Turning heads at just nine, Bismar’s eyes reflect all that is pure and innocent. Tragically, they also witnessed the complete destruction of her family home and local government school after the 7.6 Richter scale earthquake shook the village of Kanog that fated Saturday morning in October.

“The children were in class, but the teachers rushed them out before the school collapsed – there were only minor injuries,” said Bismar’s 30-year-old mother Bano as she warmly enveloped her in her arms. Bismar's brother Zabbar, aged 13, stood close by with a look of open curiosity.

Bano’s immediate family, including husband Imtiaz, son Zabbar, daughter Salma (15) and Bismar survived the earthquake, which shook thousands of villages including Kanog at the entrance to the Siran valley in the NWFP.

At least we were living in our home before the earthquake

Many of their friends and extended family members however lost their lives in their homes or schools. They were among more than 73,000 people killed in the quake.

Looking much older than her 30 years yet revealing the beauty now starkly evident in her daughter, Bano struggled to recall specific aspects of a better life before the quake. “At least we were living in our home before the earthquake,” she said.

And, the family home did not just represent security and protection for this mother of three, it was a symbol of pride, built by the hands of her husband Imtiaz who made a living as a mason.

Earning 4,500 – 5,000 rupees (US$75-83) per month, considered an average wage for lesser-skilled work, Imtiaz and Bano would spend the bulk of the income on food – since the family does not own agricultural land on which to cultivate wheat or raise livestock.

Any surplus was spent on their children’s education in the form of schoolbooks and school clothes, as well as medical care at the small field hospital in Sacha or more equipped hospital in Shinkiari, located one hour away by car and many more for this family on foot.

“My husband’s tools were buried in the earthquake,” lamented Bano, communicating with these few words that their livelihood was also buried and that meant an uncertain future.

“We hope that when construction work starts my husband gains employment and new tools, but for now, everyone is building temporary shelters themselves,” said Bano, gesturing to the temporary but solid structure her husband built with corrugated galvinised iron (CGI) sheeting to act as a living space for the family on especially cold days and nights.

With a simple inbuilt wooden fireplace for warmth and cooking, the temporary home at least provides some testament to the mason’s prized skills.

After adjusting to the dark space, the small fireplace reveals the dying embers from the morning when the family prepared tea. The smell of home-baked bread also wafts from the fire and somehow transforms the structure into a comfortable and inviting haven.

A haven built with quality materials that have seen this family through their darkest hours and a bitter Himalayan winter without their normal coping mechanisms.

Soon after the earthquake, World Vision began a rapid relief operation in the area, distributing tents, tarpaulins, blankets, mattresses, CGI sheeting, shelter material kits and female hygiene kits to more than 550 households or nearly 2,900 people in Kanog, located near the larger town of Jabouri where World Vision also distributes food rations in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme.

“World Vision gave us blankets, mattresses, a family tent, CGI sheeting and a shelter material kit to construct the shelter,” Bano said smiling.

She added, “We are comfortable in the shelter and happy that we received a waterproof roof. We plan to use the CGIs to help build our permanent shelter.”

Some 2,800 shelter kits, including CGIs, were purchased through a Canadian International Development Agency grant.

A grant from Hong Kong purchased 1,650 heavy canvas family tents, which afforded desperately needed protection for thousands of people like Bano, Imtiaz and their children soon after the earthquake.

While some 10,480 blankets and 1,500 mattresses and other insulation materials vital in keeping families, especially children, warm during the freezing nights, were purchased through a grant from the Irish government.

The family has also received food rations from World Vision including wheat flour, evident in the flat but filling chapatti bread that Bismar picks at contentedly, prepared by Bano in the tiny fireplace.

Pitched next to the CGI structure, the tent, accommodating two wooden beds with a small table and chairs, adorned with plastic flowers in the middle, is a bright, warm, cosy space thanks to Bano’s feminine touch and attention to detail.

In a small space near the entrance stand most of the family’s salvaged belongings.

Bano explains that she and her daughters sleep in the tent and her husband and son sleep in the wooden structure covered with the CGI sheeting. The family spends daylight hours between both shelters.

“He is the best man I know; he takes care of me,” shared Bano, when asked about her husband. “I have three children, I am happy,” she said with an air that these words said it all.

From an arranged married 17 years ago, friendship has matured into a strong, loving relationship that is helping the family withstand enormously testing circumstances.

"This kind of relationship and openness is rare, especially in these rural, more traditional areas,” explained Gul-e-Afshan, World Vision's Community Mobiliser Manager who is currently building a team of mobilisers to work with communities on restarting livelihoods.

Afshan added, "Bano may be poor, but she has a place in the home and a measure of freedom.”

Asked what is priority for her and her husband for the future, Bano replied confidently, “To build a house.”

After receiving 25,000 rupees (US$416) as a first installment of their government housing compensation, this family, like thousands of others is waiting for a second government housing compensation installment of 75,000 rupees (US$1,247) after the government official verifies that the rubble is being cleared and the house is being built according to construction standards. It would then receive a further 75,000 rupees for the plinth and roof.

"This is a positive thing for the community – it mobilises families to help themselves. They are compelled to pick up the pieces of their broken lives,” said Afshan.

Motioning towards her children, Bano said determinedly, “Schools are also very necessary for Pakistan’s children – educating them is our hope for their future.

“Teachers are not regular at school, which makes it difficult at present,” she explained. The students, including Salma, Zabbar and Bismar, are currently attending a UNICEF-run school near the River Sum, not far from the temporary shelter.

We are comfortable in the shelter and happy that we received a waterproof roof. We plan to use the CGIs to help build our permanent shelter

As Afshan explained, government wages have dropped and there is no consistency in teaching. As well, many teachers have new responsibilities to care for their immediate family members and are not able to teach every day.

“We would like to send our children to school beyond grade ten, but you need more money to do so. We would need to send them to Mansehra located more than two hours by car,” explained the mother.

“A government job would be best for them because they tend to be more permanent,” she said, comparing it with a masonry job which is more demand-driven.

In the background, Bano’s neighbours and friends chime in at regular intervals, contributing their opinions and agreement.

“Whenever there is a problem we come together to talk. Women are more talkative. We talk a lot,” one woman said, with the rest giggling openly.

"This is a good, close knit community; people look after one another,” explained Afshan. "Also, because families live near the link road, they are accustomed to outsiders and organisations and this makes them more open.”

“We are thankful that all of the countries came to our aid,” said Bano on behalf of the women, as they nodded in turn.