U.S. Nonprofit Committed to Nepal Rebuild Effort One Year After Devastating Earthquake

MATTAPOISETT, Mass., April 13, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- It's been nearly a year since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal killing more than 8,000 people and demolishing half a million homes.   All Hands Volunteers, the leading global disaster relief organization powered by volunteers, is unveiling plans for the coming year and drawing attention to the resilience of Nepalese communities and the continued commitment of volunteers who put their lives on hold to assist.

All Hands Volunteers CEO Erik Dyson says, "In a country where 40% of the people live in extreme poverty and political issues have led to blockaded borders and scarce fuel supplies, we have witnessed humanity coming together to help Nepal recover.  Over the next year, we plan to build more schools; the protection and education of Nepal's children is critical to long-term prospects for Nepal and its people."

Nearly 5,000 schools were destroyed in the earthquakes and just under a million children impacted. All Hands Volunteers initially concentrated on building temporary learning centers, providing safe learning environments for close to 2,000 children. The organization is now focused on actively rebuilding schools in the district of Nuwakot, after receiving a grant from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP).

"When CDP undertook its grantmaking due diligence following the dual 2015 Nepal earthquakes, it became clear that the protection and education of children was of critical concern. The work All Hands is doing in the Nuwakot District not only provides safe and educational spaces for hundreds of children, but also involves local organizations and community resources in the rebuild effort," said Center for Disaster Philanthropy Vice President Regine Webster. "We could not be more pleased with All Hands and what they are doing to build high quality, permanent classrooms using best practices in earthquake resistant design."

Since the April 25, 2015 earthquake, All Hands Volunteers has engaged over 1,400 volunteers, cleared debris for over 300 sites, rebuilt 100 homes and impacted over 20,000 Nepalese.

All Hands Volunteers is an U.S. based organization founded in 2005 that connects volunteers with community level solutions in places impacted by natural disasters across the globe.  All Hands Volunteers harnesses the power of the individual when driven by a desire to make a difference. The organization accepts spontaneous volunteers from any background, providing on-the-job training free of charge.  The organization also provides housing, meals, and manages the relief effort through trained staff.  The model offers a transformative experience to those who serve, and brings a wider pool of skills to the relief effort.

All Hands Volunteers has a 4 Star Rating from Charity Navigator.

For further information on All Hands Volunteers' work in Nepal visit http://hands.org/projects/nepal-earthquake-recovery/

To support All Hands Volunteers' efforts in Nepal: www.hands.org/donate

Interviews and photos available upon request.  

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SOURCE All Hands Volunteers

Related Links

http://www.hands.org