Social Services Fund News

Sixteen retired race horses were saved from death by Aquila Nera, an animal sanctuary in Italy. Photo courtesy of Aquila Nera.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Animal Liberation Fund, recently offered US$1,000 toward the building of a stupa for rescued race horses in Italy. These perfectly healthy horses were slotted to be put to death as they are no longer considered useful as race horses. Due to the kindness of a non-profit animal sanctuary, Aquila Nera, sixteen horses can now live the remainder of their lives freely roaming open land, listening to mantras, and creating merit by grazing around the new stupa. 

The horses at Aquila Nera can now live out the rest of their lives enjoying the open space and creating merit. A new stupa being built will allow them more opportunity to generate positive karma and purify negativities. Photo courtesy of Aquila Nera.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche was extremely pleased to hear about the work being done for these animals. In a letter to managers of the sanctuary, Rinpoche praised their efforts:

Thank you for your letter informing me about your project saving horses.
Seeing the photos I think it’s really great, the horses look happy and are
enjoying. I am especially very happy with your idea of building a stupa for
them to circumambulate and generate lots of positive karma. It’s a cause for
them to meet the Dharma so that sooner or later they can be free from the
oceans of suffering forever and achieve the peerless happiness of
enlightenment.

I need to especially thank you and all your family who help them, who help
the horses to purify their negative karma created since beginnings time and
help them achieve peerless happiness. So for these reasons I am extremely,
extremely happy with what you are doing.

Although these retired race horses are perfectly healthy, they were slotted to be put to death due to them no longer being considered valuable. Photo courtesy of Aquila Nera.

You are welcome to offer any amount to the Animal Liberation Fund so that offerings such as this can continue. 

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has given extensive advice on how to benefit animals. 

You can watch a video of Lama Zopa Rinpoche blessing these horses in Italy. 

Recent efforts of Kopan Helping Hands have been in the Dolakha District in Northeast Nepal. This district has been most affected by the earthquake and is very difficult to obtain access to. Photo courtesy of Kopan Facebook page.

Kopan Monastery and Nunnery have been actively involved since the very beginning with relief efforts for those devastated by the Nepal earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, set up by FPMT International Office at the request of Ven. Roger Kunsang immediately following the earthquake, has been offering grants to the work of Kopan Helping Hands which continues to offer ongoing aid to those in need, despite danger and difficulty. 

Geshe Thubten Jinpa continues to help with the relief efforts and keep up on updates regarding the work of Kopan Helping Hands. In a recent report, he outlined that 66 pounds of rice, cooking oil and salt was offered to families from 481 collapsed households in Dolakha District, Northeast Nepal. He reported that individuals walked twelve miles to the distribution center to collect this aid. Kopan Helping Hands was also able to offer each family 300 Nepalese Rupees for traveling expenses. 

Recently Kopan Helping Hands has been able to help families from over 3,705 households in the Kathmandu surrounding districts, offering bulk food items such as rice, cooking oil, salt and mattresses and also covering traveling expenses for the families to get the aid.

Birds-eye view of the devastation of the Dolakha District of Nepal where Kopan Helping Hands is currently focusing relief efforts toward. Photo courtesy of Kopan Facebook page.

Geshe Jinpa explains: 

“Our current major working area is in Dolakha District. It is the most affected area and road access to whole region was disrupted for a very long time after the earthquake. As soon as the road accessibility was possible the monsoon season began and the delivery of the relief became tough. We had to find the needed materials in local markets and some needed to place orders from outside the city and even from India. Things are then imported to Kathmandu in bigger lorries and shifted to the affected area. Not all destinations can be reached by road so items are transported by smaller vehicle up to where there is the accessibility of the road. Road to the villages are very primary it can be disrupted at any moment. If we have rain for a day landslides will occur everywhere and the vehicles get stuck in the mud. So we must load and unload the things, pushing and pulling of trucks is needed for every single delivery. The trucks, which carry the supply, got stuck in the landslide for two days and we managed to clear the road using another dodger. Four of our monks are stationed in one of most dangerous places since last week and they keep on work of distribution despite heavy rain and fear of landslides and flood. They have to be on the field to collect the data of affected people and find a most effective place for the distribution and called people from villages to the distribution center. Some people even have to walk for days to receive the relief materials. Our volunteer monks on the ground are struggling to make distributions swift and effective while coordinating with  local people and authorities.“

Despite all of this, Kopan Helping Hands continues to offer this much needed support to those in dire need. Please rejoice in this inspiring and courageous effort by the monks and nuns of Kopan who are working extremely hard and tirelessly for the benefit of others. 

Thank you also to all the kind donors who are helping to make this aid possible.

To learn more and offer support to FPMT’s Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, which will be used for immediate relief and rebuilding: https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/id.

Kopan Monastery is accepting donations for their ongoing work, mention “Kopan Helping Hands” in the comments: http://www.kopanmonastery.com/earthquake

For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see:
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/

For continuing updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, please visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake”page:
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/

An additional US$50,000 was recently sent to help support several Nepal villages devastated by the April 25 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.

The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund was pleased to offer an additional US$50,000 toward essential relief to several Nepal villages. 

Initial aid had been offered to these areas last month, but the need was underestimated and this additional grant continues to provide essential food necessities and basic shelter to many individuals and families who desperately need it. This and the previous grant was used to buy tarpaulins (tent material used for the many who are without shelter) for those in the Khumjung area (made up of four different villages), as well as for those in Thame (Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birthplace).

The grant was also used for the cost of transportation, renting air cargo planes from Kathmandu to Lukla and then renting helicopters to bring the aid from Lukla to Khumjung and Thame.  Charok Lama also went along to deliver some of this aid, demonstrating his extraordinary compassion in action.

Between this recent aid and that previously offered, 346 families and 3,000 individuals have been offered essential relief. 

Air cargo will go from Kathmandu to Lukla and then helicopters will bring packages of aid from Lukla to Khumjung and Thame.

Thanks to all the very kind donors who have helped make this essential aid possible through your generosity. If you would like to contribute toward this ongoing support to those in need in Nepal, you are welcome to offer any amount to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund.

To learn more and offer support to FPMT’s Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, which will be used for immediate relief and rebuilding: https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/

For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see:
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/

For continuing updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, please visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page:
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/

Losang Namgyal Rinpoche continues to offer essential support to those in need. Photo courtesy of Namgyal Rinpoche Foundation Facebook page.

The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund continues to offer support to organizations who are benefiting those effected by the April 25, 2015 7.8 magnitude earthquake and subsequent 7.3 magnitude aftershock which occurred in May 12.

The fund recently granted US$50,000 to the amazing work that Losang Namgyal Rinpoche is doing, through his NRFoundation, to help the Tamang people after the earthquake. The Tamang are one of the largest ethnic groups in Nepal.

500 zinc sheets (for metal roofing) have been offered to families with no shelter. Photo courtesty of Namgyal Rinpoche Foundation Facebook page.

Specifically, this grant will be used for 1,000 tarpaulins (for waterproof cover), 500 zinc sheets (for roofing), and for the transportation of mini trucks to deliver the supplies to 1,500 households in about 15 villages.

Losang Namgyal Rinpoche has continued to offer an incredible amount of aid. Recently, the NRFoundation sponsored a blanket distribution to the Goljung village and offered food to the village of Syabru Besi, both in Rasuwa district near the Nepal and Tibet border. Metal roofing sheets were distributed to two severely destroyed villages of Dolakha.

Losang Namgyal Rinpoche also helped with a temporary residence for the nuns of H.E. Drukpa Rimpoche ‘s Bhiku Nunnery which is in a very remote area of Dolakha where it has been impossible for the nuns to stay since the earthquake.

Losang Namgyal Rinpoche is now focusing on the second phase of his three-phase relief work, which is referred to as RESCUE, RELIEF, REBUILD, by providing shelter against the coming monsoons to those in need.

Losang Namgyal Rinpoche reports:

“Now we are getting more zinc sheets and tarpaulin for temporary shelter, as monsoon is starting soon. We are trying to reach out to villages. When monsoon starts we may not be able to reach remote areas for some months. After monsoon season, we will start rebuilding houses, school and monasteries.

“Due to the kindness of our donors and the selflessness and hard work of our volunteers, over the last month we have provided more than 100 metric tons of food and more than 800 tents and blankets. Yet, the need is still great as the Nepali people now face the threat of malnutrition and disease! The most vulnerable are the children who have suffered greatly psychologically and physically. Now we are also focusing on providing vitamin supplements to the children and mothers.”

Through Kopan Helping Hands, blankets have been offered to about 1,200 families.

The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund also just granted US$50,000 to support the amazing work of Kopan Helping Hands. This money will specifically be used for things such as food essentials, shelter and blankets to about 1,200 families and zinc sheets (for metal roofing) to about 72 families, as well as the transport costs to deliver the aid. Please rejoice in the incredible and compassionate work being done by Kopan Monastery and Nunnery. Please look for a full report of their recent work in an upcoming blog.

You can help the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund continue to be able to offer this essential funding by contributing any amount to the fund.

To learn more and offer support to FPMT’s Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, which will be used for immediate relief and rebuilding: https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/

Kopan Monastery is accepting donations for their ongoing work, mention “Kopan Helping Hands” in the comments: http://www.kopanmonastery.com/earthquake

For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see:
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/

For continuing updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, please visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page:
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/

Aid was offered to the 11 most affected districts in Nepal following the initial earthquake, aftershocks, and second earthquake.

Immediately following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, causing extensive devastation, the monks and nuns of Kopan Monastery and Nunnery (which were both badly damaged) did not hesitate to spring into action by establishing Kopan Helping Hands to help those in need with emergency aid.  Here we share Geshe Thubten Jinpa’s recent report about the highlights of the relief offered since the time of the earthquake, subsequent aftershocks, and second large earthquake on May 12. 

5,385 families have been offered food and temporary housing through Kopan Helping Hands.

Kopan Helping Hands Relief Work Highlights

• A blood donation program was conducted immediately following the first earthquake by Kopan Sangha in cooperation with local hospital and a blood bank in Kathmandu.
• Sangha members cleared the debris and blocked road around Kopan so that the rescue operations could be performed.
• Cooked meals were served to the patients and the families in the local hospitals who were affected by the quake.
• Drinking water was supplied to the various parts of the city where the normal water supply had been disrupted.
• Sangha members kept the surroundings free of garbage in order to eliminated post-earthquake health hazards.
• Special prayer sessions were held every evening at the monastery for those who had lost their lives and for the grieving family members. The first week of prayer was led by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
• Aid was able to reach the 11 most affected districts in Nepal despite all the challenges and the risk of their own lives as there were constant landslides and the roads were misshapen. In addition, heavy rain poured throughout the journeys and the volunteers had to travel on the back of fully loaded trucks to reach 45 Village Development Committees outside the Kathmandu Valley. 
• 5,385 families were directly benefited with shelter, blankets, rice, dahl, cooking oil and other staples.
• 100 large tarpaulin tents were given to the Gompa Preservation and Development Committee of the Nepal Government to be handed out to damaged gompas in rural areas. 
• Blankets were given to 580 families.
• Clothing was distributed to more than 1,800 individuals.
• Three days of free medical camps were organized in the five most affected rural areas. They were helped by Kopan Sangha with medical training and other experienced volunteers.  
• An emergency medial team was airlifted 2.6 miles (4,180 meters) above sea level to treat patients under critical circumstances. 

This aid is ongoing and will continue. Please rejoice in this tremendous effort and kindness! FPMT International Office established the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund to help with efforts such as this and will continue to support the work of Kopan’s Helping Hands. Thanks to all donors who have offered to this fund as it enables us to contribute in this way. 

Kopan Monastery is accepting donations directly for their relief work, mention “Kopan Helping Hands” in the comments.

To learn more and offer support to FPMT’s Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, which will be used for immediate relief and rebuilding: https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/

For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see:
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/

For continuing updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, please visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page:
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/

Food, medicine, and now temporary shelter is being offered to 5,000 families in need in Nepal.

The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund has been contributing to the work of Losang Namgyal Rinpoche’s Nepal Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund. Losang Namgyal Rinpoche, a Kopan Rinpoche and a high lama for the Tamang people, has been coordinating with Kopan on relief work and leading efforts to provide much needed short and long term aid to victims of the recent earthquakes in Nepal which destroyed more than 500,000 houses and 2,000 gompas and stupas, in about 14 districts. 

Providing essential food and medicine supplies to 5,000 families was the first priority in terms of short term aid. The second phase of support, which is now underway, is to help with temporary shelter. Tarpaulin and zinc sheets are being distributed to those who are unable to rebuild themselves due to illness, disability, old age, or lack of sufficient help. Volunteers are sent with supplies and also help to rebuild using the materials provided. The zinc sheets provide long lasting temporary roofing and can also be used for a permanent house in the future. Two bundles of sheets can provide temporary shelter through the monsoon season or until a permanent home can be rebuilt. 

Tarpaulin and zinc sheet provide temporary shelter for those who lost their homes to the earthquakes. With monsoon season fast approaching, this short term aid is desperately needed.

The third phase of these efforts, which focuses on long term assistance, will be to help rebuild permanent houses, gompas, school, and other structures. The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund will try to continue to help Losang Namgyal Rinpoche with the short and long term relief being offered as well  as other beneficial projects contributing aid and rebuilding in Nepal. 

To learn more and offer support to FPMT’s Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, which will be used for immediate relief and rebuilding: https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/

For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see:
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/

For continuing updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, please visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page:
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/

Over US$50,000 worth of supplies have been offered to families and individuals in need in Nepal, following the earthquake devastation.

Please rejoice that US$49,799 USD was raised to help those in need in Nepal. For this offering, FPMT’s Nepal Earthquake Support Fund offered US$17,543.18 (1,792,000.00 NPR), Kopan’s Helping Hands Project offered, US$11,502.92  and US$20,752.63 was raised locally. 

This money was used for: 

• 132,277 lb (60,000 kg) rice 
• 1,135 tarpaulin tents
• 13,228 lb (6,000 kg) dal
• cooking oil 
• transportation 

These supplies helped 5,000 families with their food supply, gave 1,135 families shelter, and provided food to 3,000 individuals. Additionally, drinking water was supplied to many parts of the city during the crisis, blankets were given to 500 families, clothing was offered to more than 1,800 people. 

Please rejoice in this incredible offering and help to those in need. Special thanks to Geshe Thubten Jinpa who helped organize this aid. With monsoon season fast approaching, help to those in need of food and shelter has become even more critical. 

You are welcome to offer any amount to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund which is committed to continuing to offer much needed aid in Nepal during this ongoing crisis. 

DONATE

You can learn more about the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, and keep up on Updates from Nepal After the Earthquake. 

Young students of Ngari Institute are offered three meals a day through a food offering made by the Social Services Fund.

For the third year, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Social Services Fund, has offered food to the school children of Ngari Institute in Ladakh, India. This year, forty children, fifteen teachers, and 15 young monks will benefit from this offering. The cost is $US19,926. 

Ngari Institute is located  in the Himalayan Kingdom of Ladakh in a small village called Saboo. The campus is spread over 20 hectares of deserted land. The main aim of this school is to empower and enrich the poor and needy remote area students by imparting a combined learning of both modern scientific knowledge and ancient Buddhist wisdom. It was founded by the Ladakh alumni of Sera Jey Monastery in South India. In 2007 Geshe Tsewang Dorje was invited to take full responsibility for this project.

In 2010 Geshe Tsewang Dorje appointed a group to search out children who would otherwise miss educational opportunities, especially orphans and extremely poor children in the remote area, which runs between Tibet and Ladakh. These children will now be able to receive a modern education as well as learn about Tibetan Buddhism and their own culture.

The  children at the Ngari Institute are orphans or have come from very poor families.

In the future, plans are underway to build a monastery at the institute. Young monastics will receive a traditional education along with monastic debate classes. There is currently no monastery in Ladakh which preserves Tibetan Buddhisms’ long tradition of debate. 

The students follow the standard government educational curriculum during the day and learn about Tibetan Buddhism and culture during after-school hours.

All are welcome to contribute to this precious offering of food to these students and their kind teachers. 

DONATE

FPMT’s Charitable Projects include beneficial initiatives such as: offering food to ordained Sangha; providing scholarships to study Buddhist philosophy; offering grants for social services such as schools, hospitals and monastic institutions; providing comprehensive Dharma programs; sponsoring holy objects: statues, stupas and prayer wheels, and saving animals. Keep up on the news and updates from FPMT’s Charitable Projects. 

21 helicopters were required to bring food packages to 196 families in Solu Khumbu region of Nepal. Photo by Charok Lama.

Nyima Tashi, who is directing this initiative on behalf of Charok Lama Sherpa and Lama Zopa Rinpoche via the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, arranged for 200 tents to be sent to Thame in Solu Khumbu region by Goma Air. Goma Air very generously sponsored this flight as all helicopters, including private helicopters, are controlled by the government and currently not available. Please rejoice that five Kopan monks were able to deliver these tents!

21 helicopters were needed to deliver the much-needed food supplies to families. Photo by Charok Lama.

Each food package delivered to 196 families includes: 30 kg (66 pounds) rice, 5 kg (11 pounds) dahl, 5 kg (11 pounds) sugar, milk powder, 2 liters oil, 1 kg (2 pounds) tea, 2.5 kg (5.5 pounds) tsampa, 5 kg (11 pounds) flour. Photo by Charok Lama.

The second phase of the mission to bring relief to Solu Khumbu villagers took place when food packages arrived by 21 helicopters after delays due to bad weather. Food was provided to the following villages in the Upper Solu Khumbu area: Phurte, Samsing, Theso, Thamo, Mende, Thamtyong, Samde, Thomde, Pare, Humgo, Thame, Thame Gompa, Themeteng, Ytazang, Taranga, and Chyanyakpa.

As Ven. Roger mentioned in a recent update, each food package includes 30 kg (66 pounds) of rice, 5 kg (11 pounds) dhal, 5 kg (11 pounds) sugar, milk powder, 2 liters oil. 1 kg (2 pounds) tea, 2.5 kg (5.5 pounds) tsampa, 5 kg (11 pounds) flour. Food for 196 households to survive for one month was distributed. 

FPMT, through the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, is offering US$30,595; Charok Lama is offering US$10,000 and Himalayan People’s Project is offering US$5,000, for a total amount of US$45,595.

A thank you message from Charok Lama:

May 8, 2015: Thank you for everyone who helped us get all the accessories up here, it took about 21 helicopter trips to get everything up here and we will be distributing the next bundle tomorrow. A big thanks from all the people up here to all the supporters and benefactors around the world.

You are one
Others are countless.

Charok Lama and other volunteers helping pack the packages of food to be delivered to Solu Khumbu villagers.

You can learn more about the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, and keep up on Updates from Nepal After the Earthquake. 

FPMT is helping Losang Namgyal Rinpoche get basic needs to Tamang people.

The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund has been contributing to the efforts of Losang Namgyal Rinpoche’s Nepal Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund. US$10,000 has been offered to these efforts. 

Losang Namgyal Rinpoche’s organization is helping save the lives of some of the Tamang people (who are the largest ethnic group in Nepal and mostly Buddhist) effected by the earthquake by providing aid packages of medical supplies (accompanied by medical volunteers), food and shelters (when available).

Each food package includes enough rice, dal, cooking oil and salt to feed one family for one week along with shelter and medical supplies for those who need them. These packages have reached approximately 1,600 families so far.

Packages containing essential aid are offered to Tamang families who need these supplies desperately.

Each truck of supplies costs approximately $3000 – $15,000 ($7 – $20 per family), depending on whether shelter and medical materials are included.

After receiving requests, a scout goes to the area to asses the need and type of aid required, ensuring there is someone in the community who can distribute everything effectively and fairly.

While providing food is only a short-term solution, without this aid people will starve. 

Families are desperate to receive even the most basic needs for survival. To date, Losang Namgyal Rinpoche has provided packages for 1,600 Tamang families in need.

Namgyal Rinpoche estimates that continuing to supply food until the Tamang people receive other aid or can harvest their own will cost at least another $30,000. 

FPMT is very happy to be able to support Namgyal Rinpoche with these efforts. You can read more details of how FPMT is assisting with short-term and long-term aid to Nepal. 

You can learn more about the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, and keep up on Updates from Nepal After the Earthquake. 

https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/

Basic need supplies are offered to the worst hit areas by Kopan monks and nuns, May 2015

Ven. Roger Kunsang released this recent update:

First, I would like to extend a very big THANK YOU to everyone for moving on this emergency relief effort so quickly by offering to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, which we set up through FPMT International Office. It has already meant a lot to so many villages. This has made a HUGE difference. When you are freezing cold, have no home, are out in the open, in the mountains with hardly any food and water left – even for these very hearty people – it is too much.

Villagers are doing their best to survive under extremely difficult circumstances, May 2105. Photo by Cherok Lama.

Young girl stands next to a collapsed home in Thame, Solu Khumbu district, Nepal, April 28, 2015. Photo by Jimmy Grant.

There are dead people around you: people you once knew, some close relatives, your mother, etc. Then having to deal with the ground still shaking from time to time and not knowing if it will get stronger or just pass. There was always the rumor that another big earthquake was coming, which freaked people out even more. They couldn’t be convinced that this can’t be predicted. And then, no one knows what’s happening about anything.

Even as we were leaving from the Kathmandu Airport, Rinpoche met a friend who worked there. The man explained to Rinpoche that his whole village had been destroyed. His family and home – gone. He said his family has nothing; no food, no shelter, and it is very cold. The look on his face, the tone of his voice … it is difficult not to cry at yet again another heavy story and desperate plea for help coming Rinpoche’s way. Rinpoche said immediately he would help! No hesitation.

Today, the Kopan Relief Team is in this man’s village, doing what they can. This time there are Kopan nuns helping also. It is reported over 10,000 people a day are leaving Kathmandu Valley for their villages. They say they have to go back to help their elders as in most villages iIt is only the elderly and the young who remain. Those who can work are in Kathmandu or the Middle East. Working people have to go back to take care of the elderly and the children.

Emergency relief supplies arriving in Thame, Solu Khumbu district, Nepal, May 1, 2015. Photo courtesy of Tara Melwani on Facebook.

They say it will take another 10 to 20 years to earn enough money to rebuild as none have any hope the government will help them. And of course, there is no such thing as insurance, so all is lost. One stone in the mountains averages 2,000 Nepalese rupees (about 19 US dollars) or could go as high as 3,000 to 4,000 rupees. Very expensive! All the houses are built with local stone that is hand-chipped into shape.

A collapsed house in Thame, Solu Khumbu district, Nepal, April 28, 2015. Photo by Jimmy Grant.

Talking to some of these people really breaks your heart. They had very little before, and now, a lot less. So on a mundane level, you are really helping immensely. Thank you!

Regarding the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund this is the short- and long-term strategy of how we can help.

Short-term efforts involve getting basic needs to as many people as possible.

Short-Term and Immediate Need

We have the short-term and immediate urgent needs of the people in mind. This is food, water, medicine, and shelter. We are trying to support the efforts of the local people to look after themselves as the aid coming in from overseas isn’t reaching  them in the short-term.

Kopan Monastery monks help distribute drinking water, Kathmandu, Nepal, April 2015. Photo via Facbook, Kopan Monastery School.

They have to depend on their own efforts. So we are supporting Kopan monks and nuns going out every day with basic necessities for the worst hit areas. We are also supporting Losang Namgyal Rinpoche (one of the Kopan monks) who is the head lama of the Tamang people. (Tamang is the largest ethnic group in Nepal, farmers scattered across the hills throughout Nepal.) Losang Namgyal Rinpoche is organizing and improvising in many ways to get the essentials to these villages that have been damaged badly.

Emergency aid for Thame waiting to be flown to Lukla and then helicoptered to Thame, Nepal, May 1, 2015. Photo courtesy of Tara Melwani on Facebook.

It is really hard getting this done, so we are supporting his efforts by giving some funds to buy essentials.  Then, there is the area where Lama Zopa Rinpoche was born, Thame, and some very small communities in the same area. The budget for this is estimated at US$46,000. This could change depending on helicopter costs associated with getting the food up there. 

FPMT is helping Losang Namgyal Rinpoche get basic needs to villagers.

Long-Term Needs and Rebuilding

And then there are the long-term needs of rebuilding homes and nunneries/monasteries. This will be where most of the funds the will go as the damage is extensive, but we can only commit to those who we are immediately responsible for: Kopan Nunnery and Monastery, Tsum Nunnery and Monastery, Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Centre, Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery in Chailsa, and Lawudo Retreat Centre.

Damage to the house where Lama Zopa Rinpoche was born in Thame. Photo by Cherok Lama.

The Chenrezig Gompa at Kopan Monastery was badly damaged. Photo by Ng Yi Zhen.

This is the plan so far as best as we can know. It could change as we hear more. These are the areas that we have been able to immediately help:

• Thame: Providing shelter and food as emergency relief, US$30,595.
• Helping the Tamang people across the affected regions with Losang Namgyal Rinpoche, US$10,000
• Kopan Monastery Emergency Relief Team: assisting the monastery provide relief (tents, food, clothing) to local and rural areas affected by the earthquake, US$5,000

All the above aid has come from the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund. Rinpoche has received many requests for help, but we have not accepted long-term requests outside of the above. We are trying to fulfill all requests for the short-term needs as they are a matter of life or death.

Delivering food and essentials can be quite difficult as everyone is in need and people come from everywhere when they hear of food and supplies are being offered.

Cherok Lama is also helping and he is in Thame area now, directly giving aid and helping organize relief efforts.

Thame Emergency Relief

We are also providing emergency relief to the people of Thame and surrounding villages. With the majority of homes destroyed or unsafe in Thame and the surrounding areas, people are sleeping in the open air, getting wet and cold. The immediate concern was to supply shelter to those who need it and food to ensure people’s safety in the short-term before helping them rebuild their community in the long- term. Other villages in the area are not in such dire need with respect to housing, as most homes are still standing and safe, but they will also struggle with food due to the normal supplies being affected and food not arriving as usual.

Food will therefore be provided to the following villages in the Upper Solu Khumbu area: Phurte, Samsing, Theso, Thamo, Mende, Thamtyong, Samde, Thomde, Pare, Humgo, Thame, Thame Gompa, Thameteng, Ytazang, Taranga and Chyanyakpa.

Each food package includes: 30 kg (66 pounds) rice, 5 kg (11 pounds) dahl, 5 kg (11 pounds) sugar, milk powder, 2 liters oil, 1 kg (2 pounds) tea, 2.5 kg (5.5 pounds) tsampa, 5 kg (11 pounds) flour.

FPMT, through the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund is offering US$30,595; Cherok Lama: US$10,000; and Himalayan Peoples Project: US$5,000, for a total amount of US$45,595.

Delivering food and the essentials is quite difficult as everyone is in need and people come from everywhere when they hear of food and supplies are being handed out. So managing that is hard as people go crazy sometimes due to hunger and cold.

Many are in need of medical attention in addition to basic necessities for survival.

Thank you again, EVERYONE!

If you would like to contribute to these efforts, you may offer to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund. 

An emergency relief team was established at Kopan Monastery immediately following the earthquake.

In light of the recent tragic earthquake in Nepal, Ven. Roger Kunsang has asked FPMT International Office to set up a fund so that FPMT can provide assistance. Donations to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund will be used to provide for the immediate and long-term needs of Kopan Monastery and Nunnery and other local FPMT centers resulting from the devastation caused by the Nepal earthquake.

Looking down from Kopan Monastery after earthquake, Nepal. Photo by Ven. Sangpo Sherpa.

These needs include food and shelter for more than 800 monks and nuns as well as structural repairs and renovations to buildings at the Monastery and Nunnery that are no longer safe to occupy as a result of the earthquake.

Tents around the stupa at Kopan Monastery following the earthquake.

In addition, Nepal Earthquake Support Fund will be used to offer immediate relief and support to other areas in the Himalayan region such as the village of Thame (Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birthplace) where there has been an incredible amount of destruction. If sufficient funds are raised, grants may also be provided to other carefully vetted organizations providing earthquake relief efforts.

We will be providing updates on exactly how all donations from this fund are used. Already Lama Zopa Rinpoche has offered $3,500 for immediate relief in Thame for tents and food.

Thank you for your support to this fund. The damage and need is great and contributions like yours will help tremendously. 

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You can learn more about the prayers and practices that are recommended in response to this earthquake and for the many who have lost their lives.