This week marks two years since the devastating earthquakes in Nepal. While much of the media coverage on this two year milestone has focused on the lack of progress in Nepal, we want to to share the incredible progress that our Virginia-based nonprofit has supported and witnessed in one of the villages most devastated by the 2015 earthquakes.
In the weeks following the earthquake, The Gorkhaly Foundation committed to focus its mission on immediate earthquake relief, and long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts. Our first initiative, The Rebuild Barpak campaign was born two days after the April 25th earthquake in Washington DC.
Our two year achievements in Barpak include restoration of 24-hour electricity with a standby power generator for backup, ambulance operating daily to transfer patients to the nearest hospital, setting up of Barpak’s first financial institution, providing subsidized loans to 14 local businesses, purchase of a land for a public school demolished by the earthquake, and setting up of a community learning center. (Photo links included)
Additionally, an advisory council in the village has been formed with the mission to maintain oversight and ensure accountability of the project.
The Rebuild Barpak initiative has been an overwhelming success and we look to transfer lessons from this work to other places that have been impacted by the earthquake and other disasters. Bir Bahadur Ghale was our primary point of contact and partner in the initiative. Without his foresight, leadership, technical knowledge, and passion none of this would not have been possible
I’m including more details on the accomplishments in Barpak below –I would be happy to speak with you about all of this further or provide additional details.
Electricity: On May 25, 2015, a month after the earthquake, we delivered a power generator to Barpak to serve the immediate energy needs of the village. It supplied electricity to run the village food mill that fed 1200 households giving Barpak intermediate food security, supported lighting for temporary shelters, aid workers, and for communication. On April 25, 2016 rehabilitation and upgrade of the earthquake destroyed Micro Hydro Power Plant that is the sole supplier of electricity in Barpak was completed. Approximately 15,000 people, local business and public infrastructures are reliant on this electricity. This was made possible through a grant from The Great Energy Challenge of National Geographic Society to the Barpak Rural Electrification Consortium that Gorkhaly Foundation facilitated formation of.
Entrepreneurship: On March 15, 2017, Barpak’s first financial institution (community cooperative) was launched, and approval of USD $30,000 in subsidized loans to fourteen local businesses provided through the same Nat Geo Grant was announced. With guidance from the village advisory committee, and by developing business plans jointly with local businesses affected by the earthquake- the cooperative made informed loan decisions. The loans will support businesses (food mills, tailor shop, metal works, carpentry, restaurant, bakery, café, oil mill, wood works) in securing initial capital cost for construction, rehabilitation and for purchase of major equipment. The Power plant and local businesses will be symbiotically benefiting from each other and keeping one other sustained- a fundamental to our work.
Emergency Health Care: On May 29, 2016, we delivered an ambulance to Barpak responding to the urgent medical needs resulting from lost access to health care post the earthquake. While permanent access to health care will be in the long-term goals for Barpak, ambulance will serve the urgent medical needs of Barpaki’s, as well as those from surrounding communities.
Education: On October 2016, we purchased land for a public school in Barpak. After the earthquake, schools were/are operating from makeshift tents- with students and teaches exposed to heat, cold and the rain. Shree Bhagawati Lower Secondary School, a public institution lost its school land to the earthquake. The school with help from local leaders secured commitment from Um Hong Gil Human Foundation (UHGHF) for funding of overall construction costs contingent upon securing of land. We came in to fill this investment gap, and the school is now expected to move back to its own building at the end of 2017. In June 2016, Gorkhaly Foundation’s Young Ambassador went to Barpak with 800 books, furniture and building materials to build a learning center. She spent several weeks in the village setting up the center. Today Barpak has a learning center that is a place that brings students of the village to gather, play, read books, and do their homework.
For Nepalese living abroad, it was the most helpless and worrying of times witnessing from afar the shambles in which our country and our loved ones were left in, following the devastating earthquake, and its nonstop aftershocks. It stirred something deep within us, and gave us the drive to do what was in our power and contribute from afar. Two years later the same group of volunteers is going strong, committed more than ever to listen, to learn and to give back to the communities that we spent our formative years in. More than ever we believe in the power of communities, and in their potential to solve problems that affect them with a little help, where it’s needed.
Funds: Funds for our programs in Barpak were raised by volunteers through grants, personal donations, concerts, marathon fundraiser, sponsorships, and our flagship event-the monthly Open Mic Nights
Invitation: The Gorkhaly Foundation held a commemorative Open Mic Night on April 27, 2017 at Le Mirch 1736 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009 to reflect back on the two years of the Rebuild Barpak Initiative, and to celebrate the achievements. The Open Mic saw splendid performances from local artists and artists from Nepal.
Photo Links:
Electricity Rehabilitation http://ift.tt/2oT6Nfk
Entrepreneurs back in business
http://ift.tt/2pvVEFd
Emergency health care
http://ift.tt/2oTrlEp
Education
http://ift.tt/2pw72kB
Second Anniversary Open Mic (Photo Credits: Sagar Pakhrin Tamang)
http://ift.tt/2oTaTUU
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