Kosciuszko Foundation in Washington DC - Past Events

Little Poland in Nepal

Wednesday, August 10, 2016, at 6:00pm

The "Little Poland in Nepal" Foundation was established in the summer of 2015 in order to help the victims of the catastrophic earthquake that occurred in April and May of that year.

Hundreds of thousands of people lost their homes and possessions, and almost 10,000 perished because of that calamitous earthquake in 2015. Many institutions, organizations, and people from abroad, as well as the Nepalese, committed themselves to helping the victims. Sujan Pandey and Magdalena Pietruszka-Pandey, owners of Exploring Nepal Treks & Adventures, came up with the idea of building a Little Poland in Nepal as they were helping the inhabitants of villages near Kathmandu. They invited Sławomir Matczak – a Polish journalist and traveler – to the board of the foundation. Little Poland in Nepal started with the Dumre village in the Nuwakot district, of the Sunkhani region – about 29 km from Kathmandu. The village was completely destroyed, and thus over a dozen houses and one school needed to be rebuilt from scratch. Until this point we have already finished the drinking water tank in the village, the primary school, and half of the Polish House (for volunteers and doctors).

The inhabitants of Dumre will have new buildings with the help of Polish citizens. We would also like to allow the Poles travelling in and to Nepal to spend a few days in the village. The Nepalese still need to rebuild their households, schools, and roads since they can mostly count on the help of NGOs. Then tourists from all over the world will again travel there to trek, as Nepal will always offer up the majestic Himalayas, its wonderful people and their rich culture. So it is worth it to help Nepal via this project in the long term.

But Little Poland in Nepal is not only one place on a map, it is much more. It is a symbol of a long-term commitment to help the suffering people in a place that is very much real. It is an idea of supporting and sharing with the Nepalese - a nation stricken by calamities, but one that is still full of wonderful, proud, friendly, and open people. And we have more plans for the future: there is a destroyed school in Bhadrutar in the Nuwakot district with 60 students who are currently studying in a temporary shelter. We are actively looking for a sponsor for this new project to rebuild the destroyed school now.

Thus, the aim of the "Little Poland in Nepal" Foundation is not only financing the rebuilding of schools, but also providing help to the Nepalese in a variety of ways: financing the education of their children, treating the ill, supporting the poor, helping women find jobs, etc. Nepal will still need aid for a long time. The Nepalese are a truly great people, as even without such calamities they endure the troubles of everyday life and never give up: always with a smile, always moving forward. Let us help them by bringing back their normal life without constant worries about the futures of their children. Let us share what we have, as we have much more than they do. Give the Nepalese our hearts and long-term support. Maybe they do not ask for it, but they still need it.

Join us and help! Supporting those who are in need may be a path to your own happiness!

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