The isolation and lockdown orders may have paused our project, but they have not paused our mission. 

Toilet Nerd Nabeel explains how COVID-19 is affecting people in Jumla. Photo Credit: Soraj Shahi

As the world faces this unprecedented challenge, communities and economies everywhere are continuing to be affected by the growing COVID-19 pandemic. As a result we have made the difficult and necessary decision to put our project at Namuna school in Jumla on hold until its deemed safe to continue.

In this time of uncertainty and crisis, we as a humanity are truly being tested on our ability to adapt, persevere and help one another.

Manavta’s COVID-19 Emergency Response

In Western Nepal, the lack of income for daily wage earners, market lockdowns and shut borders are causing serious food shortages. In addition, good hygiene is of utmost importance, given the nature of this virus. 

Manavta means humanity and although our projects are on hold, our mission is not. We will be working alongside our local project partners, Karnali Sports Club and Namuna School to contribute as much as we collectively can to help with the emergency response in Western Nepal. A donation today will go towards emergency support for Namuna School students and their families. 

We will be distributing hygiene kits ($10 CAD includes soap, menstrual pads and water iodine tablets), as well as contribute to a local food bank, and continue to stand prepared to respond as the situation in Nepal continues to rapidly change.

Donate

As always, thank you for giving a shit!

Updates from NEPAL

Update June 7, 2020

  • The migration situation at the border is getting quite severe. Over 500,000 Nepali migrants were stranded at the border. Despite our emergency efforts to help out the people we can, the situation in Nepal is getting much worse. They were without food and little government support. Learn more about the situation in western Nepal.

  • We want to thank everyone who showed up to our fundraiser on May 28th. We raised just over $850 that will go directly to our COVID-19 response in Jumla.

Update May 17 2020

  • We are working to remobilize our team on the ground to reach families that are in need and have announced another fundraising event in partnership with Square1 Fitness Studio.

  • Foodbank distributions continue as scheduled for families within our Surkhet community. Since our emergency response efforts began, we have distributed food to feed hundreds of individuals.

  • The education team at Namuna school continues to distribute COVID-19 information packages to families in Chandanath, Jumla.

 

Update May 10 2020

  • Our team has distributed supply packages—with enough rice, dahl, oil for cooking, and soap to last 2 weeks—to over 50 grateful families. 

  • We’re continuing to work with the local government and learning about what more we can do to assist in the area

  • Stay tuned as we ramp up our efforts to reach more families from Namuna School. Donate at the link above!

 

Update May 3 2020
This week marked a full month since Nepal issued the lockdown. While these orders are part of the global effort to slow the spread and keep communities safe from COVID-19, they also mean many of the families we serve face new challenges, including unemployment and hunger.

  • Nepal extends the country wide lockdown to May 7th.

  • Our partners in Jumla have began conducting visits to determine which families from Namuna School can be reached and are in need of support.

  • Manavta held the event Yoga with Madiha Vallani to contribute funds for our COVID-19 Emergency Response and have raised a total of $600. For details click here.

 

Update April 19, 2020

  • Many of the families may be ineligible for the government-run food distribution programs, so it is our role as a non-profit organization to fill in this gap. You can learn more about the food shortage in the Karnali region here.

  • We continue to work with the local government to comply with local rules and stay-at-home orders while maintaining communication with the members of our community. 

  • You can learn more about the issue in western Nepal alongside the border of India here.

 

Update April 12, 2020

  •  Stay-at-home orders are strictly enforced. Caretakers, labourers, farmers, or simply anyone selling in the market typically work for daily wages, making only enough money to purchase food for the day for their families. Read this article to learn more.

  • The local government is still working to establish a food distribution program in the community. Many families are reporting through teacher check-ins that they only have enough food for 2 to 4 more days. 

  • A looming food shortage is the big worry.

  • Learn more about the governments response to the food shortage in this photo essay by Soraj Shahi, the founder of Karnali Sports Club.

 

Update March 22, 2020
The Nepali government closed the borders in efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Nepal.

  • Toilet nerd Nabeel returns to Kathmandu amidst the corona virus scare and we have stopped all construction. Workers, teachers and volunteers have returned to their families to follow the guidelines of the lockdown.

  • Namuna school officially closed on March 20.

  • New statistics published by the UN and WHO on the status of hand washing and access to basic hygiene in Nepal. Check out the article here.

 

Update March 15, 2020
While there is still much unknown about COVID-19 in Nepal, we are listening to global health experts and are in regular contact with the local government. We took the following actions:

  • Teachers hold a school-wide training sessions to remind the students about proper handwashing techniques and taught them to limit contact with their fellow students.

  • Namuna school teachers handed out corona virus information pamphlets to members of the community and guardians of the students.