Carpenter Dinesh Tamang is one of hundreds of craftspeople who learned a new trade in the quake's aftermath.1

The 2015 quake also destroyed hundreds of monuments and royal palaces -- including the Kathmandu Valley's UNESCO World Heritage sites -- that had drawn visitors from around the world.

In deeply religious Nepal, temples and heritage sites are not just tourist attractions, but an integral part of cultural and spiritual life.

The public demand for their rebuilding fueled a need for workers adept at traditional architectural techniques including stone masonry and intricate wood and metal work.

Nepal Vocational Academy, where Tamang enrolled, said it had trained hundreds in traditional skills since the quake.2

Puri said that the academy expanded its facility after the quake to meet the surge in demand for training.

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• 1. "I got a chance to work in reconstruction projects, to rebuild damaged temples and houses," said Tamang, who was unemployed before the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people. "It is very rewarding work," he said while carefully carving an intricate pattern on a wooden panel with a chisel and mallet.
• 2. "Even though the quake was a tragic event, it has created opportunities in different sectors," said Rabindra Puri, a heritage conservationist and the academy's founder. "The demand for skilled manpower drastically increased".