Please Help my Friends in Nepal

[+ SimplyAdam]

I am sharing devastating news in the hope that some good might be done.

 

As some of you know, I spent many weeks throughout 2013/14 in Kathmandu and around Nepal. I had four heart-warming visits to a dear friend's remote village in the mountainous Sindhupalchok District, spending a total of three life-changing weeks there, and raised funds to provide two schools with clean water, toilets, etc. The project was just completed this past December, and friends from the two villages have been in touch as they had Internet access since.

 

Within two days of the earthquake I was able to reach all my friends in Kathmandu and Pokhara, and they are safe. I have heard from none of my friends in the Sindhupalchok District. Last night a volunteer with Teach for Nepal at the secondary school posted a Facebook status stating that all of the buildings/houses in the village have collapsed, many people have died, and they are completely shut off from any government assistance. I have established contact with her and corroborated this.

 

The best way anyone can help right now is to send money to reputable organizations - especially Doctors Without Borders - and encourage our friends, family, and coworkers to do so. Transparent international organizations are best. The Red Cross in Nepal is corrupt and not as efficient as Oxfam, CARE, or Doctors Without Borders will be.

 

I will be in close contact with friends in the non-profit sphere who I collaborated with in Nepal, and will assist and support him in finding ways of providing direct, transparent aid as well. If you are interested, please message me and I will share this information with you as it develops.

 

It is possible that many of my friends have been killed, and they certainly all have close friends and family who have died. They are all suffering and grieving in isolation.

 

Nepal is a country of unprecedented warmth and gentleness, and it is now absolutely devastated, and the recovery will take years.

 

Please send money in whatever way you feel led to. Again, I recommend Doctors Without Borders for the moment.

 

And please ask any questions.

[bigvalboy]

Thanks for the post SA. Unfortunately much of what is going on in Nepal is being overshadowed by the rioting/protests in Baltimore. My cousin just returned from Nepal, and she recounts many of the same experiences and emotions about Kathmandu/Nepal as you do. Glad to hear that at least some of your friends are safe. Prayers to all those that have lost loved ones, and have had their lives destroyed.

[+ WmClarke]

Some information on the damage to important cultural locations in Nepal.

 

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/04/150427-nepal-earthquake-damage-temples-buddhism-hinduism-world-heritage-monuments-unesco

[+ dutchmuch]

charitynavigator.org

[+ SimplyAdam]

I appreciate your investment in this, guys.

 

I worked directly with Santi School - www.santischool.org - and some of the proceeds will go directly to the villages where my friends and their families live.

 

There are times when your privilege - whether it's nationality or race or gender or intelligence or (for many escorts, for example) good looks - can slap you in the face and you realize that so much of who you are and what you have is just good luck. Inheritance.

 

The Nepalese expressed something so naturally that we Westerners tend to tussle with: A patient resilience, and a readiness to greet the day as it presents itself. Nepal granted me a responsiveness to life as lived in the moment. A re-awakened joy in generous living.

 

I hope anyone who gives can feel that joy in doing so.

[mattr]

I visited Nepal in 2011 and have nothing but fond memories although I was struck by how poor the country is. A coworker of mine is from Nepal and he has been in touch with his family who are all safe but sleeping outdoors because of the intense aftershocks. He has been unable to get in touch with many friends though and fears that some of them may not have survived. I made a donation yesterday and my company has a matching gift program so my donation was doubled. If you are able to make a donation, please check with your company to see if they have a matching gift program.

[+ WilliamM]

Thanks for such detailed information, Adam. I have been in Bosnia and other countries that need help badly. So I shall gladly send a check to Doctors Without Borders at your suggestion. Your message is one the most valuable I have ever seen on this site, or any other Internet site. With a wonderful thing to wrote: "I hope anyone who gives can feel that joy in doing so."

[+ WilliamM]

Adam, Just wanted to follow up by writing that I did send a donation via credit card to Doctors Without Borders today.

 

Thanks again for advocating for the good people if Nepal!

[+ SimplyAdam]

Thank you, everyone, for your investment in this. It has been confirmed through a news report in The Nepali Times that children who I taught and adored, and whose families hosted me for dinner and laughter, have died. The entire village has been decimated. Teach for Nepal is sending young volunteer teachers to do immediate aid work in the remote regions, including my former village.

 

At this point, it's both personal and an emergency. Due to the nature of this website, I don't feel comfortable posting information on the villages and children I worked with, but if anyone is sincerely interested in helping these communities, I do have a way to directly send money to them through immediate on-the-ground work Teach for Nepal is doing. A friend of mine, a young volunteer teacher, is now providing medical and other aid as there is no one else to do it.

 

I will give you my personal Facebook account, stories, pictures, whatever anyone you know might need to make that human connection.

 

I do not know who specifically, but I know that friends of mine - people who showed me an incredible amount of love - have died. It is devastating. They are sitting in the rain, homeless, with their injured and dead, waiting. Please help me.

[marylander1940]

Such friendly people! A horrible tragedy.

 

[+ SimplyAdam]

This is a program from the Sindhupalchok District, where my friends are still blocked from aid. The pain in their eyes. The destruction. The loss of life and a way of being:

[bigvalboy]

Thanks for posting Adam. Once again I would like to extend to you my prayers and heartfelt sorrow for the tremendous loss of life. The destruction is almost unimaginable. I have not been to Nepal but know of those that have gone, and all speak of a kindness that seems to permeate the people. It is disheartening to listen to the major news organizations who have chosen to spend, hour after hour, covering what is going on in Baltimore, fixated on a few burning buildings, and virtually ignoring the thousands that lay buried in the ruble of Nepal. One would think that their focus would be elsewhere, I guess the ratings prove otherwise.

 

Best to you, and just know that there are many that have donated and sent prayers to a population that may never fully recover from this.

 

 

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2015/04/27/Death-toll-rises-to-3700-post-Nepal-quake/6951430131524/

[mike carey]

I am sharing devastating news in the hope that some good might be done. As some of you know, I spent many weeks throughout 2013/14 in Kathmandu and around Nepal.

 

Adam, I had read some of you commentary on your great time in Nepal, and what has happened there is heart rending. I'm so sorry that so many people you knew were touched by the tragedy. A reporter from our local ABC station (our public broadcaster in Australia) was in Kathmandu for a conference and provided some harrowing reporting for ABC news bulletins from about 30 minutes after the quake. I echo your wish that people donate to the relief appeals. In most of the ABC news coverage here they refer people to their web site where they have links to all the charities from here that are providing relief assistance. Slower than some other countries, two RAAF C-17 aircraft have just arrived in Nepal with relief supplies.

[+ SimplyAdam]

Thank you, everyone.

 

I am leaving town for a few days for a coaching conference and will only be checking personal accounts. If you wish to reach out/support please contact me via adam@simplyadam.com. An update:

 

My dear friend, Chandra, and his immediate family are alive! He finally had a moment of Internet access and below is his message. Cell phone reception is still not working. The situation is dire. Please contact me for ways you can ensure that money immediately goes directly to his village. Right now, people's lives are dependent on support from those who can donate:

 

"Adam sir Namaste, my family are fine but my relative people are death my all family house all my destroyed all sindupalchok sir i have no idea what to do ? This moment we need help from you..."

 

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[rocky]

Thank you, everyone, for your investment in this. It has been confirmed through a news report in The Nepali Times that children who I taught and adored, and whose families hosted me for dinner and laughter, have died. The entire village has been decimated. Teach for Nepal is sending young volunteer teachers to do immediate aid work in the remote regions, including my former village.

 

At this point, it's both personal and an emergency. Due to the nature of this website, I don't feel comfortable posting information on the villages and children I worked with, but if anyone is sincerely interested in helping these communities, I do have a way to directly send money to them through immediate on-the-ground work Teach for Nepal is doing. A friend of mine, a young volunteer teacher, is now providing medical and other aid as there is no one else to do it.

 

I will give you my personal Facebook account, stories, pictures, whatever anyone you know might need to make that human connection.

 

I do not know who specifically, but I know that friends of mine - people who showed me an incredible amount of love - have died. It is devastating. They are sitting in the rain, homeless, with their injured and dead, waiting. Please help me.

 

Let's us not forget the unfortunate in our own country; those without food, home, clothing, etc. While I am very sympathetic to this countries tragedies; I'd really like to see us pay attention to those around us.

[+ WilliamM]

Let's us not forget the unfortunate in our own country; those without food, home, clothing, etc. While I am very sympathetic to this countries tragedies; I'd really like to see us pay attention to those around us.

 

Despite the economic rise of China, the U.S. is by far the richest country in the world, we should strive to help the poor and disadvantages at home and in Nepal (and any country that suffer such a terrible natural disaster).

[+ SimplyAdam]

An update:

 

Aid reached the village on Saturday. The situation remains dire, and will for some time. Survivors were slowly dying, but now it seems there is enough support to move fully, incrementally forward. 95% of all buildings in the entire region collapsed, and the village is particularly remote. It's a terrible time for Nepal, and a horrific time for the people of Sindhupalchok District.

 

I have only heard from half of my friends in the village. I know everyone lost loved ones, and almost everyone lost their homes.

 

I appreciate those of you who have felt the connection to those close to me and across the globe. Let's keep giving to the Nepalese people in whatever ways we can. Please stay tuned to simplyadam.com/blog for more ways in which you can help.

 

Thanks.

[+ WmClarke]

Thanks for the update, Adam.

[Guest Starbuck]

... the U.S. is by far the richest country in the world ... we should strive to help the poor and disadvantaged at home and in Nepal (and any country that suffers such a terrible natural disaster).

 

Nicely said, William. Your post reminded me of words from Lincoln's Second Inaugural (..."with malice toward none, with charity for all"...). He was, of course, talking about healing a nation divided, but it's a noble sentiment--words to live by, really--or at least to aspire to live by.

[anotherjohnindupont]

Despite the economic rise of China, the U.S. is by far the richest country in the world, we should strive to help the poor and disadvantages at home and in Nepal (and any country that suffer such a terrible natural disaster).

 

the Chinese are also notoriously cheap when it comes to help neighboring countries who have suffered natural disaster.

[marylander1940]

the Chinese are also notoriously cheap when it comes to help neighboring countries who have suffered natural disaster.

 

Well said... in the Indian Ocean tsunami they were very uncooperative.

[+ SimplyAdam]

Hi guys -

 

I have actual details now on how the money is being used and how much does what. Photos as well. Feel free to email me at adam@simplyadam.com.

 

The grief is lifting and relief is taking its place.

 

Joy in generosity - practice it, preach it.

 

A very grateful Adam

[+ SimplyAdam]

An update:

 

Aid reached Nawalpur Village for a second time that was sent directly by myself, some of you, and followers of my blog. I posted more information at simplyadam.com/blog/support-for-nepal-part-three. We single-handedly are supporting an entire village for months at this point. Lives have been saved. This is huge. Also -

 

If anyone wants to be amused and/or inspired, I also wrote and recorded a song in Kathmandu this past August - a love-letter-of-a-ditty to a city that bettered me and broadened my worldview - which can be listened to at soundcloud.com/knowfromadam/kathmandusally. (For the record, no - I cannot sing. And this is the entirety of my "repertoire." Be charmed.)

 

Namaste, namaskar...