How to Help Nepal

My long-term readers and personal acquaintances will know that I have a special relationship with Nepal, a country facing many dire problems. Earthquakes, corruption, and poverty, oh my! The hundreds of thousands of displaced people and refugees eking out a seemingly permanent existence in makeshift shelters composed of tarps and sheet metal, mostly in Kathmandu, are typically brushed aside with a "they're so resilient!" or some such utterance. If only compliments could build houses or sustainable livelihoods. Every year sees a new prime minister and his appointments, the current iteration of which is led by the former guerrilla general of the insurgent Maoist army which perpetrated a great many human rights abuses during its time, and which has 'miraculously' ended power outages in Kathmandu by instructing the utility ministry to stop funneling electricity to industries that bribe officials in the Maoist party.

Photograph by Omar Havana, Getty

Unfortunately, the world's lens shifted away from Nepal one or two months into the aftermath of the 2015 earthquakes. This situation has arisen in past disasters, such as in the aftermath of Haiti's 2010 earthquake, from which the country has not yet fully recovered. The great tragedy of it all is that an even larger earthquake is predicted in Nepal in the not-so-distant future, and it seems that the lesson of the 2015 earthquakes has gone unlearned. Without further ado, here are the best ways, in my opinion, that you can help the people of Nepal, in small ways:

1. Donate, but use caution!

The best thing to donate right now is definitely Money. Although this is terribly boring, and some people may want to donate a certain type of Stuff, there is already an abundance of Stuff here not being put to good use. Money, on the other hand, can be wired directly to a certain project, bypassing the nightmare that is Nepali customs. Furthermore, Money can get turned into a wide variety of different Stuff! This is a lot more helpful in such a volatile environment, where the most needed type of Stuff may change from day to day, and where one couldn't know what Stuff is most needed without being here. Furthermore, Stuff is generally much cheaper in Nepal than in western countries, so Money sent directly will go much farther than Money spent on American Stuff and shipping costs.

Potential recipients of your Money exist in abundance, but great scrutiny is required to avoid dysfunctional and/or corrupt groups. The larger, international organizations such as Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders are always a safe bet, but they have high overhead costs and operate in many countries around the world (this isn't a bad thing; their overhead allows them to work on a much larger scale than local groups). If you want to donate to a smaller organization that is focused on helping people in Nepal specifically, and through which your Money will translate directly into relief, here are a few that I recommend:

Helping Hands USA: This group builds and manages schools and medical facilities in developing areas. They don't have the prettiest website, but they have some serious results in the field. So far, they have an 800-student boarding school in Khandbari, Nepal, four hospitals across the country, as well as a school and hospital in Nicaragua, with plans to build in Bhutan in the near future. They aim to create self-sustaining businesses that will continue independently in the future, as any good NGO should. Tax deductible. (Disclaimer: I work for this one!)

Himalayan Crossroads: I've met two of the people in charge of this group, and they are really great. They're bringing aid to Sindhupalchok, another area that I've had the privilege to explore. Last I heard, Himalayan Crossroads was managing two big shelters complete with a basic school and materials for making handicrafts. This is where I sent my Money.

Rasuwa Relief: This group is a collaboration between Nepalis and foreigners bringing relief to Langtang and the surrounding area, where I've traveled extensively and where the earthquake devastation is at its worst. I don't have a personal connection in the group, but I've been following their efforts and it's clear that they're doing good work. These days they're helping to coordinate the rebuilding of the Langtang Valley trekking route, a major source of tourism revenue.

These are the best ones I know of in the districts that I'm most familiar with. There are plenty of other options, but again, choose wisely.

2. Learn More About Nepal!


If you're reading this you probably have at least a vaguely positive feeling about Nepal (I hope!), but few people are versed in the country's vibrant history and culture. Situated on a crossroads of the ancient world, Nepal is an incredibly diverse country, influenced by India, Tibet, China, and Arabia, but unique among all of them. It is one of only a handful of countries in the world that was never colonized by a European power, and its history in the past thirty years is the stuff of blockbuster films. I could go on for pages, but I'll leave the rest for you...

This is a simple way to have an impact without any material input. Although it may seem like a small gesture, this really does has a positive effect in the long term. Nepal's economy relies heavily on tourism, which can be promoted internationally through your interest. The last thing Nepal needs is to be forgotten, and this is something that each one of us can help to prevent.

When more people are a part of this conversation, more potential exists for bringing benefit. In some remote areas of Nepal, the only healthcare available is provided by foreign medical missions, which are usually staffed by volunteers, and they had to hear about that opportunity from someone. Engineers and teachers can also find volunteer work, perhaps now more than ever, and the same idea applies here. If you know someone with a relevant skill-set who wants to visit and volunteer here, I will gladly help connect them with a relevant organization. Extra Money always helps too, whether in the form of donations, investment, or tourism. Maybe some wealthy philanthropist will get involved after hearing through the grapevine because of you, who knows?

3. Visit Nepal!


This country is really, really awesome, and it'll take more than one act of God to ruin it. Despite all of this depressing talk about destruction, the majority of Nepalis are doing alright, many historic sites remain intact and the rest are being rebuilt, and the Himalayas are as majestic as ever. Nepal's economy needs tourism to continue in order to recover, and due to the loss of traffic since the earthquakes prices are relatively low. Your trip will probably be different than what you expected, but I guarantee that you will have a profound, amazing experience, maybe more so now that before the earthquakes. Your accommodations might be a little more rustic than you anticipated, depending on where you're going, but if you were looking for a five-star spa experience you probably wouldn't choose to come here in the first place. If you're hesitant, please, please contact me and I'll help you figure it out.

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