Only 17 days after a huge earthquake devastated central Nepal on April 25, an equally massive quake hit the eastern region of the country, destroying homes and buildings, blocking roads, causing landslides and leaving almost 9,000 people dead. The people of Nepal have been reeling from the aftershocks of the twin disasters, and with blocked roads and limited helicopter access, it has been extremely difficult to get the emergency aid that they so desperately need.
Some local folks are taking a very personal and proactive approach to providing aid for the Nepali. Where many fundraisers ask for monetary donations or clothing/food/supplies to be sent to countries in the aftermath of natural disasters, the Nepal Women and Girls Benefit Celebration will raise funds to be used as directly and efficiently as possible.
St. Pete photographer/entrepreneur Amelia Bartlett and Kim Vorperian (owner of Bodhi Basics in St. Pete) have devised a fundraising system that will eliminate the middleman — unlike many disaster response efforts, the Nepal Women and Girls Benefit Celebration will not collect donated items in bulk or purchase relief items to be sent overseas to Nepal.
Instead, all donations will go directly to the Mahila Partnership, a grassroots organization that deals directly with the needs of girls and women in the aftermath of natural disasters. Mahila Partnership will work in coalition with organizations physically present in Nepal to determine the real, pressing needs of the community.
The fundraiser is Bartlett's brainchild, and she said that it has been in the works for the last month.
Women and girls are subjected to a loss of dignity and sense of self in the aftermath of a natural disaster. A shortage of feminine hygiene supplies, clean water, soap and health education can distort and damage a woman’s sense of identity. The Nepal Women and Girls Benefit Celebration aims to restore female health and well-being in Nepal, as the journey to rebuild the nation begins.
Community leader Sabita Aryal, of non-profit organization Eco Organic Nepal, will act as the connector between Nepal and the Nepal Women and Girls Benefit Celebration. She will survey the needs of rural and urban families in the communities of Nepal. Aryal will use the Western dollar in Nepal (one U.S. dollar is equal to 101.6 Nepalese Rupee) to purchase water, hygiene supplies, food and blankets. This will save thousands of donor dollars spent on supplies and shipping in the United States, boost the local economy, cut relief time by expediting delivery time and eliminating wire transfers and avoid untrustworthy distribution methods.
"Buying relief items in Nepal is not only the most cost-effective way — saving shipping, labor, maximizing the conversion rate," said Bartlett. "It also ensures quick deliver and culturally appropriate products."
The Nepal Women and Girls Benefit Celebration will take place Thurs., May 28, 7-10 p.m. at Bodhi Basics in St. Pete. The event will include a silent auction, with funds directly benefiting Nepal. Products and gift certificates from local businesses will be featured in the auction, and beer and wine will be available upon donation.
"This fundraiser is significant in its focus on the women and girls, who make up one half of the relief effort," Bartlett said. "Women are not only in need of items to rebuild their homes and agriculture, as well as feed they're families; they also have menstrual/feminine hygiene needs, items to ensure safety (solar lanterns) at night, and culturally appropriate clothing, as many left their homes with only the clothes on their back. The money raised at this fundraiser will go to the hands of Nepali women to rebuild their lives and reclaim their dignity amidst the community."
Bodhi Basics is located at 1239 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg, bodhibasics.com.
This article appears in May 21-27, 2015.