A Car for Kopila Valley KidsOrganized by European Summit for Global Transformation |
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Wow! $28,734.45 has been raised for Kopila Valley
Thank you, thank you, thank for your generosity of spirit and pocketbook!
Donors have ChippedIn (offline) and Kopila Valley has now raised over $28,734.45 this week. This will definitely get and keep the kids, staff and Maggie on the road for quite some time... Thank you! A Vehicle has Become a Necessity
This just in from Maggie at Kopila Valley Children's Home:
 The time has come for us to purchase our first vehicle and we need your help! Our growing numbers, the new school set to open next month, our recent bout without water, and the political unresthave made it clear that for our safety and utility, we have outgrown scooter/bicycles/walking as our sole means of transport. How We'll Use the Vehicle
HAULING FOOD & MATERIALS & GROUPS OF KIDS
There are only so many trips we can make back and forth into the market to purchase vegetables, rice, and fruit. We are carrying up to 150 pounds of rice, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, soap, sugar, and flour on our backs from kilometers away depending on where food is available. We will need at least double the amount with the new lunch program and clinic set to launch with the new school. We buy in bulk at discount rates from local farmers. One of the most expensive parts of school construction and material purchase is the transport. Once we have our own vehicle we can bring all of our own materials/food ration/school books/clothing/domestic needs. In case of water shortages we can go to the local springs and bring water back to the house without having to wait hours to arrange transportation. Many times it is necessary to move the kids en masse - trips to the dentist, the hospital, the park to bathe, family outings. We need a safe way to do this and cannot rely on the only two ambulances and few tractors in town. EMERGENCIES If we have an emergency, sometimes we need to wait up to an hour for an ambulance. Taking kids/staff/volunteers on the scooter is not safe; in the case of an emergency it's been my only option. In any serious emergencies children must be transported to bigger hospital in Nepal Ganj. Trips to Nepal Ganj which take 3 hours by private car usually take 7 hours using public transportation. In the event of an emergency or natural disaster we will need a way to move the kids safely and efficiently. During times of political strikes, all public transportation is shut down, however tourists and NGO vehicles are allowed to run. INTAKE/OUTREACH We also investigate and check up on all the children in our outreach program and any new intakes by traveling to the villages in the far corners of villages throughout the valley. Cost & Conclusions
We will need at least $20,000 for a decent SUV/jeep or truck that will run more than ten years. My dream would be to buy a Nissan or Toyota. I can look into vehicles on my trip to Kathmandu next week. Insurance and mechanic are available now in Surkhet.
This vehicle will not be a luxury but rather an absolute necessity as I carry out my duties as the legal guardian of 30 children as well as up to 300 in the new school. We have reached the tipping point of needing a means of transportation to provide safe/efficient transport of daily sustenance and also as I recently became aware a mode of transportation in the event of emergencies and strikes. Thank you for your ongoing support from all of us at Blink Now and Kopila Valley! |
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