Stories of Nepal: COVID19 Relief Fund
Donation protected
Since the beginning of the current COVID-19 crisis, there have been widespread concerns about the safety and financial security of homeless citizens and daily wage workers, whose income source would be completely cut off should the country go into lockdown. This very valid concern ultimately came true on the 24th March 2020 when the government of Nepal issued a nationwide lockdown that came into effect almost immediately.
There have been several reports from reliable sources, locals and concerned citizens, that homeless people are unable to find any source of food and daily wage workers unable to purchase groceries for the family. Both we and our partners believe that the more imminent threat to these people is starvation, second to that of Coronavirus should the lockdown continue longer than initially expected.
The lack of any social protection program by the state to protect the homeless and low-income daily wage earners from slipping down into abject poverty makes the situation even more threatening.
At Stories of Nepal, we have been following the news headlines about COVID-19 as they unfold and have been checking in as a team daily to see how and when would be appropriate for us to offer support to those in the greatest need.
As we plan ahead and continue assessing the situation, we can at least take solace in knowing that through our community people from these vulnerable backgrounds are not staying hungry.
We also hope that we can exceed the target amount and continue relief efforts post-lockdown to help individuals bounce back to normalcy. If there is anything that we have learned in the last 7 years of traveling in Nepal it is that the impacts of the major crisis are never fully felt until long after the storm has passed.
A DELIVERY OF ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES
One food package is the basic and necessary ration. Each food package includes the following.
20 Kilos of Rice
Daal 8 kilos
Potatoes 8 kilos
Salt 2 packets
Oil 4 litres
Beaten Rice 10 kilos
Soap 10 bars
BENIFICIARIES
Most daily wage workers that we aim to distribute the food live in small rental spaces in the areas such as Teku, Kalimati, Thapathali slum area, New Road because these are the areas where they usually gather to find work for the day. These communities mostly work in construction, plumbing, in households, as porters and as roadside vendors. Majority of them hail from villages in search of a better life for themselves and their family. These workers have many people who are dependent upon their income. Some of these people were displaced during the insurgency and earthquake.
PLAN
For the packing of the parcels, working stations will be allocated throughout the city and no more than 15 volunteers will work from one station while adhering to WHO recommended social distancing. Working stations may include open areas, houses, party palaces, restaurants etc. The areas where the packages would be dropped off will be advised by local ward office. The drop off place will only be a four way junction (chowks), since they are large areas.
Before the distribution begins, the exact spot where the single package should be dropped off will be marked by the volunteers and the packages will be placed, under the strict monitoring of police personals. Local ward, police and the media will inform the homeless and daily wage workers in that area about the distribution. The distribution will take place and will be strictly monitored by the police and volunteers will urge to maintain distance.
COLLABORATIONS
This operation will require collaborations from different groups and institutions - Office of Municipality, Office of local wards, Nepal Police/APF, Donor(s), Press & Media, Volunteers.
DONATION
Please donate what you can today through this GoFundMe. If you are unable to donate at this time, please share this fundraiser on your social media page so that others may see it, and to help us spread the message further.
Alternative ways to donate include:
Paypal : [email redacted]
ESewa : 9803008638
*In order for us to have a proper documentation, please make sure that you tag "SONDonation" while you donate.
ABOUT:
My name is Jay Poudyal and I run the photoblog Stories of Nepal along with Sagun Rayamajhi, a US Citizen.
For the last 7 years I have travelled in Nepal and shared stories of ordinary Nepali people in my blog.
The funds are being collected to ensure that daily wage workers, marginalised communities in and outside of the valley receive immediate relief during the Nepal government lockdown due to the COVID19 crisis. This fundraising was started because of the realisation that the Stories of Nepal community could play a role in providing immediate relief to the the most vulnerable individuals and communities that face the brunt of such a lockdown and pandemic.
The fund are being used for the following:
1. Providing monthly food parcels to daily wage workers.
2. Providing monthly food packages to families from marginalised community in Kathmandu Valley.
3. Providing cooked meals to people facing homelessness.
4. Providing monthly food packages to families from marginalised community in Kanchanpur, Saptari District.
5. Broadcasting Public Service Announcement in Radio in Bajhang, Doti, Bajura, Baitadi, Dadeldhura Districts.
6. Providing financial help for rent for Orphanages.
7. Providing monthly food packages to families from marginalised community in Janakpurdham, Dhanusa District.
Once the funds are withdrawn to Sagun Rayamajhi bank account, we will make need based dispersal to our local partners/volunteers so that they can start providing immediate relief. With the help of the community members, journalists, social workers, local partners who have worked with these communities in the past, we will use the funds to source, package, transport and deliver the relief/food packages. Engaging local partners will allow us to know what will work and what will not which is critical to providing relief.
Progress on the ground is being updated here in this link on a regular basis.
I will be posting further updates on the fundraiser and the progress in the coming days, weeks and months through photographs and more stories in the Stories of Nepal Blog & the GoFundMe fundraiser link.
Thank you!
Jay & Sagun
We will be posting updates about the operation and the impact it has as the situation progresses.
Thank you!
There have been several reports from reliable sources, locals and concerned citizens, that homeless people are unable to find any source of food and daily wage workers unable to purchase groceries for the family. Both we and our partners believe that the more imminent threat to these people is starvation, second to that of Coronavirus should the lockdown continue longer than initially expected.
The lack of any social protection program by the state to protect the homeless and low-income daily wage earners from slipping down into abject poverty makes the situation even more threatening.
At Stories of Nepal, we have been following the news headlines about COVID-19 as they unfold and have been checking in as a team daily to see how and when would be appropriate for us to offer support to those in the greatest need.
As we plan ahead and continue assessing the situation, we can at least take solace in knowing that through our community people from these vulnerable backgrounds are not staying hungry.
We also hope that we can exceed the target amount and continue relief efforts post-lockdown to help individuals bounce back to normalcy. If there is anything that we have learned in the last 7 years of traveling in Nepal it is that the impacts of the major crisis are never fully felt until long after the storm has passed.
A DELIVERY OF ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES
One food package is the basic and necessary ration. Each food package includes the following.
20 Kilos of Rice
Daal 8 kilos
Potatoes 8 kilos
Salt 2 packets
Oil 4 litres
Beaten Rice 10 kilos
Soap 10 bars
BENIFICIARIES
Most daily wage workers that we aim to distribute the food live in small rental spaces in the areas such as Teku, Kalimati, Thapathali slum area, New Road because these are the areas where they usually gather to find work for the day. These communities mostly work in construction, plumbing, in households, as porters and as roadside vendors. Majority of them hail from villages in search of a better life for themselves and their family. These workers have many people who are dependent upon their income. Some of these people were displaced during the insurgency and earthquake.
PLAN
For the packing of the parcels, working stations will be allocated throughout the city and no more than 15 volunteers will work from one station while adhering to WHO recommended social distancing. Working stations may include open areas, houses, party palaces, restaurants etc. The areas where the packages would be dropped off will be advised by local ward office. The drop off place will only be a four way junction (chowks), since they are large areas.
Before the distribution begins, the exact spot where the single package should be dropped off will be marked by the volunteers and the packages will be placed, under the strict monitoring of police personals. Local ward, police and the media will inform the homeless and daily wage workers in that area about the distribution. The distribution will take place and will be strictly monitored by the police and volunteers will urge to maintain distance.
COLLABORATIONS
This operation will require collaborations from different groups and institutions - Office of Municipality, Office of local wards, Nepal Police/APF, Donor(s), Press & Media, Volunteers.
DONATION
Please donate what you can today through this GoFundMe. If you are unable to donate at this time, please share this fundraiser on your social media page so that others may see it, and to help us spread the message further.
Alternative ways to donate include:
Paypal : [email redacted]
ESewa : 9803008638
*In order for us to have a proper documentation, please make sure that you tag "SONDonation" while you donate.
ABOUT:
My name is Jay Poudyal and I run the photoblog Stories of Nepal along with Sagun Rayamajhi, a US Citizen.
For the last 7 years I have travelled in Nepal and shared stories of ordinary Nepali people in my blog.
The funds are being collected to ensure that daily wage workers, marginalised communities in and outside of the valley receive immediate relief during the Nepal government lockdown due to the COVID19 crisis. This fundraising was started because of the realisation that the Stories of Nepal community could play a role in providing immediate relief to the the most vulnerable individuals and communities that face the brunt of such a lockdown and pandemic.
The fund are being used for the following:
1. Providing monthly food parcels to daily wage workers.
2. Providing monthly food packages to families from marginalised community in Kathmandu Valley.
3. Providing cooked meals to people facing homelessness.
4. Providing monthly food packages to families from marginalised community in Kanchanpur, Saptari District.
5. Broadcasting Public Service Announcement in Radio in Bajhang, Doti, Bajura, Baitadi, Dadeldhura Districts.
6. Providing financial help for rent for Orphanages.
7. Providing monthly food packages to families from marginalised community in Janakpurdham, Dhanusa District.
Once the funds are withdrawn to Sagun Rayamajhi bank account, we will make need based dispersal to our local partners/volunteers so that they can start providing immediate relief. With the help of the community members, journalists, social workers, local partners who have worked with these communities in the past, we will use the funds to source, package, transport and deliver the relief/food packages. Engaging local partners will allow us to know what will work and what will not which is critical to providing relief.
Progress on the ground is being updated here in this link on a regular basis.
I will be posting further updates on the fundraiser and the progress in the coming days, weeks and months through photographs and more stories in the Stories of Nepal Blog & the GoFundMe fundraiser link.
Thank you!
Jay & Sagun
We will be posting updates about the operation and the impact it has as the situation progresses.
Thank you!
Organizer and beneficiary
Jay Poudyal
Organizer
Sagun Rayamajhi
Beneficiary
