Nepalese students raise money for earthquake relief
University of South Dakota Nepalese students are joining together with various campus organizations and local businesses to send help to their disaster-stricken country.
On the morning of April 25 a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country of Nepal. The earthquake was the worst natural disaster to strike the nation in 80 years and more than 6,000 people have died — with thousands more still unaccounted for.
Sem Tamang, a graduate student whose parents live in the capital city of Kathmandu, said he heard about the earthquake from his friends and then started searching news sites for more information.
Kathmandu was by the epicenter of the earthquake.
“I didn’t find out about it until the morning around 7 a.m. In my case, I saw messages from my friends who were like ‘I heard about the earthquake, are your family okay?’ That’s how I found out about it,” Tamang said.
Tamang said that while his parents are safe, some of his relatives were killed in the the quake.
“I really don’t want to tell anyone about it because it’s kind of difficult for me to digest as well,” Tamang said.
Jayandra Chiluwal, a biology graduate student, said his father was visiting the capital at the time of the earthquake.
“My dad happened to visit the capital, which was one of the most affected places and they didn’t know his — they couldn’t contact him. I was like freaked out,” Chiluwal said. “I got a hold of him in the morning — at 7 a.m. in the morning — I couldn’t go to sleep until then. It was very disturbing.”
Bikash KC, a biomedical sciences graduate student, said the group of eight Nepalese graduate students immediately began formulating a plan to fundraise for their country.
“Americans are the most generous people in the world and that’s known to everyone,” he said. “We want to grab people’s attention, and then we know they can be able to help us if they know the real situation and if they have the opportunity to help, they will help us.”
Donation boxes have been set up in the Muenster University Center, the Lee Medical School, and the main office of Churchill-Haines Laboratories. The group has also partnered with Aramark, the Center for Academic and Global Engagement and the International Students Club to raise money.
“Aramark has decided to agree to donate $0.50 for every large expresso drink sold. They are going to do that until the end of the semester,” Tamang said.
Chiluwal said one U.S. dollar is equal to 100 rupees, the currency of Nepal.
“A dollar in Nepal can buy a meal for a couple of people for day. It’s like so cheap. They would just love to have it,” Chiluwal said. “A small coffee cup here can buy like a meal for a couple people.”
The students will be raising money throughout campus until next week and will also be outside of Hy-Vee and Walmart in Vermillion raising money. Members of the group said they had already raised more than $600 for victims of the earthquake in the two days since fundraising began.
All money collected will be donated to the Red Cross. To donate online people can also visit the American Red Cross website and select the Nepal Earthquake Relief tab.
(Photo: Left to right: University of South Dakota Nepalese graduate students Sunav Shrestha, Bikash KC, Sem Raj Tamang and Jayandra Shiluwal stand beside a donation box in the Muenster University Center May 1. The students are raising money for the Red Cross Nepal Earthquake Relief fund. Malachi Petersen / The Volante)
