It’s been just over four weeks since the first earthquake in Nepal, which was followed by subsequent aftershocks and another earthquake on the 12th of May. Our team is still thankfully all okay, although we’re all quite tired and still scared. In spite of everything, we feel fortunate to be able to make immediate impact by doing what we’ve always done – support women to distribute clean energy to families who need it most.
We’ve distributed over 9,000 solar lights and mobile phone chargers – all we had in stock – through our entrepreneurs, sales agents and our partners in the solar relief effort.
This has brought light to over 50,000 survivors and we’re just getting started. We’re battling the aid-logjam at the airport and have more lights, chargers and water filters in country and on their way. We’re partnering with other local organizations, like Gham Power to deliver a coordinated solar response to the 1.8 million Nepali people affected by this natural disaster.
In many places, our team members were the first responders to reach remote villages devastated by the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.
One of our entrepreneurs, Kala Katiwada, lives in Dhading District (in a village near the epicenter of the first quake). Her village was destroyed, with many casualties and hardly any houses left standing. Yet when our team arrived in her village with supplies, Kala and her community decided, while they certainly needed help themselves, there was a village of extremely impoverished people, known in the caste system as “untouchables”, a four-hour walk away who were in even more desperate need. Kala and her fellow villagers carried the supplies intended for them to their less fortunate neighbors, embodying the resilient Nepali spirit in a truly heartwarming display of selflessness and community.
Our network of 12 women-led businesses across 10 districts are following Kala’s inspiring example and are returning to work, championing Empower Generation’s vision for a locally-driven solar market in Nepal where everyone can have access to affordable, reliable power.
LIGHT GIVES SAFETY AND SECURITY
“People love the lights, they are very necessary. At night it is dangerous with aftershocks, and light helps keep thieves away. Solar light is the only light safe enough for people living in tents as candles are unsafe because of fire danger. It is very hard for these people because their homes are gone or too unsafe to live in.”
COMMUNITIES RALLY TO HELP
“We coordinated with a community group in Sauraha who wanted to help people in Dhading and Gorkha. They collected food and blankets and we gave lights to them to distribute. We split to three different areas so we could reach different hillsides.”
All of the people we have reached have been extremely grateful for the help, and are particularly appreciative that the lights will last for years to come as dependable, essential tools in the tireless effort to rebuild their lives. The support from people around the world has been remarkable and we are extremely grateful.
With your ongoing support we look forward to continuing to rebuild a cleaner, more resilient energy future for Nepal.