Help A Sherpa Single Mom Save Her Land

Hi, my name is Bidisha Banerjee and I’m fundraising on behalf of Kesang Sherpa, single mom and Buddhist practitioner based in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Kesang reached out to me last month because she urgently needs about 1,100 by May 30 to pay off loans on some land that she owns about 1.5 hours away from Kathmandu. And a further $5900 by end June to mid July. The funds will be used to stave off predatory lenders.

Kesang’s home was destroyed in the 2015 earthquake but she found a way to survive.

Kesang’s marriage was abusive but she found a way to survive.

Kesang’s daughter was stateless but she found a way to survive–and get papers for her daughter.

Her phone was stolen and she had to sell her laptop to make ends meet but she found a way to survive.

Now she is a single mom and assault survivor who is doing the best she can and needs the help of her extended friends and former classmates to protect the last bit of equity she and her kid have: land.

And now she is in danger of losing it. If you remember Kesang and can spare any amount to help a Yalie/former classmate and/or friend get back on her feet again then please donate here.

Sometimes we all need a little help from our friends. #onekesangatatime

So far, we’ve raised about $1000 from our inner circle. One donor asked that the donation be a 'forgiveable loan' (in other words, if she is able to pay it back in the future, she will). I asked Kesang if it would be okay for me to reach out to some others, and she said that would be “huuuuuge.” I spoke with a mutual friend from Yale who visited her in Nepal in the past few years. It sounds like the COVID lockdowns really impacted her investment calculation and she felt compelled to pay people for not working. She had planned to sell the land but the value declined. Your contribution will help her stave off the banks until she can sell the land.

Also, if you'd like, please be in touch with Kesang directly. She’s on Facebook and WhatsApp.

She is a Buddhist practitioner and teacher doing her best to support her community. She used to run Sherpa Trekking Services, her family business and is very knowledgeable about trekking and climbing in Nepal in case anyone would like to connect with her about that. (Check out this Yale Alumni Magazine profile of her in 2008: https://yalealumnimagazine.org/articles/1942-family-business). She graduated from Yale in 2004 with a degree in film studies.

Thank you so much!