A Shelter of Hope: Chandeshwor Rai’s Story from Hardship to Hope
Chandeshwor Rai has always lived a modest life in Rajwada village. He never complained, even when each day meant long hours working on other people’s farms just to earn enough to feed his family. He carried more responsibility than most. His elder brother, Laxmi Narayan, is unable to hear or speak and lives with mental health challenges. He depends completely on Chandeshwor for care, protection, and dignity.
At home, Chandeshwor’s wife held the family together in quiet strength. She managed the household, tended a small kitchen garden, and lovingly cared for their three young children Rakesh, aged eight; Bikesh, seven; and baby Manisha, only nine months old. Their home was simple, built close to the Bagmati River, but it was filled with love, routine, and hope for the future.
That fragile sense of stability was shattered last year when relentless floods caused the Bagmati River to break through its embankment. The water rushed into Rajwada village without mercy. In moments, Chandeshwor’s house was torn apart. Stored grains were swept away. Their farmland, already modest, was left across the swollen river no longer reachable, no longer usable. Everything they relied on vanished.
The family was left with nothing. No roof. No food. No work. The children fell sick, frightened by nights spent in the open, cold and rain soaking through their clothes. Chandeshwor and his wife felt helpless, overwhelmed by the fear that they could no longer protect their children or care for Laxmi Narayan. Hope felt very far away.
When the family was at its lowest, support arrived through the Nepal Flood and Landslide Response Project. RDC Nepal, in partnership with WVI‑Nepal, reached out to seven of the most vulnerable families affected by the disaster—including Chandeshwor’s.
They were provided a safe transitional shelter four solid walls and a roof that no longer leaked fear with every rainfall. Along with the shelter came food, beds, blankets, bed sheets, and essential household items. More than material support, it was a reminder that they had not been forgotten.
Slowly, life began to mend.
Rakesh and Bikesh returned to school. Each morning, they now wake up in a secure home, eat warm food, and sit down with their books in peace. Baby Manisha sleeps soundly in a clean, dry bed, protected from the cold and the rain. Their mother moves through her day with renewed confidence, caring for her children and nurturing vegetables in their small garden once again.
Chandeshwor now goes to work with a lighter heart, knowing his family is safe while he is away. Laxmi Narayan lives alongside them in dignity, sheltered and cared for within the family circle.
Today, the Rai family lives with safety, dignity, and renewed hope. Their shelter is not just a structure made of materials, it is a symbol of recovery, compassion, and a fresh beginning after devastating loss. For Chandeshwor and his family, it is not simply a house. It is a chance to start again.
