A group of Native Nepalese, now studying at Duke University, is raising tens of thousands of dollars for earthquake relief.
Native Nepalese Suman Bajgain and Abhishek Upadhyaya said they felt helpless knowing their family and friends were dealing with a devastating earthquake, all while they were thousands of miles away, studying for finals at Duke.
The death toll has risen to more than 5,500 according to the latest figures.
“My family, my immediate family, they are safe. I wouldn’t say they are okay, but they are safe,” Bajgain said. “My mother, two of her friends, lost their daughters and those friends were very close to our family.”
So, along with other students, they set up an online fundraiser. In just a few days, they shattered their original goal, raising more than $23,000 from nearly 500 donors.
“We will use that money to provide food, shelter and water to people who are in need,” Bajgain said.
Bajgain said he is flying out to Nepal this weekend, as soon as final exams are over. He said they’ll soon decide which aid organizations to partner with, after some Nepalese have complained their government has moved too slowly in dispensing aid. He also said relief efforts will focus on under-served, rural areas.
“There are areas around Kathmandu that probably have been more devastated than Kathmandu and they aren’t receiving much attention, so that is where the money will go,” Bajgain said.
It’s money the students promise will go directly to people in need.
“We are from Nepal,” Upadhyaya said in explaining why he thinks so many people chose to donate. “And…some of our close relatives might be affected by that and we will be more transparent in using the money properly.”
