Nepal was recently hit by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake, killing at least 4,500 and displacing tens of thousands from their homes. Clinton School students and alumni are raising funds to contribute to the relief efforts.
Current student Tshering Yudon, who is leading the fundraising efforts on behalf of students, is from the neighboring country of Bhutan. “Growing up in a Himalayan nation, I have experienced minor to moderate earthquakes, so I can definitely imagine the force of the recent tragic quake in Nepal,” Yudon said. “It pains me to see the rising number of dead, injured, and displaced people. Amidst the chaos and pain, it is great to see a community of public servants come together to support relief efforts for a nation 8,000 miles away.”
Alum Julie West ’09 founded The Red Sari, a socially responsible fashion design company with a mission to create and sustain jobs for women in Nepal after concluding her International Public Service Project with the Clinton School. “Arising from that experience, I began The Red Sari, working with women artisans in the Kathmandu Valley,” West said. “I am heartbroken over the news of the devastation earthquake in my home away from home. However, I stand resolute that Nepal will rise with the support of private donors and the international community.”
Alum Andrew Morgan ’12 is the associate corporate counsel for International Medical Corps, which works to relieve suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster and disease by delivering vital healthcare services that focus on training, helping devastated populations return to self-reliance. “International Medical Corps’ emergency response teams are on the ground in Nepal operating mobile medical units to reach the hardest hit areas near the epicenter of the earthquake,” Morgan said. “We are working to increase our operations to address the steadily growing humanitarian needs by sending in additional medical staff to deliver healthcare, supplies, and training.”
Alum Jared Rowell ’12 is a senior program officer for Mercy Corps, which responds immediately to meet urgent needs for food, water, and shelter in disaster-stricken areas, and stays beyond the emergency to partner with communities for their long term recovery. “More than 6.6 million people have been affected by the recent earthquake in Nepal,” Rowell said. “Mercy Corps has one of the largest teams on the ground in Nepal, evaluating conditions in hard-hit areas and addressing immediate needs while also planning for longer-term recovery efforts.”
Below are links for more information and ways to help:
– Alum Julie West ’09 has started a relief fund. To donate or to find out more information, click here.
– Alum Jared Rowell ’12 is a senior program officer for Mercy Corps. Click here to help.
– Alum Lauren Remedios ’14 was in Nepal working on her fellowship with Heifer International, which is working with 171,000 farmers in Nepal to develop goat and dairy enterprises.
– Clinton School partner Team Rubicon has launched Operation Tenzing. Team Rubicon unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams.
– Click here to donate to the efforts of International Medical Corps. Facebook has agreed to match all donations up to $2 million. For additional information, or to donate directly to International Medical Corps, click here.
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