Yuliya Zhuk, a geologist, volunteered her time and expertise to help the AWASUKA program in Bhimphedi, Nepal. She gave a speech about local geology after the 2015 earthquakes to explain differences in earthquake damage. Yuliya visited the program's construction site and provided geological analysis and advice. She also wrote two technical reports on geology and flooding risks to ensure the site was suitable. The program coordinator expresses gratitude for Yuliya's professional and enthusiastic contributions, which helped the program's work.

1. Barcelona, January 2016
To whom it may concern,
As AWASUKA Program Coordinator in Amics del Nepal NGO, I would like to express my most
sincere gratitude to Yuliya Zhuk, a professional geologist who has helped our program in
Bhimphedi, during her different visits to the village in November and December 2015.
Amics del Nepal manages a Children’s Home in Bhimphedi, and since the April-May
earthquakes is also running an Antiseismical Reconstruction Program, which is managed in
close collaboration with a local agricultural cooperative: Agragaami Krishak Krishi Sahakaari.
Bhimphedi is a small town sixty kilometers south from Kathmandu, on the way to Hetauda.
Most of its population lives on agriculture, only some little commerce is based along the main
road crossing the village. The villagers’ lifestyle lacks many improvable healthy habits like:
treating water, cooking without smoke, general hygiene, etc... Apart from antiseismical
construction, AWASUKA program intends to raise awareness on these topics.
Yuliya came to Bhimpheid several times in order to do some geological mapping for her thesis,
in different areas sorrounding this village. Since the first moment, she offered her help to
AWASUKA as a geologist. Taking advantage of this, Amics del Nepal asked Yuliya to give
some geological support to the program, and these were the activities she performed:
- Speech at Rotary Club Kantipur weekly meeting. RCK is a former parter of Amics del
Nepal, having developed some projects together, and Rotary International. During that
meeting she talked about the geology in Nepal and then focused on Bhimphedi area.
Her speach clarifyed why some areas in Bhimphedi suffered more damages than
others, regarding the different types of soil (ranging from clay to solid rock).
- Visit to AWASUKA Prototype site, she came to the village and joined the AWASUKA
team when going to see the site, and Yuliya was giving advice on the location of it, as
well as analyzing it from different points of view.
- Two technical reports for Awasula Program: a geological report and a flooding risk
report, in order to ensure that our prototype’s site was right regarding soil conditions.
Regarding Yuliya’s performance, she fulfilled her professional duties very promtply
successfully, and with great enthusiasm and motivation. She also contributed very positively to
the AWASUKA team and to local people.
To conclude, I would like to remark that Yuliya’s work has contributed very positively to the
AWASUKA Program in our NGO, and I am personally glad to have had her in our team. I have
no doubt that Yuliya meets sufficient professional and personal skills to complete any job she
wants.
Sincerely,
Mònica Sans Duran
Architect and Musician
Bhimphedi Awasuka Program Coordinator
Antiseismical Reconstruction & Habitat Improvement
Amics del Nepal