NEPAL - Orphanage Earthquake Relief
Donation protected
The children of Nepal NEED our help! Together we can UNITE and spread our LOVE to the farthest reaches of our beautiful Nepal.
The worst earthquake to hit Nepal in 80 years...
On 25th April 2015 Nepal was struck by the worst earthquake in over 80 years. The 7.9 magnitude quake has so far claimed the lives of over 3,900 and injured more than 7,000 with many still missing or trapped.
THIS MONEY WILL BE USED TO REBUILD THE ORPHANAGE THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE IN KATHMANDU, PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE SHERPA COMMUNITY THROUGH THE CHARITY SUPPORT 4 SHERPAS AND PROVIDE RELIEF AND AID TO VICTIMS OF THE EARTHQUAKE THROUGH OTHER AID ORGANISATIONS.
My earthquake experience...
I woke up on Saturday 25th April and was greeted to the barage of news straight in from Nepal like everyone else, but my heart and stomach sank further than most as my thoughts went instantly to my good friend and mentor Rolfe Oostra of 360 Expeditions who is leading an expedition to climb Mount Everest, and had set off from Base Camp for Camp 1 (17,500ft) in the early hours before the quake struck.
This was the last photo Rolfe posted on FB before they left for C1 in the early hours of the 25th. They reached their camp just 1hour before the quake struck.
They set off in the early hours of saturday morning to ensure the Khumbu icefall remained as frozen as possible, and lucky they did as the quake struck at 11.41am and completely desimated their camp at Base Camp. Had they been there or still on their way to C1 their story would surely have been one of tradegy and not survival.
After an emotionally agonising wait for news, it slowly started to trickle through that Rolfe and his climbing partner Jo Bradshaw were still alive and had made it safely to C1, although there was no way for them to get back down through the icefall. Sadly they had lost three Sherpa from their team and many other friends and colleagues. Rolfe , Jo and the rest of the C1 collective were finally evacuated by heli this morning (Monday 27th), which also happens to be Rolfe's birthday (which he had to be reminded of).
Back at Base Camp they found the wreakage of their temporary home and a site Rolfe describes as how he would imagine a nuclear blast site to look. They are digging around the wreakage trying to salvage anything they can while being very mindful that there are still many bodies unaccounted for. An unimaginable task on it's own, let alone after the events of the last few days.
My whole heart and soul rests with them at Base Camp and every person in Nepal right now.
Feeling completely helpless but unable to shake off the weight of an entire country's pain and grief I frantically searched the internet for a way to Nepal and a way to help in any way I could - short of jumping on a plane with no plan, it's harder than you might think. The British Red Cross doesn't send volunteers overseas and I couldn't find a single aid organisation that were looking for help.
After a weekend of searching I was about to give up when a friend posted on FB that she was leaving her volunteering spot in Thailand to travel to Kathmandu and help rebuild an orphanage completely destroyed in the earthquake. The Universe had answered my prayers when it put me in my path of The Children of the Universe (COU) .
The CoU orphanage on the outskirts of Kathmandu was 90% destroyed by the earthquake, leaving 45 young children displaced and having to sleep in two toilet blocks or outside under the stars.
Elizabeth had a similar experience of searching desperately to find a way to be of service, when her friend half way around the world posted on FB about the incredible charity and their desperate need for help. Elizabeth contacted Tsering, the orphanage Director, who explained they needed ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET and welcomed our imminent arrival and aid.
We have found our way to Nepal, now we just need to raise the money to start rebuilding it..... and that's where YOU come in.
Tsering sent us these photos of the wreckage and the children's makeshift camp outside.
Our mission : We will be heading out to Nepal as soon as possible to assist Tsering with caring for the children and putting in place a plan to rebuild the orphanage. Tsering didn't own the land the orphanage was built on and so is keen to purchase land elsewhere, and rebuild the orphanage bigger and stronger, on their own piece of land.
To do this we NEED YOUR HELP OF DONATIONS AS WELL AS ALL YOUR LOVE AND POSITIVE VIBES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEPAL.
I am also incredibly passionate to help another charity, started by Rolfe and Marni Oostra from 360 Expeditions - after the 2014 devastating avalanche that killed 16 Sherpa and effected the whole future of the Sherpa community. Support 4 Sherpas have raised $10,000 since last April to assist the families of those sadly lost in the disaster, but they NEED more, and even more so now this recent tragedy has resulted in the loss of even more Sherpa.
All money raised from this campaign will be split between the two charities and any other aid organisation we deem appropriate once we get out to Nepal.
We'll keep the campaign up to date regularly and you can follow the progress over on my FB page The Intention Project or on my personal Facebook (the most real time updates are being posted here)
A bit more about me...
I'm Katie, I live in the UK, but my heart resides in the mountains somewhere, and i'm still working on finding its exact coordinates.
I first visited Nepal in 2010 on a charity trek to Everest Base Camp for the British Military Charity Help for Heroes. I fell instantly in love. The sights, the sounds, the smells, but most of all the people. The people of Nepal are like no other. Their hearts are huge and their smiles contagious.
Top right - Sunrise summit of Kala Patthar 5,643m/18,192ft - minus 15 celsius - my first experience of the Khumbu Valley.
Before i'd even made it to Base Camp I had vowed i'd be back... many times. I didn't ever imagine it would be under such tragic circumstances, but now is not the time to turn our backs on Nepal. They need our support more than ever.
Nepal (and Rolfe) gave me the climbing bug and in July 2014 he helped me bag my first +5,000m summit on Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe and one of the 7 Summits.
Summit of Mount Elbrus, Russia 5,642m/18,510ft - happiest day of my life!
It was at this point that I realised that I had to find any way back to the mountains, and finding the next adventure became my mission.
In April 2013 I made the brave decision to leave a comfortable and successful corporate career and go in search of the holy grail.... happiness. I was tired and frustrated with living what I believed to be a meaningless life. On paper I was considered a thriving success, but in my heart I longed for a life of purpose and passion. Stepping well and truly out of my comfort zone I have spent the last 2 years working exclusively on myself and my dreams. I've unleashed my creativity that had lay dormat for years, and I have channeled all my energy and time into creating a life that I love and allows me to share my passion with the world.
In late 2014 I created the The Intention Project, a community centred around self-empowerment, adventure and reaching your true potential.
I'm a firm believer that we all have a unique and important role to play in this life and finding and unlocking our potential can often seem impossible at times. Fear is very real but it should never hold you back from living an authentic, purposeful life, filled with love and driven by passion.
The Intention Project is;
• An invitation to discover our unique potential and purpose;
• A celebration of the people, tools and lessons life has to offer in developing our best, most authentic self, and
• Co-creation in action - "energy flows where thoughts go" WE are the creators of our own reality and WE have the power to collectively change ourselves and the world!
I feel called to help out in any way that I can and see this as a longterm relief project I am proud and excited to be a part of. I've come to realise over the last few years that nothing makes me happier than being of serivce. That doing something for someone that can never repay you is the quickest way to a full heart, and it took me all of 5 seconds to decide to drop everything i'm working on and make my way out to these children as soon as possible.
My time in Marrakesh really opened my heart to the power of charitable giving - There is no better gift you can offer the world than your heart and your time.
Helping the people of Nepal rebuild their lives will take time, patience and a lot of cash but I am determined to do all I can to facilitate that and unite people from around the world to show their support and generosity.
The Children of the Universe in happier times.....
Objectives: We believe this world is home for all the children and as such our objectives stand as follows:
1. To locate helpless, poor and orphaned children within the Kingdom of Nepal and provide them with an education;
2. To arrange hostels and homes to provide care and support of the children;
3. To provide medical support and general care for the children, and
4. To provide eventual income-generating training for the children to make.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading this and please donate whatever you can. Together we can unite and let these children smile again. >>>>>>>>>>>>DONATE NOW<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Thank you and Namaste xxx
Photos:
Credit goes to Liam Kelly @KELLYPHOTOS who is based out in Kathmandu and managed to capture the events as they unfolded, Rolfe Oostra's 2015 Everest Expedition Photos and COU website.
News Reports:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/04/25/google-dan-fredinburg-everest-nepal/26369109/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-32494505
Latest UPDATE from Everest - 3rd May
Rolfe, Jo and their team are now safely back in Kathmandu after a smooth flight from Lukla this morning. All being well they are on a flight back to the UK and their families tomorrow, but have already vowed to be back on Everest next year and will do all they can in the meantime to support the Sherpa community of Nepal.
The worst earthquake to hit Nepal in 80 years...
On 25th April 2015 Nepal was struck by the worst earthquake in over 80 years. The 7.9 magnitude quake has so far claimed the lives of over 3,900 and injured more than 7,000 with many still missing or trapped.
THIS MONEY WILL BE USED TO REBUILD THE ORPHANAGE THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSE IN KATHMANDU, PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE SHERPA COMMUNITY THROUGH THE CHARITY SUPPORT 4 SHERPAS AND PROVIDE RELIEF AND AID TO VICTIMS OF THE EARTHQUAKE THROUGH OTHER AID ORGANISATIONS.
My earthquake experience...
I woke up on Saturday 25th April and was greeted to the barage of news straight in from Nepal like everyone else, but my heart and stomach sank further than most as my thoughts went instantly to my good friend and mentor Rolfe Oostra of 360 Expeditions who is leading an expedition to climb Mount Everest, and had set off from Base Camp for Camp 1 (17,500ft) in the early hours before the quake struck.
This was the last photo Rolfe posted on FB before they left for C1 in the early hours of the 25th. They reached their camp just 1hour before the quake struck.
They set off in the early hours of saturday morning to ensure the Khumbu icefall remained as frozen as possible, and lucky they did as the quake struck at 11.41am and completely desimated their camp at Base Camp. Had they been there or still on their way to C1 their story would surely have been one of tradegy and not survival.
After an emotionally agonising wait for news, it slowly started to trickle through that Rolfe and his climbing partner Jo Bradshaw were still alive and had made it safely to C1, although there was no way for them to get back down through the icefall. Sadly they had lost three Sherpa from their team and many other friends and colleagues. Rolfe , Jo and the rest of the C1 collective were finally evacuated by heli this morning (Monday 27th), which also happens to be Rolfe's birthday (which he had to be reminded of).
Back at Base Camp they found the wreakage of their temporary home and a site Rolfe describes as how he would imagine a nuclear blast site to look. They are digging around the wreakage trying to salvage anything they can while being very mindful that there are still many bodies unaccounted for. An unimaginable task on it's own, let alone after the events of the last few days.
My whole heart and soul rests with them at Base Camp and every person in Nepal right now.
Feeling completely helpless but unable to shake off the weight of an entire country's pain and grief I frantically searched the internet for a way to Nepal and a way to help in any way I could - short of jumping on a plane with no plan, it's harder than you might think. The British Red Cross doesn't send volunteers overseas and I couldn't find a single aid organisation that were looking for help.
After a weekend of searching I was about to give up when a friend posted on FB that she was leaving her volunteering spot in Thailand to travel to Kathmandu and help rebuild an orphanage completely destroyed in the earthquake. The Universe had answered my prayers when it put me in my path of The Children of the Universe (COU) .
The CoU orphanage on the outskirts of Kathmandu was 90% destroyed by the earthquake, leaving 45 young children displaced and having to sleep in two toilet blocks or outside under the stars.
Elizabeth had a similar experience of searching desperately to find a way to be of service, when her friend half way around the world posted on FB about the incredible charity and their desperate need for help. Elizabeth contacted Tsering, the orphanage Director, who explained they needed ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET and welcomed our imminent arrival and aid.
We have found our way to Nepal, now we just need to raise the money to start rebuilding it..... and that's where YOU come in.
Tsering sent us these photos of the wreckage and the children's makeshift camp outside.
Our mission : We will be heading out to Nepal as soon as possible to assist Tsering with caring for the children and putting in place a plan to rebuild the orphanage. Tsering didn't own the land the orphanage was built on and so is keen to purchase land elsewhere, and rebuild the orphanage bigger and stronger, on their own piece of land.
To do this we NEED YOUR HELP OF DONATIONS AS WELL AS ALL YOUR LOVE AND POSITIVE VIBES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEPAL.
I am also incredibly passionate to help another charity, started by Rolfe and Marni Oostra from 360 Expeditions - after the 2014 devastating avalanche that killed 16 Sherpa and effected the whole future of the Sherpa community. Support 4 Sherpas have raised $10,000 since last April to assist the families of those sadly lost in the disaster, but they NEED more, and even more so now this recent tragedy has resulted in the loss of even more Sherpa.
All money raised from this campaign will be split between the two charities and any other aid organisation we deem appropriate once we get out to Nepal.
We'll keep the campaign up to date regularly and you can follow the progress over on my FB page The Intention Project or on my personal Facebook (the most real time updates are being posted here)
A bit more about me...
I'm Katie, I live in the UK, but my heart resides in the mountains somewhere, and i'm still working on finding its exact coordinates.
I first visited Nepal in 2010 on a charity trek to Everest Base Camp for the British Military Charity Help for Heroes. I fell instantly in love. The sights, the sounds, the smells, but most of all the people. The people of Nepal are like no other. Their hearts are huge and their smiles contagious.
Top right - Sunrise summit of Kala Patthar 5,643m/18,192ft - minus 15 celsius - my first experience of the Khumbu Valley. Before i'd even made it to Base Camp I had vowed i'd be back... many times. I didn't ever imagine it would be under such tragic circumstances, but now is not the time to turn our backs on Nepal. They need our support more than ever.
Nepal (and Rolfe) gave me the climbing bug and in July 2014 he helped me bag my first +5,000m summit on Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe and one of the 7 Summits.
Summit of Mount Elbrus, Russia 5,642m/18,510ft - happiest day of my life! It was at this point that I realised that I had to find any way back to the mountains, and finding the next adventure became my mission.
In April 2013 I made the brave decision to leave a comfortable and successful corporate career and go in search of the holy grail.... happiness. I was tired and frustrated with living what I believed to be a meaningless life. On paper I was considered a thriving success, but in my heart I longed for a life of purpose and passion. Stepping well and truly out of my comfort zone I have spent the last 2 years working exclusively on myself and my dreams. I've unleashed my creativity that had lay dormat for years, and I have channeled all my energy and time into creating a life that I love and allows me to share my passion with the world.
In late 2014 I created the The Intention Project, a community centred around self-empowerment, adventure and reaching your true potential.
I'm a firm believer that we all have a unique and important role to play in this life and finding and unlocking our potential can often seem impossible at times. Fear is very real but it should never hold you back from living an authentic, purposeful life, filled with love and driven by passion.
The Intention Project is;
• An invitation to discover our unique potential and purpose;
• A celebration of the people, tools and lessons life has to offer in developing our best, most authentic self, and
• Co-creation in action - "energy flows where thoughts go" WE are the creators of our own reality and WE have the power to collectively change ourselves and the world!
I feel called to help out in any way that I can and see this as a longterm relief project I am proud and excited to be a part of. I've come to realise over the last few years that nothing makes me happier than being of serivce. That doing something for someone that can never repay you is the quickest way to a full heart, and it took me all of 5 seconds to decide to drop everything i'm working on and make my way out to these children as soon as possible.
My time in Marrakesh really opened my heart to the power of charitable giving - There is no better gift you can offer the world than your heart and your time. Helping the people of Nepal rebuild their lives will take time, patience and a lot of cash but I am determined to do all I can to facilitate that and unite people from around the world to show their support and generosity.
The Children of the Universe in happier times.....
Objectives: We believe this world is home for all the children and as such our objectives stand as follows:
1. To locate helpless, poor and orphaned children within the Kingdom of Nepal and provide them with an education;
2. To arrange hostels and homes to provide care and support of the children;
3. To provide medical support and general care for the children, and
4. To provide eventual income-generating training for the children to make.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading this and please donate whatever you can. Together we can unite and let these children smile again. >>>>>>>>>>>>DONATE NOW<<<<<<<<<<<<<Thank you and Namaste xxx
Photos:
Credit goes to Liam Kelly @KELLYPHOTOS who is based out in Kathmandu and managed to capture the events as they unfolded, Rolfe Oostra's 2015 Everest Expedition Photos and COU website.
News Reports:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/04/25/google-dan-fredinburg-everest-nepal/26369109/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-32494505
Latest UPDATE from Everest - 3rd May
Rolfe, Jo and their team are now safely back in Kathmandu after a smooth flight from Lukla this morning. All being well they are on a flight back to the UK and their families tomorrow, but have already vowed to be back on Everest next year and will do all they can in the meantime to support the Sherpa community of Nepal.
Organizer
Katie Johnson
Organizer
