A tidal wave of poverty is sweeping across South Asia as a result of COVID-19. The Himalayan country NEPAL is particularly hard hit, as literally millions of migrant workers across South Asia have lost income and livelihood due to continued lockdowns. Himalayan Life has set out to meet this need through providing relief to families and communities in Nepal.
The effects of the economic downturn as a result of COVID-19 are particularly severe in Nepal, whose economy relies heavily on remittance and tourism. Millions of Nepalese migrant workers, providing income for their families by way of working mostly menial labour jobs across South Asia and the Middle East, have lost their jobs. They are returning home without savings, and with no perspective of employment. In the absence of any help from the government, their families are facing severe poverty.
Himalayan Life is setting up a relief fund and using its staff on the ground in Nepal to reach out to families in need with food, basic medical care and more to deliver a measure of appropriate relief. Families will be fed. This will prevent children from being trafficked and sold, as the most immediate needs are being taken care of.
The mission of Himalayan Life is to protect, nurture and educate children in the Himalayas. By protecting them from the worst harm during the pandemic and by nurturing them in the sense of providing for their most immediate needs, they will get their turn at education. Relief is for survival - education will be for transformation.
