It’s a week later, but it isn’t over. The very unluckiest are still waiting for their first sign of outside help. For most, though, the first phase of the earthquake is drawing to a close: the aftershocks are becoming rarer, the injured are beginning to heal, the debris has been piled up and pushed to the side.
International news is moving on, but for the people of Nepal, the long, slow task of rebuilding their lives is just beginning. We are still accepting donations for the earthquake recovery effort
(https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=CWEBCT8F344H6)
Nepal Peace Corps volunteers and staff immediately began working to help their Nepali communities. The following PC-affiliated organizations are working on getting aid to towns and villages in some of the hardest-hit areas. They would all welcome your support.
1. Bandipur, Tanahu district:
Chij Shrestha, a long-time PC staff member, has been living in Bandipur. He and his wife are ok. He has posted messages and photos on his Facebook page about the fact that homes of many Dalit families there have been completely destroyed. RPCVs Bill Hanson and John Schneider are heading to Bandipur in the next few days. Chij is accepting donations to help provide needed supplies and materials to the families there. Read Chij’s posts and see photos at: https://www.facebook.com/
Donate money for Chij’s earthquake relief project in Bandipur by sending donations to:
World Education Inc, 44 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210
Attention: Emma Tobin for Bandipur Project/Chij Shrestha.
2. Gorkha District
RPCV Don Messerschmidt is on the Board of the Gorkha Foundation. That foundation is working in many villages in Gorkha district, one of the most hard-hit during the earthquake. Read the blog about what they have been doing on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.
3. Chautara, Sindhupalchok district
RPCVs are raising money of the town of Chautara, badly damaged by the earthquake. 47 Peace Corps trainees of groups 199 and 200 lived with families in Chautara while in training. Many of them have banded together to raise funds to support their host families and the bigger Chautara community. On their fund-raising page, you can see a 10 minute TV news video of Chautara and its environs. Two of the RPCVs are already in Chautara.
https://life.indiegogo.com/
4. Dolakha District
Educate the Children International is a small organization that has been working in Dolakha district, another hard-hit district. RPCVs Mel Goldman and Barb Butterworth are on its Board of Directors. You can donate to their relief fund for use in Dolakha by PayPal at their website: http://www.etc-
