Help Flood-Affected Families in Kavre, Nepal

Eight months on from the devastating floods that swept through parts of Nepal, the scars on the landscape - and in the hearts of communities - remain.

Now, as the monsoon season returns, we are once again facing heavy rainfall, and with it, a renewed and very real fear of further landslides and losses. During her trip to Nepal to work in our schools, Joey has seen for herself how the ground, still fragile from last year’s flooding, is vulnerable, and she has witnessed the anxiety among families, teachers and children.

Many communities are still in the process of rebuilding all they lost, and the threat of another disaster is a heavy emotional and logistical burden. We are working closely with local partners to monitor conditions, support preparedness and ensure that children can continue to access safe spaces for healing and learning in the face of this uncertainty.

In light of the ongoing risks and the urgent need for long-term solutions, we’ve made the decision to increase our fundraising target for this project. This crisis is not going away - and neither are we. The communities we serve deserve more than temporary relief; they deserve resilience, safety and opportunity.

While we can’t stop the effects of climate change, we can support the resilient communities of Panauti to heal, prepare, and adapt. For example, thanks to your donations, our Healing Hearts workshops are helping children process the trauma they experienced through drama, art and other creative outlets.

We will continue to think big. From providing psychosocial support for children and teachers, to offering environmental education programmes and, of course, opening our community hub, we will ensure local children and their families can navigate the changing world around them.

And, if the worst happens, and flooding leads to more landslides, and more tragic losses, we’re ready to support these communities in every way they need us.

Thank you for being the shelter in their storm and for helping us provide hope after the rain. We’ve been completely humbled by your response to this crisis and we hope we can count on you to continue making a difference.

With warmest wishes,

Joey, SK, Aimee and the FtL Team

Links:

• Our website
• Our Facebook
• Our Instagram

Hello everyone,

I am writing this upon my return from nearly three months in Nepal, where we supported the response to the devastating floods and landslides that occurred just over three months ago.

Alongside our Nepal-based team — Shree Krishna, Sarina, Suresh, and Yog  we were also joined for some of the weeks by our Chair, Jamie Cresswell, and the wonderful volunteer Daisy Kendall. They both worked incredibly hard helping secure funds, running workshops, and distributing resources to schools.

Thanks to your generous contributions, 100% of the funds were spent solely on essential work. You have helped us raise an amazing amount – only £80 off our target!! And this has made a significant impact.

We delivered 29 Healing Hearts sessions to 224 students, providing fun workshops and emotional support for children who experienced the terrifying events of September 28th and 29th. Bringing smiles, fun, and excitement to these children was crucial. Emotional support through the arts is so important for children after such a devastating event, it helps them process their trauma, express their feelings, and begin to heal in a safe and supportive environment. These activities (including drama, art, dance, and PE) are a powerful tool for emotional expression and can help children rebuild a sense of normality and joy.

During these last few weeks, we realised that the Healing Hearts project will need to continue. For example, the recent January earthquake, even though it caused only minor damage in our area, had a re-traumatising impact on many teenagers in the area who experienced the trauma of the 2015 earthquakes. Growing up in rural Nepal, especially as the impact of climate change increases, makes it vital to prioritise mental health. So Healing Hearts will continue as long as we have required funding.

We delivered 238 stationery packs, ensuring that 238 children who lost everything they owned now have all they need to go to school for at least the next six months, and some for over a year. This was AMAZING! Thank you. Providing these supplies is so important to their lives and well-being because it allows them to continue their education, maintain a sense of normal daily life, and focus on their future, despite the challenges they face.

Our team facilitated a group of volunteers to reinstate the water supply to Kushadevi School and networked to find support for Bethanchok Municipality’s Education Office to rebuild toilets and reinstate the water supply for over 600 children in 4 schools.

So! - Your support has been nothing short of totally FANTASTIC! It has been just wonderful that we were able to achieve so much as a small charity operating in the areas most affected. We would like to extend a sincere thank you to Milford Primary School, where some extra special students worked their socks off to fundraise to support their Nepali friends. It was heartwarming to see those donations come in at such a heartbreaking time. Durlston Prep and Senior School also had a fab group of their Year 10s who ran a Freedom to Learn School and elicited amazing donations from parents.

You have all been the best contributors and long term supporters of Freedom to Learn and we cannot thank you enough. 

Dhanyabad – Truly thank you.

Warm wishes to you all for a safe and happy start to the year, 

Joey, and all the FtL Team

P.S. PLEASE do watch the short films linked below, and if you can follow and and share our brand new You Tube channel it really helps us hsare our work and garner more support.

Thank you.

Links:

• Healing Hearts - Short Film
• One Day Sharing School Packs - a short film
• http://www.freedomtolearn.org.uk