education at the heart of rehabilitation efforts. Initiatives such as Helping Hands play a crucial role in ensuring a better future for Nepal's most vulnerable children.