DOLMA Foundation – Nepal Aid
The news from the flood disaster in Nepal continues to shock and sadden us, particularly as we formed a close relationship with the local community through the DOLMA Foundation and our PPDS volunteers who completed their water supply project there up above the devastated valley. Sadly it appears that some children and their families from a school funded by DOLMA, which our volunteers visited, along with others from the neighbourhood are missing. Our Charity trustees have already agreed to make a large urgent donation to DOLMA and Aquabox to help fund the immediate relief. The Master has written a note to us all asking for your support too. Please give whatever you can.
Nepal Flash Flooding Disaster.
Dear Fellow Plumbers,
I am sure that like me, many of you will have been watching the news with a combination of horror, astonishment and heartbreak, as we viewed the terrible scenes from Nepal of the flash flooding.
You will be aware that our Company sent four volunteers from our Plumbing Professional Development Scheme (PPDS) to Nepal last year to install a clean water system to a couple of villages – videos and details are on the Plumbers website. We worked closely with the Dolma Foundation in Nepal, a Charity established by fellow Liveryman Prof. Tim Gocher, with his Nepalese wife Pooja.
During their visit the volunteers were shown considerable kindness by the villagers they worked alongside. They formed friendships as they worked and ate side by side. Whilst the villages our volunteers worked in are above the flood level, many children and their families from those villages were on holiday in the valley area to celebrate a religious festival. The news regarding the likely death toll is very bad. Communications are difficult and detail is sketchy, but I have been informed by Tim that, “14 people from Bokhejunda, Thade and the next village are gone. So many friends are missing. What I’m hearing of the flood itself, there is no realistic prospect of survival”.
As you will see from our website, through Aquabox, an organisation supported by our own Plumbers’ Charity, emergency clean water kits are being provided. Given the desperate situation, I hope that many of you will feel as Ian and I do and will want to do something more to show our love and concern. I asked Tim how best we might assist. The immediate need is for more funds to enable them to meet the many calls upon Dolma for help. His Charity is well established in Nepal and very much working with the local community to provide immediate assistance, but importantly they will also work towards assisting with long term reconstruction.
Please be aware that there are already a few bogus appeals being launched. Therefore, if you wish to show your support, please consider donating to the Dolma Foundation. They have set up a special fund raising page in response to this disaster. Clicking on this link will take you to the relevant page https://dolmafoundation.org/rasuwa/.
Would you also please keep Tim, Pooja and all those affected in your thoughts and prayers.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and for showing the usual Plumbers’ warmth and generosity of spirit.
Sandra Raine
Master