As many are already aware, the effort to rebuild after the Nepal earthquake is still underway and there is a long road ahead. The April 25th disaster-the worst in Nepal since 1934- killed about 9,000 people and injured around 22,000 more. Because the affected area was so large, and in many cases rural, relief and aid efforts have been slower in reaching those who need it. Still, even in the best cases, these projects take time.

In the wake of the disaster, many organizations rallied to the cause and began fundraising immediately. However, efforts were further slowed by the Nepalese government’s choice to route all funding through the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund and the National Emergency Operation Center. Geologists had been predicting a large quake for quite some time, and so marginal provisions were in place in case of such a disaster. When it finally hit, however, the routing of funds simply created a bottleneck and fueled larger allegations of government misuse of aid. While the government was ostensibly trying to squash the influx of fake NGOs-a sad occurrence which happens after every major disaster-this move left many suspicious of the so-called politicization of allocating these funds.

Fortunately for our organization, NCEF has been operating in Nepal since 2002 and so it fell under the umbrella of the local “community-based organizations with ties to the affected villages” which was beyond the scope of the government fund re-routing. This means that our comprehensive earthquake relief program could launch immediately upon its formation. Once again, our plan is a carefully considered roadmap of short-, medium-, and long-term goals for our students and schools. It was created after our President and CEO, Omprakash Gnawali, visited the most affected area, Sindhupalchok, twice in May. Nearly 3,000 classrooms and 64,000 private homes were destroyed in Sindhupalchok alone. Only after seeing the devastation first-hand and speaking with community members in person did Mr. Gnawali form his action plan, ensuring that NCEF is meeting the actual needs of the community.

Six months have passed since the quake. Now that the monsoon season has ended and rebuilding efforts continue, new scores of problems are emerging in Nepal. Fuel shortages and a lack of tourism are further crippling communities and the new Nepalese constitution has sparked its own controversy. Clearly, our students and their families are facing a long, uphill battle that won’t be over any time soon. But life goes on and the school year begins once again.

The students we help each year are already working at a disadvantage, and with the state of affairs on the ground in Nepal, life has only become more challenging. We have a plan to help. This year, we will move into our medium-term goal of reaching out to 100-200 students from the most heavily affected areas. We will support them with uniforms, backpacks, shoes, and school supplies and give them the network they need to continue with their education through the Herculean effort of rebuilding community infrastructure from the ground up.

Your contribution can help a child get back to school after six months of turmoil. To help NCEF in their goal of providing education and support to the children of areas severely affected by the earthquake, click here.