Christchurch – June 17, 2015

Christchurch schoolgirls who were in Nepal during the devastating April earthquakes have helped raise more than $20,000 for the Nepali recovery effort.

Twenty six students and four teachers from St Margaret’s College were in Nepal when the 7.8 earthquake hit on April 25. Nearly two months on, the small Himalayan country is counting the losses from its worst natural disaster in recent history. Almost a third of the country’s public health facilities have been damaged or destroyed in the aftermath of the quake.

Hundreds of people have attended the St Margaret’s fair which raised funds and collected 120 tarpaulins to be shipped off in a fortnight before the monsoon season arrives. St Margaret’s College, in conjunction with the Farmy Army, were supported by Mitre 10 stores, the Nepal Friendship Society, Crimewatch and the Himalayan Trust.

Organiser Helen Heddell says receipts totalled more than $20,000 with many donations going toward the international freight costs.

See an item from 7 News in Australia about the fund-raiser

Christchurch’s Sam Johnson is in Nepal helping build shelters in outlying areas of Nepal that have had no assistance since the devastating earthquakes.

Johnson, who foundered and led the Student Volunteer Army after the Christchurch earthquakes, has joined forces with the RiseNepal organisation to build temporary homes in the village of Chaimale, about three hours from Kathmandu. His mission has the support of Air New Zealand and other benefactors.

For any further information contact Helen Heddell, Farmy Army, on 0274 361389 or Kip Brook, Media Consultant, at Make Lemonade on 0275 030188.

Christchurch’s Sam Johnson has helped organise the construction of 70 transitional shelters in outlying areas of Nepal that have had no assistance since the devastating April earthquakes.

Johnson, who foundered and led the Student Volunteer Army after the Christchurch earthquakes, has joined forces with the RiseNepal organisation to build temporary homes in the village of Chaimale, about three hours from Kathmandu. His mission has the support of Air New Zealand and other benefactors.

See a radio item here about Sam’s current work in Nepal

“We have an ambitious goal of putting up 1000 shelters or homes. We had a group of 10 young Nepali volunteers help our New Zealand team collect and organise roofing iron, framing and wire.

“Our Nepali/Kiwi group headed to Chaimale, which is only 30 km from the capital but it took more than three hours to reach our destination because of rough steep roads and we stopped to offload materials in different places for shelter construction.

“The shelters are being built for the most vulnerable people who have lost their homes such as women with children but no husbands or family groups with disabilities. The need is great so we are all helping those who have the hardest times helping themselves.

“The villages are made up of clusters of mud brick houses scattered among terrace farms. Many are either massively cracked or completely collapsed while others remain liveable. The RiseNepal group and Global Peace Foundation leaders are happy with progress.”

Johnson’s team is also helping the Friends of Himalayan Children Inc. lead by Nepali Som Tamang who is focusing on the hardest hit areas of mountain villages where most homes and schools collapsed in the earthquake.

“We are in the process of taking roofing iron to a remote village in the Ramachhap district named Pritee which is 210km from Kathmandu but takes more than 12 hours to drive to. We are taking 648 sheets of corrugated iron to be distributed so villagers can begin reconstruction of school classrooms.

“Each classroom needs 18 sheets of iron, and so enough iron will be given to replace the number of classrooms lost by the locals. This mission is just for the delivery of the iron, the locals will build their own bamboo structure and use the iron as roofing.

“The iron can be continually repurposed as better structures are rebuilt after the most urgent needs are met before the start of the monsoon so children can continue their education which is vital in the rural villages.”

For further information contact Kip Brook, Media Consultant,  at Make Lemonade on 0275 030188. See: www.makelemonade.nz

New Zealand’s Student Volunteer Army founder Sam Johnson is launching a second humanitarian aid mission to help outlying villages in Nepal following last month’s earthquake that killed more than 8000 people.

See a Radio New Zealand article here

Johnson flies to Nepal next week with a team of five people where they will help villagers build temporary shelters to serve as their homes and schools. Getting children back in school is vital to prevent many young people being forced to go to Kathmandu where often they become slaves instead of getting an education.

The mission team includes a police sergeant, two experienced trained disaster responders and two Australians – one originally from Nepal and another from Canterbury, now farming in Perth. Johnson says they will train young villagers to put up shelters in remote areas as well as oversee construction.

“We are working our local partners, Rise Nepal, again who are a diverse group of young people busy distributing aid and building monsoon proof shelters. Their goal is to distribute 1000 shelters at a cost of just $150 each over the coming months. The shelters can house up to 50 people. We are launching another funding drive for people who want to directly buy and sponsor a shelter.

“We will be taking urgent medical supplies and other essential equipment on a 12 hour drive and a three hour trek to get to these remote places which have been without help since the earthquakes.

“Disaster zones are complex and I am just grateful for support from Air New Zealand, the Asia Pacific Alliance for Peace and Development and personal contributions so that 100 percent of our limited funds can be spent on the ground.  Anyone who wants to support out aid mission can see the link on my website.

“Our partnership with local Nepalese is incredible. It’s their disaster, their country and they are very proud and thankful to have international support in making a difference. The generous backing we are getting has enabled the New Zealand community to help these very capable young people help their communities.”

Johnson and some of his team will also go to the Asia Pacific Alliance for Peace and Development meeting in Mongolia. Sam will be co-leading disaster preparedness training and planning how we can further engage thousands more youth groups around Asia in disaster preparedness to be crisis leaders.

For further information contact Make Lemonade media consultant Kip Brook on 0275 030188.