In the wake of a natural disaster like the earthquake in Nepal, knowing how to contribute or help recovery efforts can be intimidating.
No doubt you’ve seen World Vision and countless other organizations petitioning you for money and offering you multiple ways to donate to Nepal. Maybe you’ve even given some.
But do you wonder where that money actually goes, how it helps provide the relief countries need?
To eliminate the mystery, here’s how World Vision responds to disasters and what your donations help us do.
Immediate relief
This isn’t World Vision’s first rodeo. We’re experts at disaster response, on the ground following almost every major disaster in the last 50 years. Think Typhoon Haiyan, the Haiti earthquake in 2010 and the recent typhoon in Vanuatu.
World Vision has over 30 years of experience in Nepal, currently operating 73 projects with over 200 staff. One of our staff members, who was visiting for a conference, took this photo 30 minutes before the earthquake destroyed the temple in the background.
Because so many homes were destroyed and people were forced outside during aftershocks, there was an immediate need for temporary shelter from cold weather. We immediately distributed 1,000 tarps and 600 blankets in Bhaktapur, one of the hardest hit areas near the epicentre of the earthquake, in order to create makeshift shelter for those stranded in the streets.
Long-term assistance
Not only do we prioritize emergency response, but following recovery from a disaster, we stay on the ground, “helping children and their families to transition to permanent housing, clean water, sustainable sources of food and access to education. World Vision works with partners and local communities so they can re-establish their livelihoods and be more resilient to future disasters.”
We’ll be on the ground in Nepal working to assist people like Lokbadhu, who ran a feeding program for trekkers passing through his village. The earthquake wiped out his home and with it, his entire food supply.
Safe places for children to recover and play
World Vision prioritizes the needs of children, especially in the wake of a traumatic experience like a massive earthquake. One of the first things we do is to create Child Friendly Spaces for children to stay safe and recover.
They have a safe space to play with other kids and access to resources like water, food and temporary shelter, as well as a space to process the trauma of the earthquake. One study showed that children who attend Child Friendly Spaces in the wake of a disaster are able to maintain a more positive outlook on life.
We’ve already set up several in Nepal, like this one below, along with temporary learning centres to help the kids continue their education during the rebuilding process.
Distribution of necessary resources
Our eight regional warehouses enable us to airlift supplies to any area in the world after events like the Nepal earthquake. Your financial help ensures we’re able to distribute additional resources down the road, like hygiene kits, cooking kits, mosquito nets, sleeping bags and sleeping mats, buckets and water purification tablets.
As the world’s attention turns to other stories in the coming weeks, the people of Nepal will just be beginning the long journey to normal life – and we plan to be there journeying alongside them. Our aim is to rebuild in such a way that minimizes the impact of future disasters by conducting additional preparedness trainings, improving infrastructure and decreasing poverty in the country.
Helping a country rebuild doesn’t have to be intimidating. Donate to relief efforts now, and be part of the recovery process that will enable Nepal to be more resilient in the wake of future disasters.