Bring Back The Smile To Nepal, the Perthshire based charity has been working hard, as winter hits Nepal, to raise funds to help with the ongoing rebuilding programme in the earthquake hit country.
“Despite being the run up to Christmas, December was a really busy time for our fundraising programme,” explained Anna Gurung, the founder of the charity, “Winter has reached Nepal and temperatures have started to plunge, particularly in the northern regions. We feel it is really important to keep the rebuilding venture fresh in people’s minds. Thousands of people living in villages in the Gorkha district – the epicentre of April’s earthquake – are still surviving in flimsy, makeshift homes, mainly tents and rudimentary shelters. Not many can afford to rebuild, insurance does not exist and materials are scarce and beyond their means. Now, with temperatures plummeting to below freezing and fuel in short supply, it is crucial that we help as much as we possibly can.”
Anna started her fundraising drive immediately following the earthquake in April. Her campaign was awarded official charitable status by the Charities Regulator in August.
“We are based in Highland Perthshire”, Anna continued, “and the local community has helped us hugely in the run up to Christmas. We held collections, a bagpack at our local Co-op, gave talks, the Aberfeldy Community Band collected on our behalf and the local Cub Scout Pack ran a fundraising stall at our Christmas Market.”
The charity would also like to place collection boxes in shops, petrol stations, etc around Perthshire. We would love to hear from any shop owners who would be prepared to have one of our boxes in their stores. Please contact us via our website or Facebook. Thank you.”
Information about the charity, how to donate or to request Anna as a guest speaker, can be found on their website: www.bringbackthesmiletonepal.org. If you wish to be updated on their progress, they can also be followed on facebook/Bring Back The Smile To Nepal, or via Twitter at #SMILE2NEPAL
