First, A Short Story

I met Gopal Dhakal while exploring the streets of Kathmandu the fall of 2015. He was a charismatic and insightful young man who showed me the less frequented places of that bustling city. The hidden mandalist's studio where he apprenticed, the various temples on the city's periphery, and all the little nuances in between. Even then he and his family had fallen on hard times. The earthquake in April had precipitated the drying up of the once prosperous tourism industry in Nepal, and Gopal and his wife, Asmita, struggled to find work. His family, like Kathmandu, have still not fully recovered since. And now with the spread of COVID-19 their struggle has only become harder. 

Who Does this Help?

Your funds will go to help the Dhakal family; Gopal, Asmita, and his two sons, Ashik, and Arush. They live in a one room apartment in Kathmandu where they eat, sleep, and quarantine from COVID.

How Funds Will Be Spent

The funds are needed as soon as possible for...

-His family's essentials such as food and rent

-The ability to pay for his children's schooling

-A means to help Gopal look for work

Since gofundme does not operate in Nepal, donations are withdrawn into my bank account each month. The amount is then wired to Gopal via Western Union. I send Gopal the transfer number and amount for each transaction so he is able to provide verification for the pickup. I keep a running spreadsheet of the funds which have passed through my account, sent to, and received by Gopal.

What it Means

After a couple of days showing me the sights, Gopal invited me to his apartment where Asmita welcomed us with a delicious meal and his then only son, Ashik, watched cartoons from an old TV set. I remember marveling at how a family with so little could still be so generous. It says a lot about a people who welcome a stranger into their home and treat them as family. Any donation you can spare will be immensely appreciated by the Dhakals, especially in these trying times. Thank you.