This page is still a WIP but is being set up (because the need keeps growing....!) to help raise funds for the NGO's that we have been working with over the past month to instigate helicopter rescue flights carrying aid to many isolated villages in the Sindhupalchowk district of Nepal which was one of the districts affected the most by the April and May earthquakes (both measuring over 7 on the Ri
chter scale). We've already had a couple of events that have raised money for this and there are several more on foot. The funds already raised and that we hope to raise, are for these organisations and the independent aid workers collaborating with these NGO's in a team effort to rescue and rebuild the Sindupalchowk district. Although the funds will assist with this work in areas across the district, the primary focus of this fund is on the villiage of Helambu. This is in honour of Jigmey Lama, who was the person that asked for help for his family, home town and surrounding villages. Jigmey and I were connected though our association to the Australian Himalayan Foundation (AHF) after the first earthquake. Jigmey had offered to assist another friend of mine (Khudam) who was involved in aid work in Ghorka and Langtang. Jigmey then asked me to help him find a way get urgent aid in to Helambu and its surrounding villages as it had been over a week since the first earthquake and they had still not recieved help. We urgently contacted various organisations, including Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) who said that if we could get a local NGO to sign the registration forms they would send in urgent medivac choppers and would subsidise 80% of the cost of these flights for the NGO. After several attemps (with the help of various NGO's, kind friends and volunteers) and the setback another massive earthquake; we scored the help of another AHF volunteer to run a round and connect people for us in Khathmandu - Frank Marchetti (from QLD - who had been pipped at the post for his assent to the summit of everest by the quakes....). Eventually, we got the right people connected and with Frank on board to help us on the ground in Kathmandu, we connected to Jimmy Lama at the Helambu Education and Livelihood Partnership (HELP) in Helambu. Jimmy signed the registration papers so that assistance could be arranged through MAF to get immediate aid to isolated villages in Sidhupalchowk. Since that magical miracle Firday on 15 May, we have also connected to many other groups in other regions so that we can share information and work together as much as possible to minimalise the use of resources and maximise efficiency. On this journey we were introduced to Mal Haskings (through Joe Bonnington) who had been working alongside HELP on the ground in Helambu. You may have seen the details of various fundrasing events posted from my page for this cause but this keeps growing so it was time to asign this project some space of its own. A fund raising page will be connected soon; and the money raised from this fund will be divided between the groups above who have used thier own resources to date. These efforts have been a collaboration by a group of NGO's and independent volunteers with completely different back grounds and religious beliefs to achieve the common goal of saving lives and rebuilding Helambu. It is a photo of representatives from 4 NGO's in the MAF office to plan helicopter flights. There is no political or religious motivation for this project - it is purely action to get the help needed, where it is needed - ASAP. Funds will only go so far, so we (like most other organisations) have just pinpointed one area to assist financially (although we are still doing anything we can for our friends in other areas too). The funds will be allocated evenly to the following three groups (who are now collaborating help to rescue and rebuild Helambu and the borader district of Sindupalchowk.):
1. HELP; and
2. MAF (see more here: https://www.facebook.com/mafaus/videos/1006098149409891/) who are working together to get helicopters into isolated villages with aid, shelter and educational materials; and
3. The independent volunteers working for Mal Haskings (alongside HELP) on the ground to provide aid and shelter. I started this project because of my lifelong connections with Nepal; and my love for the Himalaya. Thankfully I had the experience and connections to get some things moving, I wish we could do so much more but will continue to do what is possible to support my friends and this beautiful and resilient culture, who have touched my life many times over - especially now with the amazing courage and strength of spirit they are demonstrating to survive this disaster. Their beauty prevails the ruble. Thank you for your support for the people of Nepal, who are currently dealing with this situation with so much grace in the midst of several aftershocks per day (still), in a state of exhastion and shock, resiliently doing what they can to rebuild thier homes - with Monsoon looming. So many friends have generously offered help to volunteer or pass on their services to help raise funds, or have donated auction items for the dinner we are now planning - thank you so much!!! Please do let us know if you want to help - the more the merrier and the more loved our friends in Nepal will feel :)
Otherwise, please help us to spread the word and get the message out there to raise money. Much love and gratitude. Namaste!
******If you'd like to read more about the situation in this district please view the attached link to a paper published on 8 May 2015 by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs:
http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/150508_sindhupalchok_osocc_district_profile_-_for_publishing.pdf
