Just before noon in Nepal on Saturday April 25th a por8on of the earth’s crust more than 120 Km or 72 miles wide, traveled 3 meters or 10 D. to the south. The journey took just a couple of minutes but for those of us on that piece of earth, it was the most violent ride we are likely to experience. We, Subhash Ka?el and John Michaelis, were facilitaBng two AVP Basic workshops in Kathmandu at the Bme with local and visiBng facilitators from Australia and the US. Subhash and his team were on the ground ﬂoor of a drug and alcohol recovery center. John’s team was on the ﬁLh ﬂoor of a counselling center. We all crawled or lay on the ﬂoor unBl the ground reached its desBnaBon. Fortunately both buildings were sound and neither parBcipants nor facilitators were hurt, although two parBcipants walked the four hours back to their home in Bhaktapur, as no transport was operaBng, to discover their homes destroyed. NEPAL RELIEF Support the Friends Peace Teams in Asia West Pacific Nepal Fund Call to respond. In the days following the earthquake, the Friends Peace Team in Nepal struggled with local volunteers to come to terms with the best way to respond to the tragedy. The ﬁrst quesBon – should we respond now, or should we wait? -‐ was quickly answered. As human beings and as friends, we care for each other, especially if there are immediate needs for water, food, health, shelter or medical care. The answer to our second quesBon -‐ what can we do that the governmental agencies or larger chariBes cannot do be?er with more resources? -‐ also quickly became clear. We have a strong network of trustworthy friends who are able to idenBfy needs falling through the cracks. Why us? What can Friends Peace Teams do be3er than the big relief agencies? Through our personal relaBonships, with no overhead, we are able to deliver contribuBons directly to a place of need without others' taking a cut along the way, either in our oﬃce, en route, or in local systems. Subhash talking with 'mothers with babies' Loading rice, kitchen utensils, and special who were gathered to collect their relief relief package in a truck in Kathmandu to package. Standing on side with white shirt is transport in to the village local school teacher Mr. Uddav Kharel. Local Health Worker Mr. Prithvi Bahadur Shahi is trying to convince a mother why the special relief package was given to her. Friends Peace Teams in Asia West Paciﬁc • www.FPT-‐AWP.org HOW TO HELP Support the Friends Peace Teams in Asia West Pacific Nepal Fund • Our administration costs are zero; we will deliver all contributions directly to local people working on-site. • Peace Teams have trustworthy teams on the ground, who we have known and worked with over time. • Peace Teams are in touch with local needs and ways to meet those needs according to local custom and scale. • Peace Teams are aware of and concerned about the still active caste system. Disadvantaged communities such as Untouchables, Dalits and other low castes are at the bottom, and we can help to ensure they get needed resources. • AVP-Nepal has a network of highly dedicated volunteers, who are poised to swing into action immediately. One team led by Subhash left Kathmandu to assess needs and plan responses. With a six day working week, their only free day is Saturday, many of them would need income replacement, however, to take much time off to do relief work. • Our skills – particularly trauma resiliency and recovery - are tools not available and not understood by other agencies and an understanding our network brings to our interactions with people in disaster zones. • Our close working relationship with Children Nepal enables us to respond positively and rapidly to instances of child need. • Peace Teams understand well the need to restore and build community. Our priorities We are focussing on three urgent needs: • Disadvantaged Communities. We are choosing disadvantaged communities such as an Untouchable or Dalit caste, within badly decimated villages. We will send volunteers there to offer immediately needed support; food, water, clothing medicine and materials for temporary shelter. • Children. We will also focus on the children in the villages, offering drawing materials and other means of expression. We have already done this in small tent communities in Kathmandu and seen the children’s drawings progress from crumbled buildings and ambulances to happy children playing together. • Workshops. At the appropriate time we will set up AVP workshops, with a special focus on trauma resiliency. AVP Trauma Workshops here have been effective, in part because they reach many participants simultaneously. Rapid response Time is of the essence! Transferring money to Nepal is slow and arduous so some of the Nepali and visitors here have raided their personal bank accounts for immediate working capital. Some of this is a gift, and some of it is on loan pending hoped for donations. Empathy We hope and pray the critical need here will lead to empathy and financial support for Nepal. In friendship, Subhash Kattel and John Michaelis Coordinators of Friends Peace Teams in Asia West Pacific Where to send donations: United States (tax deductible) Donate using PayPal at www.FPT-AWP.org/donate Or send a check to: Friends Peace Teams 1001 Park Avenue Saint Louis, MO 63104 Please designate the donation for Nepal Office: +1 314 588-1122 Australia (not tax deductible) Use Bill Pay to transfer the money Bank: Westpac Account name: Friends Peace Teams Asia West Pacific Incorporated BSB: 032 086 Account No: 366770 SWIFT Code: WPACAU2S (for donations from outside Australia) Or mail a check to: Jane Drexler,17 Pockley Ave. Roseville NSW 2069, Australia Please designate the donation for Nepal. Keep Informed For updates on the work of Friends Peace Teams in Asia West Paciﬁc please contact Jenna Morales at [email protected] and ask to be added to our email newsle?er (distributed 3-‐5 Bmes a month) or Like our page on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/fptawp Friends Peace Teams in Asia West Paciﬁc • www.FPT-‐AWP.org