A Traveling Life
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Policies
  • Destinations
    • Boston
    • New England
    • Europe
    • North America
    • Central America
    • South America
    • Southeast Asia
  • Features
    • Sustainable Travel
    • Food Towns
    • Travel Careers
    • Traveling Lives
  • Publications and More
  • Work with Me
A Traveling Life
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Policies
  • Destinations
    • Boston
    • New England
    • Europe
    • North America
    • Central America
    • South America
    • Southeast Asia
  • Features
    • Sustainable Travel
    • Food Towns
    • Travel Careers
    • Traveling Lives
  • Publications and More
  • Work with Me
A Traveling Life
Tag:

Nepal

    Sustainable Travel

    NGO Update: Two Years after the Nepal Earthquake

    by Brianne Miers July 19, 2017
    written by Brianne Miers

    April 25 marked the two-year anniversary of the devastating Nepal earthquake, which left nearly 9,000 people dead and 22,000 people injured, and leveled countless homes and cultural and religious sites. I haven’t been to Nepal in more than 10 years, but it remains a very special place to me. Since I’ve been curious about what life is like there these days, I reached out to two NGOs based in Nepal – Aythos and Volunteer Services and Support Nepal (VSSN) | BringBooks.

    woman in a mountain village talks about life after the Nepal earthquake

    This is Jiba, who maintains an apple orchard with her husband. Thanks to Aythos they received a greenhouse, and attended vegetable farming training and fruit tree orchard training. She hopes to earn enough income to send her son to a good school. (Photo credit: Aythos)

    I first connected with Aythos soon after the earthquake, then interviewed its founder, Beau, again last year on the one-year anniversary; VSSN | BringBooks is a partner organization of Visit.org, for which I serve as an Ambassador. Shanti Regmi, head of women empowerment projects for Aythos, and Matrika Rija, program coordinator for VSSN | BringBooks, were nice enough to take time to answer my questions via email and fill me in on how the earthquake continues to affect Nepalis, and how it’s impacted the work of their organizations over the past two years. 

    men covering fruit trees with tarps in Nepal

    Aythos handed out hail tarps to prevent fruit trees from damage during monsoon season. (Photo credit: Aythos)

    The Nepal Earthquake: Two Years Later

    Their work has returned to normal over this past second year.

    Both NGOs put their regular programs on hold for the first year after the earthquake to focus on relief and rebuilding efforts. Aythos supports rural communities through agricultural projects that allow people to earn critical income and feed their families, while VSSN places international volunteers throughout the country; BringBooks is a VSSN initiative that encourages travelers to bring children’s books to Nepal with them to be donated to schools and libraries.

    Shanthi, Aythos

    Our work is back to normal. The mission of our organization has not changed. We are working in the earthquake affected areas targeting the victims, women, children, marginalized groups of people. 

    Matrika, VSSN | BringBooks

    Following the earthquake, VSSN made around 20 temporary houses, did some immediate response for food in some villages, collected some donations, and distributed donations to some schools and affected groups. We no longer are placing volunteers for rebuilding – instead, volunteers are supporting schools. 

    donations to BringBooks

    donations to BringBooks (Photo credit: VSSN | BringBooks)

    A lot of rebuilding still needs to be done.

    Only about five percent of structures that were damaged or destroyed in the earthquake have been rebuilt – 800,000 families remain homeless. The Nepalese government is supposed to be providing financial assistance to citizens who lost homes; however, only the first of three installments has been paid. 

    Shanthi, Aythos

    Nepal is still in rubble almost two years after… Things are going pretty slowly on the ground. The physical infrastructures which were demolished during the earthquake are still not being constructed yet. All of the victims who lost their houses in the earthquake are still living under the temporary corrugated tin sheets.

    Boudhanath Stupa, one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, is the only stupa which has been completely built so far. Other than that, everyone is waiting for the government to rebuild their homes, cultural heritage sites and so on.

    Aythos pruning workshop

    Aythos recently held a summer pruning training with Everything Organic Nursery for 84 farmers from four villages. The purpose of the training was to create better fruits that will bring in a higher price at the market this fall. (Photo credit: Aythos)

    NGOs still have an important role to play in rebuilding efforts.

    Elections are being held in Nepal for the first time in 20 years this year, so government officials have shifted their attention away from rebuilding efforts and toward campaigning. 

    Shanthi, Aythos

    Lots of things need to be done in order to improve these victims’ lives. We don’t have any hope and trust in the Nepal’s government. So, different NGOs/ International NGOs work together in those areas to generate income opportunities. Lots of schools and hospitals demolished during the earthquake need to be rebuilt again. Thankfully there are some organizations which have been doing such great work.

    But, again the biggest concern here is the political instability in Nepal which hinders these organizations to work in a fruitful and peaceful environment. There is no consistency in the government. Now, one of the biggest elections is coming nearer*. Most of the government’s concern is focused on the election rather than these earthquake victims, which is so upsetting.

    * The local elections are taking place in three phases this year: May 14, June 28 and September 18. 

    Matrika, VSSN | BringBooks 

    …There are lot of things we can do directly to help the victims from our side. We still can do a lot on education, health and water sanitation, shelter, and income generation to help earthquake victims’ basic needs. If we wait for the government to do things then there is no point of our existence… NGOs exist in this country because our government is not able to do enough, and we help the government by doing what they are supposed to do.

    VSSN volunteers participating in rebuilding efforts

    VSSN volunteers participating in rebuilding efforts (Photo credit: VSSN)

    Tourism is more important to Nepal than ever.

    Tourist arrivals plummeted 85 percent after the earthquake, but tourism is off to a strong start in 2017. In fact, the Nepal Tourism Board expects tourism to double this year, after word has been spread that Nepal is open and safe for visitors.

    Shanthi, Aythos

    Tourism in Nepal has always played such an important role in our national economy. Right after the earthquake, the number of tourists decreased resulting in so many people being jobless and depressed. Post-earthquake tourism will play a great role by creating employment opportunities for the people. People will surely get hope and energy to start from a new beginning.

    I think travelers are the best sources for transmitting information. When they travel to Nepal, they’ll surely see the real condition of the victims, their lifestyle – which the earthquake has changed. After seeing all this, I think travelers should just not take photos and keep them hanging somewhere on their wall or in their diary. Rather, they can try making the rest of the people in this world aware about the condition of these victims by pressuring the Nepal government to take necessary actions instantly.  

    father and daughter in the

    Aythos provided tree tubes to farmers in the Himalayan village of Bremang to protect crops from pests and wild animals (Photo credit: Aythos).

    Many thanks to Shanti and Matrika for taking the time to answer my questions this spring. Their original answers were edited for grammar and length.

    Banner image: Aythos primarily works in remote Himalayan villages that were hit hard by the earthquake. It’s nice to see kids being kids. (Photo credit: Aythos)

     

    Pin it!

    two children in the mountains of Nepal

    July 19, 2017 0 comment
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • Sustainable Travel

    Beau Miller: How Aythos Responded to the Nepal Earthquake

    by Brianne Miers August 10, 2016
    by Brianne Miers August 10, 2016

    This is my interview with Beau Miller, the executive director of Aythos, a non-profit organization he founded seven years ago to implement economic development projects in remote Himalayan villages in Nepal. 

    Read more
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • Sustainable Travel

    How The Umbrella Foundation is Helping End “Voluntourism” in Nepal

    by Brianne Miers May 31, 2016
    by Brianne Miers May 31, 2016

    This interview is part of the Stop Orphanage Volunteering campaign organized by the Better Care Network to discourage orphanage volunteering and promote responsible alternatives. 

    Read more
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • Sustainable Travel

    Dispatch from Nepal: Interview with Beau Miller of Aythos

    by Brianne Miers May 5, 2015
    by Brianne Miers May 5, 2015

    I was fortunate to connect with Beau Miller, executive director of Aythos, the first relief organization to reach some of the devastated villages of the Sindhupalchok District.

    Read more
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • Southeast Asia

    Memories of Nepal: My First Days in Kathmandu

    by Brianne Miers May 2, 2015
    by Brianne Miers May 2, 2015

    This is the first post in a series where I’ll be sharing photos and memories of my time in Nepal.

    Read more
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • Sustainable Travel

    How to Help Nepal Earthquake Relief Efforts

    by Brianne Miers April 25, 2015
    by Brianne Miers April 25, 2015

    Based on my professional experience and personal connections, here are some recommendations for where to donate to help Nepal earthquake victims.

    Read more
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

About me

fullsizerender-1
I'm Brianne, a Boston-based travel blogger who is "working to see the world" by balancing a career with a life of travel. Join me as I seek out local, unique and sustainable attractions in the U.S. and around the globe. Learn more.

Subscribe!

Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Subscribe!

Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Copyright © 2020 A Traveling Life

Privacy PolicyCookie Policy


Back To Top
A Traveling Life
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Policies
  • Destinations
    • Boston
    • New England
    • Europe
    • North America
    • Central America
    • South America
    • Southeast Asia
  • Features
    • Sustainable Travel
    • Food Towns
    • Travel Careers
    • Traveling Lives
  • Publications and More
  • Work with Me
A Traveling Life
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Policies
  • Destinations
    • Boston
    • New England
    • Europe
    • North America
    • Central America
    • South America
    • Southeast Asia
  • Features
    • Sustainable Travel
    • Food Towns
    • Travel Careers
    • Traveling Lives
  • Publications and More
  • Work with Me
Copyright © 2020 A Traveling Life
Privacy PolicyCookie Policy
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Read More Accept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT