“We are together” — we say this every day in Hopeful World. Now is a time to turn those words into action. As you know, Nepal is suffering. I have dear friends there, both in Kathmandu and outside the city.
Jen, my dear friend and partner in Hopeful World (expert at getting funds and refugees across borders) posted this on the HW blog yesterday…
Subhash Ghimire and Sabi Gurung, dearest friends of myself and Hopeful World, are on the ground now, directing relief efforts to the remote regions where traditional and governmental aid cannot reach, specifically the villages in Gorkha, closer to the earthquake epicenter. I have been in contact with them almost nonstop via Viber since the quake, ready to do whatever they ask.
These two are no ordinary people. Subhash’s mother died when he was eight and he left his remote village when he won a nationwide contest to attend the British School in Kathmandu. No child had ever attended this school in the history of his village. Barely 18, he founded Sarswati Foundation, a Nepal-based non-profit in 2009 to support educational and health needs in his home district. Last year, he graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government while Sabi graduated from Boston University’s School of Public Health.
This is the latest update from Sabi from six hours ago…
We have food and basic items ready to be taken to Gorkha. Pilot and helicopter are both ready.
She is asking that we DO NOT STOP, for the sake of her village, her family and friends and by extension, mine and ours.
If you are inclined to support their efforts, we are putting money directly in their hands. You can donate here. We’ve raised $6K in the last 24 hours. It’s something… but the need is great. So for the next 7 days, 100% of the profits from my Etsy shop will go directly to our friends in Gorkha. I have over 100 items to choose from—inspirational sayings, unique party invitations and decorations. You’ll have a birthday party sometime this year, I’m guessing! 🙂
Please help by buying what you need in advance… or buy yourself or someone else a thoughtful gift (Mother’s Day, graduation, end-of-year teacher gifts). Your purchase will have a direct impact on the lives of my friends and their families.
Above is the gang at Hope House: Sabi on the left with Jen, Stephanie Calabrese (founder of Lens on Life) and Renu Bagaria (also in Kathmandu now).