A Story of Resilience and Hope
In the remote hills of Meringden Rural Municipality-3, Dobhan, the silence of a peaceful evening in March 2021 was shattered by flames that swept through the village. Among those affected was a quiet, resilient woman Maya. When the fire broke near her neighbor’s home, Maya and her family had only moments to react. With no time to gather belongings, they ran barefoot into the open, leaving behind not just their home, but a lifetime of memories and necessities.
Everything was lost her children's schoolbooks, the family's food stock, their clothes, and even essential documents. "Our house was completely destroyed, along with the paddy and corn stored for the months ahead," Maya recalls. "We were so helpless that we couldn’t even save the food we had inside."
For weeks, the trauma of the disaster lingered. Maya and a few other families found temporary shelter, huddled together and trying to make sense of t`heir loss. The emotional toll weighed heavily on everyone, especially the women who bore the added burden of caring for children in uncertain conditions.
It was during this period of despair that the support from GTA and Give2Asia arrived.
Through coordinated efforts with the President of Meringden Rural Municipality, the organization delivered not just emergency relief but thoughtful, practical materials that directly addressed the needs of the affected families. Maya described this support as more than charity it was a lifeline. “Many organizations came and distributed various items, but what came from GTA and Give2Asia was different. It was comprehensive, usable, and exactly what we needed in our day-to-day life.”
The financial aid allowed Maya to begin rebuilding what she had lost. But beyond the tangible assistance, there was something equally profound: the restoration of dignity, a sense of being seen, and the emotional comfort of not being forgotten. In her words, “Their help reminded us that we were not alone in our suffering.”
Today, while the physical scars of the fire may still mark the landscape, Maya stands stronger. With a roof over her head, her children back in school, and food once again in the kitchen, she continues to rebuild not just her home, but her hope.
The GTA’s Adult Well-being and Financial Relief Initiative supported by Give2Asia proved to be more than just a relief program, it became a source of mental resilience, emotional support, and a critical stepping stone toward normalcy for families like Maya’s.
Disclaimer: This story has been collected, compiled, and edited by the Field and Communication team at GTA Nepal, based entirely on the personal account shared by the individual. While the language has been refined for narrative clarity, the meaning and intent remain unchanged. The individual’s name has been anonymized to respect their privacy.