Samjhana Silwal of Dhading was temporarily staying in Kathmandu before the earthquake. Samjhana is a teacher and had a job at one of the schools in Cheetrapati. When she came to WFN in April following the earthquake, she was 8 months pregnant.

Both Samjhana’s family house in Dhading, as well as her rented house here in the city, were destroyed in the quake. She was at her wits end with no safe place to go to have her baby when she heard about the program to shelter pregnant women and their newborns at WFN. She almost wept with relief when she found out about the shelter from the media and came to us right away.

“When I was in that vulnerable stage in my life, pregnant and just about to have a baby and no where to go, WFN played the role of family. They took me in and provided me the safe and secure shelter. Not only all the facilities for me including the medical support and balanced diet, they gave the counseling to me which makes me feel confident and mentally stronger. I think I was blessed. Along with me, the facilities were provided to my 2 year old child and mother-in-law who were there to take care of me. During my stay, I felt that I have received the same love and care from the staff at the Women’s Foundation that my mother used to give me. Therefore, I felt that it was really just like being in my own mother’s house”.

Pabitra (Timilsina) Rai of Bhojpur, Nepal was living in a rented apartment in Kathmandu when the earthquake hit. Pabrita has “low-vision” as well as high blood pressure. Her husband Amrit Rai also has low-vision.

The rented house that she was living in was destroyed by earthquake. Because of this, she was completely panicked and stressed about where she could stay and how she would be able to delivery her child safely. Her delivery was complicated because of her high blood pressure.

“When me and my husband came to know that The Women’s Foundation had a program for pregnant women and new mothers, we visited the organization. My situation was a little different from the other pregnant women because of my health. WFN members provided great care, love, a balanced diet and all the medical treatment before, during and after my delivery. I had my 7 year old daughter with me and now I have my new baby as well, thanks to all the support and love of the Women’s Foundation.”

Fears that the monsoon season would bring with it an increased risk to Nepalis from landslides and flooding due to destabilized land from the earthquakes seem to be coming true. According to the UN’s World Food Programmed, 105 people have lost their lives, 130 are listed as missing and 42 injured so far this season. Most of those deaths have been reported from Western Nepal, an area that has been severely effected by heavy rainfall in the last two weeks. The districts of Bardiya, Banke, Kailali, Surkhet and Dang are reeling from the damage after receiving more rainfall in a few days than usually falls in a month at this time. One station reported 545mm of rain in just 24 hours.

The World Food Programme estimates that at least 200,000 in the area have either completely lost or partially lost their homes, food sources and property due to landslides and floods. The Government of Nepal has appealed to the UN for aid to feed the people of those districts, but conditions for travel and transport are very difficult and in some cases impassable. Roads and bridges have been swept away, blocked or damaged as the heavy rainfalls continue.

Here at the Women’s Foundation, we also have been receiving calls for help and aid. Because of the terrible problems in reaching these villages in the monsoon season, we try our best and often send supplies back with a member of the village or even on their own.

This week WFN sent relief to 3 schools in Dolakha District, Northeast of Kathmandu. Our team were on these villages a couple of weeks for the survey. This is a very beautiful but poor region that suffered terribly from the effects of the earthquake. We have been there last time with the emergency aid to these villages. This time we went to the school and thought this concept of providing uniforms and metal roof would be really great help for these numbers of students we are willing to go to school but everything is lost in there damages houses. In our visit we also talked with these kids and gave the sense of hope for them.. They had almost lost all hope that they would be able to got back to school because of the caustic situation of the village which was badly hit in this area by the second earthquake. Schools had completely collapsed and all of their uniforms and books were buried under those collapsed houses. So a result we sent them those materials which was the urgent needs of the schools and the survivors. We sent relief to Shree Himalya Higher secondary school(Khopa Chagu),Shree Pargatisil Milijuli Nimna Madyamik Vhidhaylaya (Babre) and Kalnichok Nimna Madyamik Vidhalya (Thami Chagu) as they received metal roofing to build temporary classrooms and uniforms for the students. They became so pleased to get this stuff.

We are also trying to find out how many children have not been going to school so that we can reach out to those families and provide help to them. Contributing to the problem, many children are still very fearful and afraid to leave their homes. They are still scared and need counseling. We can feel the fear that is still in their minds and we try to provide financial support and love as well.

Our pregnant women and newborn baby project is continuing to run smoothly. Our great news is that we recently had a new baby boy join us. Both the mother and child are doing well and in good health. Mom and baby are having regular health checkups and receiving counseling on how to eat a balanced and healthy diet.

Our regular operations at the Women’s Foundation Nepal are getting back to normal. Our projects with shelters, micro-finance, the schools, childcare centers and the production center are all being brought back to a regular schedule. WFN has started doing legal counseling again and we now have a caseload of various severe cases of domestic violence. These files are running under district court and every day it seems that a woman with various sufferings and pain in their life story comes to us for help.

There is no finer gift than one that offers health and hope to others.

As a nonprofit organization, we rely on the generosity of others. To those who have donated time and treasure to our effort, we would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank you”

This is the story of Sandhya Magar 8 years of age from Sindhupalchok, Bhotesipa. On the day of the earthquake, her mother made food for her in the morning and left Sandhya to eat. Sandhya never saw her again; in 56 seconds, Sandhva’s life was changed forever. The earthquake took the life of both her mother and grandmother, trapped in the house and crushed. Sandhva lost her loved ones at such a young and vulnerable age.

Everything in Sandhya’s world seemed to turn into sorrows and pain. Filled with fear and sorrow for their terrible condition, Sandhya’s family had a hard time trying to deal with the situation. Her father suffered from trauma and mental illness, and was no support for them. This time was very challenging for the entire family. Sandhya’s family had relatives, but they did not want to take on the burden of raising the children; they kept searching for excuses to leave the children. They felt no true love for them from their inner heart. They were keeping the children just because of what people would think. When it became apparent the children were being neglected, V.D.C recommended the children to various social organizations. Sandhya was recommended to Women’s Foundation Nepal and she came to live with us at the Children’s Shelter.

Sandhva looked scared in the beginning. The children and staff at the Children’s Shelter were all new faces for her and her memory of the earthquake and the death of her mother were still fresh in her mind. She would only cry in the beginning and it was very hard for her to speak. We could feel her pain from inside which was holding her in its grip and that was rolling down her face in the form of tears. It was a really hard time for all of us, too. This was such a tragic period for a girl who had lost her mother and was now all alone.

After some good counseling and other talks with staff, she started to share her suffering and pain with us. Her suffering had been worse than we imagined. When she completed her sharing, she looked quiet and fresh. Sandhva got to know about the other kids like her and she met other girls of her own age who had similar stories. This really helped her to trust us and feel at home here at the Children’s Shelter. 

Sandhva now wants to stay at the shelter home. She has started her school and she looks very happy. The pain inside her is still fresh and it is very hard for her to forget those moments of loss and pain from her old life, but she is happy now that she has a new, big family. All our kids at the Children’s Shelter were so welcoming and happy to have her join them. They easily give the love of family. Sandhva’s smiley face shows that hope has come back into her life.

Here In Nepal, thousands of children are in similar situations, facing pain and suffering every day. They desperately need our love, and tender care. Love and care for those displaced children and families are the biggest gift in this hard time in Nepal.

Together we can rise up again. Please be united!

These last few months have been such an important and challenging time for us here at Women’s Foundation Nepal. They have been filled with hardship and sorrow – some of us have lost loved ones and many have had their homes damaged or destroyed – but throughout all this struggle, throughout the panic of earthquakes and aftershocks, we have taken courage in our work and the knowledge that our efforts are helping many people and bringing hope to those who have suffered.

However, there is still much to do and WFN itself is still recuperating from damages to our buildings and our production centers. Our organic farm was severely damaged, our livestock lost, and buildings in the cloth production center were damaged. Because of this, we have taken a huge loss in our regular income. This hampers our ability to maintain our regular projects, shelter homes and district offices.

As well as working to restore and continue our regular projects, shelters, production centers, school and childcare centers, WFN has sunk as much of its resources as possible into providing emergency aid and relief to people throughout the earthquake devastated areas. In particular, WFN has provided assistance tailored to the particular plight of women in this emergency. Our program to assist pregnant women and mothers of newborns displaced by the earthquake has sheltered 50 women, newborns and siblings so far. We are also prioritizing school children, helping them with school uniforms, shoes, supplies and building roofing, so that children can get back to a more regular life. Even if their families are still in temporary shelters, these young ones will not lose any more time from their studies and can keep working to fulfill their dreams.

BUT we still have many, many people waiting for our help. We have more than 100 applications from desperate people waiting for us to come to their village and help. WFN wants to reach these villages, but monsoon rains, flash floods, and mudslides are hampering our ability to bring materials to them.

Sometimes, the people manage to come to us to take materials for their villages. WFN recently provided bundles of metal roofing and uniforms for 200 children in Dolakha District, Lapilang V.D.C. Two staff members from WFN went along with that team to bring the relief materials to this hard hit area.

Your donations and support are still needed and so appreciated! There is much still to do to help people through the next few months of monsoon and to start the rebuilding effort. Thank you for any support you are able to send to help in our continuing work.

A few days ago, the WFN Team set out to Ramechhap District with trucks of emergency aid. This time we returned to help the children of Lower Secondary School located in the rural area east of Kathmandu. Now that monsoon season has begun the roads are very hard to traverse due to damage from aftershocks, mud, and falling landslides. Many times, the WFN team thought it would not be able to get through, but we kept struggling on. With the support of villagers, we were able to dig a way through for our truck and emergency supplies. Though it was hard, challenging, and sometimes frightening, in our thoughts were those children who were waiting for our arrival and their future. The children had almost lost all hope that they would be able to go back to school because their area had been so hard hit by the earthquake. Their school had completely collapsed and all of their uniforms and books were lost. The people of this area are still living in temporary shelters, having lost most of their possessions, and are unable to provide new school materials for their children.

WFN provided school uniforms, notebooks and sandals to 200 students. We provided metal roofing and tenting material to make a temporary school and class rooms until the village is able to rebuild in the fall. The metal roofing will be able to be reused in the new school building.

When we distributed our emergency aid materials, the WFN team felt so much satisfaction. We felt the gladness and cheer in these children’s hearts. Their smiling faces and their shouts of joy “We are going to school again!” gave us such a heart touching moment. We felt so happy that we are giving happiness and providing hope and light for them. These children are the future nation builders of Nepal. These children are like clay and we are the potters. We can give any type of shape to this clay when it is wet, so the responsibility for their future is up to us. Our support – yours and WFN’s – to the people in this time makes such an enormous difference.
Together we can add hope and share scenes of comfort.

The WFN team went to Nuwakot Patichor V.D.C for the second time with relief materials for people in villages that had been hardest hit in this district. People in the village we arrived at had only received 2 kg of rice and tents from the government. At the request of the villagers, our team came back with a larger supply of rice that would see their families through a long period of the monsoon season, and get them through this time when people are unable to rebuild. Our team distributed relief materials to 136 displaced families. We distributed lungis (wrap around cloth for women) and sack of rice weighing 30 kg to each of the families.

All the villagers were so pleased to see us. They shared their suffering and their hardships during these difficult days. They told us how they still worry about the possibility of further earthquakes and landslides.

At the end of distribution, a woman came saying her name was not written on our list and she was from the nearby village. WFN had already distributed all of our relief aid and we could not provide her a sack of rice. When the villagers saw this, they were saddened by her situation and they immediately opened their own sacks and each gave her a share of rice to make up enough for her family. We were so pleased seeing their positive attitude, their kindness and generosity, and their willingness to help one another.

Thank you so much for your donations! Your contribution will definitely help to make changes among the many, many people who have lost so much. Together we can give hope back to the people who continue to suffer from loss of homes, land, and livelihood, and share scenes of comfort.

At WFN we feel relief that we are surrounded by caring and helpful people like you, who have come forward to help us, unconditionally. We can’t express how important this support has been and how much we appreciate your thoughts and concern during this hard time.

The WFN Team has set out to Dhading for the second time with trucks of emergency aid. This time we returned to help the children of Shree Thani Chandi Primary School located in the rural area of Dhading District. The children had almost lost all hope that they would be able to go back to school because their area had been so hard hit by the earthquake, schools had completely collapsed and all of their uniforms and books were buried in their own collapsed homes. The children are now living in temporary shelters with their families and have very little of anything.

On our first emergency relief visit to Dhading, we noticed a boy searching through the debris for his books and school materials and that touched our hearts so deeply that we came up with this project; to provide metal roofing to the school to construct a temporary building, uniforms for the students and notebooks. We brought with us school uniforms, shoes and slippers for 150 children. We also provided chairs and tables to the school.

In the Dhading area, the situation is worsening day by day. Due to monsoon rains, there is a high risk of landslides and many of the children have to walk long distances over hillside trails to reach to the school. They are still frightened by the aftershocks and are in need of counselling and support. Because of their vulnerable living situations, there is also risk of communicable disease. While we were at the school, we spent time sharing with the students and teachers information related to sanitation and cleanliness.

After we distributed all the supplies, the children near us took a long breath and with a smile on each face said “We are going to school again!” This made us feel so in high spirits. We know that the work and support we are giving to the people makes a big difference. These children only want to be able to go to school and restart their lives as it was before. Here, in a flow of joy and words, is what one little girl shared with us:
“After the big earthquake, all our school was damaged, our library, chairs, blackboards were no more. Many of my friends lost their lives. Luckily, my family is safe but our house also collapsed. We faced lots of trouble during this time. We stayed outside in an open field with empty stomachs. Then, you people (WFN) came to see us with relief materials that made us feel that we have someone taking care of us in this hard time. We got the tent, warm blankets and 1 sack of rice weighing 30 kg, which was a lot for us. This time you are here again to see us with materials for the school and uniforms and notebooks for us. This is really lots for us. Our schools are rebuilding and we are going to school with a proper uniform and stationery materials. We would like to thank you from the core of our heart. Thank you so much for being family and supporting us in this hard time. We will remember this always and do our best with our studies and be a responsible citizen in future.” –O.T.

Thank you so much all for your helping hearts.
Together we can add hope and share scenes of comfort.

All the students (i.e. 34) who attempted School Leaving Certificates from Bipul School have successfully completed their School Leaver Certificates in the Higher First division, Six of whom received distinctions. This is fantastic news as in Nepal it is essential for students to pass this level of education if they want to progress with their studies. The fact that the children have done so well will allow them to continue with their education and give them the best foundation for their future careers.

We believe that this shows the benefits of non-violent educational principles as 100% of our students have passed a very hard set of exams. The examination board of the Government of Nepal reported that only 47.43% of students passed their SLC showing how impressive our results are. By learning in a non-violent happy environment, our children enjoy learning and therefore work hard and achieve success.

Ten children from the WFN shelter have successfully completed their School Leaving Certificates and we are so proud of them! Out of 10 children, 2 of them passed their exam with the Distinction and 8 of them had a First Division. Many of the children have been with us since they were very young and came from tragic backgrounds. The fact they have progressed through school and done so well shows that the WFN can help change the lives of children.

WFN would like to thank all the kind and generous people who sponsor our children and their success shows that your contribution really does make a difference to the future of the children.

If you would be interested in sponsoring a child please click on the link to see the children that require sponsorship. Sponsorship of school fees is only $25 and you will receive regular updates about our child. http://www.womenepal.org/get-involved/sponsor-a-child-at-the-shelter-home/

The suffering of Nepal continues as the country, still reeling from the destruction of the 7.9 and 7.4 earthquakes of April and May, enters Monsoon season. At least 55 people have been confirmed dead following a massive earthslide in Taplejung. Scores of others are reported missing and the death toll is expected to continue to rise when local communities in 5 other districts are able to establish contact. Huge landslides of rock and mud have swept through Liway, Thokling, Thinglabu and Lingket VDCs triggered by the heavy rainfall of the monsoon season. Some wards in the districts of Khalung and Khokling have also reported landslides.

In Taplejung, about 500 KM east of Kathmandu, people were buried as they slept. Rescuers scrambled through mud and debris looking for survivors, but many are still missing. While a handful of severely injured have been successfully evacuated to hospital, helicopters – the only means of reaching many people – sometimes arrive at a locale only to turn around again and leave since there is no stable ground on which to land. Even footpaths and trails to communities in the landslide areas have been swept away.

Continuing bad weather and fears of more landslides from the unstable grounds of the earthquake areas, are hampering rescue efforts. In many areas, including Tamor, Walakhola, and Doban, people threatened by even more mud and rockslides have been told to move to safer ground. The question is how? How will they get to anywhere safer? Where will they go? Where will they shelter? Who will help them?

Monsoon season lasts in Nepal from mid June until the end of August. Conditions for the people of Taplejung and other hilly areas will continue to deteriorate. People who have worked so hard over the past weeks to patch together a bit of shelter from the destruction of the earthquakes have now seen what little they had built swept away once again in these terrible slides.

Please continue to send your love and support for relief efforts. Now more than ever, that support is needed and will continue to be needed throughout the next three months of the monsoon season.