NGO extends helping hand to quake-stricken Nepal
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/ Courtesy of Samdong International
By Lee Ji-hye
An Iksan-based non-profit organization is organizing several events to support earthquake relief efforts in Kathmandu, where the death toll has risen to more than 7,000 after last week's 7.9 magnitude earthquake.
Samdong International, which gives educational, agricultural, and vocational support to communities across South-East Asia, is using its Kathmandu school as an emergency shelter.
The New Life Centre, the NGO's vocational school in the Nepal capital, survived the earthquake without damage.
"We are mobilizing our staff on the ground to further expand the center to include food distribution, medical support, and supply distribution and our fundraising efforts will go directly to support the shelter," said Samdong's international relations director Jessica Adel.
"It's a small grassroots organization on the ground in Nepal, Samdong has direct contact with the people and is able to allocate funds immediately; addressing the most urgent needs," she said.
She said the organization was particularly proud of a young man named Roshan Acharya, who returned to Nepal to open a vocational school and business in Kathmandu, after training as a baker in Korea.
Acharya was now playing a leading role in Samdong's relief efforts in Nepal, she said.
"Even though his home has been destroyed, we've been blown away by his bravery, calm focus, and energy in the face of such loss," Adel said.
"If I could speak to the Korean public, I would remind them that every donation truly does count, whether large or small, and that every ocean is only made up of individual drops," she said.
"If we come together with small efforts as a world community, we have the power to bring about real change. The effort is only beginning. We will be in this for the long haul - we are dealing with the emergency phase now, but are also looking forward to the future of rebuilding that will lie in the months ahead," said Adel.
Here are some ways to donate to Nepal:
Stand With Nepal
The organization is raising funds online at Indiegogo, with the aim of reaching $5,000 by May 11.
The money will help provide basic requirements, such as medicine, tents, mosquito nets, rehydration salts and zinc tablets.
As of Monday, the online campaign had reached 25 percent of its target.
For more information, visit
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stand-with-nepal/x/7237903
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Stand UP Seoul
This Thursday night, a comedy group based in Seoul will donate proceeds from this month's show.
Rudy Tyburczy, with Jeff Sinclair and Rob Fioretta, will host the Stand Up Seoul fundraiser at Rocky Mountain Tavern in Itaewon, starting at 9 p.m.
The cover fee is 5,000 won
Seoul Players
An English-speaking theater company based in Seoul will donate 50 percent of ticket sales revenue from the opening of its play, Glengarry Glen Ross, this Saturday.
The show, at the Arts Tree Theatre near Guro Station in southwestern Seoul, is in English with Korean subtitles.
Tickets are 20,000 won for adults and 15,000 won for students and groups of 20 or more.