On April 25, a massive earthquake struck Nepal, killing over 7,000 people.
The Nepalese Student Association decided to help. Nepalese exchange students Raghav Poudyal, Suman Gurung and Saroj Dhital have started to raise funds for victims of the earthquake and raise awareness on MU’s campus in hopes of making a difference.
On May 1, the three [held a candlelight vigil](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/5/4/memorial-service-held-speakers-circle-remembrance-/) in commemoration of those who lost their lives or are suffering in Nepal.
To raise funds for the disaster, Poudyal said the organization will table at the MU Student Center to collect monetary donations until next Wednesday. They also plan on hosting cultural programs to bring the Nepalese community together, he said.
The money donated will be sent to humanitarian organizations that provide food, shelter and medicine for victims of the earthquake.
“We have been talking to groups and organizations working in rural parts of Nepal,” Dhital said. “We’ll channel the raised funds to these organizations so we have more control over where the funds go.”
The Nepalese Student Association would like to extend fundraising efforts to the city of Columbia, Dhital said. They are currently working to get a fundraiser permit from the city.
Many of the Nepalese students’ families were affected by the earthquake, Dhital said.
“We all have families and friends back home still,” Dhital said. “A lot of Mizzou Nepali students’ relatives have lost their homes. Some of them have lost their lives and almost all of them are traumatized. This event has affected us all as we are constantly worried about (the) situation back home and its really hard to focus on our studies. But we’re staying strong and doing the best we can do to support the victims.”
Raghav was one of the students whose family was affected by the earthquake.
“My father and mother had to sleep outside on the streets for six nights,” Raghav said. “We were lucky in that our house was not destroyed but a few of my extended family have lost their homes. Over the last week, this is what I have been through — I was shocked, I was frightened, I became hopeful and now I am determined.”
In addition to their efforts to provide relief, the students hope to spread knowledge of Nepalese culture.
“We have realized that we have not done much in terms of promoting our culture and diversity here at Mizzou,” Raghav said. “We want to organize programs that showcase our traditional dances, songs and other arts. We want to familiarize people with Nepalese cuisines. We hope that programs like these will help us to reach out to those who don’t know much about Nepal.”
The student body has so far been receptive, Raghav said.
“I have been overwhelmed by the support from family and friends here,” Raghav said. “Although this catastrophe destroyed the lives of many, a lot of people have come together to help the affected. And that’s beautiful and very inspiring.”
