Student launches ‘Dundee for Nepal’ appeal

Published On Thu 14 May 2015 by Grant Hill

A third-year student from the University of Dundee has launched an appeal to help his homeland of Nepal recover from the devastating earthquakes that have hit the country..

Aayush Paudel (23), who is studying Mechanical Engineering, is looking to raise funds and recruit people willing to work on the rebuilding of the country through his ‘Dundee for Nepal’ appeal. He hopes the campaign will help the relief effort in the country, which has been left in ruins by the earthquakes of 25th April and 12th May that have left more than 8,000 dead, 17,000 injured and hundreds more missing.

Aayush comes from the Nepalese capital city Kathmandu, where the highest number of casualties has been recorded. His family and friends were among the millions caught up in both earthquakes but were lucky to have escaped with their lives.

He has already raised £5000 which have been passed to NGOs working in Nepal. His new campaign requires a further £25,000 in order to meet his ambition of identifying a rehabilitation need, developing the idea into a real-life project and rolling it out across areas of Nepal in need of aid.

Aayush said, “I found out about the first earthquake from my Facebook feed on the morning of 25th April and all I could think about was if my parents were okay or not. Fear kept on building up as I couldn't reach them the whole day. I finally managed to speak to my mum for 30 seconds late in the evening.

“The horror of going through the news feed, the pictures and videos of the devastation caused was more disturbing than anything I have ever experienced. I am lucky that all my family lost was some property but I have friends who have lost their friends, family and property to the disaster that occurred.

“The second earthquake came just 17 days after the first big one and this has made matters worse by adding to the death tolls, devastating countless infrastructures and hindering the relief efforts significantly.

“I am planning to return to Nepal with volunteers to help but identifying and devising a plan for the areas where our knowledge and skills would be best suited to make maximum impact before we go is the immediate priority. Anyone can register themselves to volunteer. We will have a core team who will be looking into specific areas within the campaign and will be dividing and working with the volunteers in the best way possible.”

Aayush says he hopes the campaign will establish strong and lasting links between the University, the city of Dundee and the people of Nepal. He is appealing for help to identify areas where Nepal can be helped in terms of reconstruction and rehabilitation.

“Post-disaster management operations is something that needs a lot of research and planning,” he continued. “I want to set up a dedicated team of experts and volunteers who are willing to commit towards helping the communities who are in desperate need of.

“The support that Nepal has received from the people of Scotland and the UK is unbelievable and emotionally overwhelming. All the support in terms of funds and manpower for search and rescue operations has saved and helped countless lives so far and is still ongoing. But many cities, towns and villages have been reduced to rubble. Nepal being in the state that it is right now, it needs a lot more help in rebuilding.

“I would like to thank everyone who have supported the immediate relief operations and would like to urge people to help me in supporting the Nepalese population with post disaster reconstructing and rehabilitating operations in whatever ways possible.”

Anyone who wishes to donate to the Dundee for Nepal appeal can do so at www.gofundme.com/dundeefornepal.

To volunteer your time or expertise please contact Aayush on apaudel00@gmail.com or 07713 477123.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
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