Contents
- Who We Are
- IPMA Global Project Excellence Award 2018
- Energy: Micro-Hydro
- Education: School
- Emergency Health-care: Ambulance
- Entrepreneurs: Reviving Businesses
- Fundraising Efforts: Open Mic Thursdays
- Support US
Who We Are
Gorkhaly Foundation is an all-volunteer run, 501 (c) (3) compliant, non-profit organization based in Washington D.C. Over the past years, Gorkhaly Foundation has partnered with over dozens of grassroots organizations in USA and Nepal. The foundation in 2013, with Nepal Ko Yuwa & COMMITTED, raised 35K for 12 NGOs in Nepal by organizing Walk for Nepal 2013, a platform for organizing walkathons in cities worldwide to mobilize individuals and organizations interested in the development of Nepal. In 2013, the foundation promoted CNN hero Puspa Basnet’s documentary “Waiting for Mamu” to support the Butterfly Home project. In 2012, the foundation raised funds for COMMITTED to build schools in Nepal.
In response to the devastating earthquake of April 25, 2015 in Nepal, the foundation dedicated its resources to immediate and long-term recovery efforts. #RebuildBarpak was the foundation’s vision where the foundation undertook the task of rehabilitating the crucial aspects of Village of Barpak, Gorkha, Nepal. In collaboration with the locals and an Ashoka Fellow and energy access entrepreneur – Mr. Bir Bahadhur Ghale, the foundation secured a grant from Nat Geo to rehabilitate the micro-hydro; secured funds to purchase land for the construction of Shree Bhagwati Lower Secondary School, a government run institution; provided microloans to the entrepreneurs in the village to stimulate the local economy; donated an ambulance to facilitate the villager’s medical needs; established a local oversight committee; and built a children learning center to help shape the future generations of Barpak.
The foundation from 2017-2018 spent much of its resources on monitoring and evaluating the processes and projects established in Barpak.
IPMA Global Project Excellence Award 2018
The International Project Management Association (IMPA) awarded the Gorkhaly Foundation a silver medal in Sustainable Development Projects this week at its annual gala in Helsinki. The Foundation is honored by this recognition and would like to thank everyone for their unwavering support and commitment to its goals and initiatives. Our partners and volunteers and the real heroes and we applaud them sincerely and celebrate this victory with them.
Energy: Micro-Hydro
On May 25, 2015, a month after the earthquake, we delivered a power generator to Barpak to serve the immediate energy needs of the village. It supplied electricity to run the village food mill that fed 1200 households giving Barpak intermediate food security, supported lighting for temporary shelters, aid workers, and for communication. On April 25, 2016 rehabilitation and upgrade of the earthquake destroyed Micro Hydro Power Plant that is the sole supplier of electricity in Barpak was completed. Approximately 15,000 people, local business and public infrastructures are reliant on this electricity. This was made possible through a grant from The Great Energy Challenge of National Geographic Society to the Barpak Rural Electrification Consortium that that was facilitated by Gorkhaly Foundation.
After the earthquake, the local businesses where unable to function for almost a year because there was no electricity. But after the reconstruction of the Micro-Hydro , people have started their businesses again. People also started new businesses like hotels , cafeteria, home-goods store, bakery etc. - Mr. Bir Bahadur Ghale, Barpak, Nepal.
Education: School
On October 2016, we purchased land for a public school in Barpak. After the earthquake, schools were/are operating from makeshift tents- with students and teaches exposed to heat, cold and the rain. Shree Bhagawati Lower Secondary School, a public institution lost its school land to the earthquake. The school with help from local leaders secured commitment from Um Hong Gil Human Foundation (UHGHF) for funding of overall construction costs contingent upon securing of land. We came in to fill this investment gap, and the school is now expected to move back to its own building at the end of 2017. The entire process took two and a half years to complete. The school is located in Barpak Sulikot village municipality ward no-2 Ruttako. The total school area is 3,238 sq meters , where 240 sq meters is occupied by the school building. The building is 2 story and has 12 rooms. There are currently 150 students among which 69 are girls and 81 are boys. Since there are no schools nearby, the students who attend the come from Barpak and nearby villages of Mandry, Isnan, Lyaway, and Thalikong. School is playing a vital role in educating the young generations of the village.
Also, in June 2016, Gorkhaly Foundation’s Young Ambassador went to Barpak with 800 books, furniture and building materials to build a learning center. She spent several weeks in the village setting up the center. Today Barpak has a learning center that is a place that brings students of the village to gather, play, read books, and do their homework. Roughly 140 - 180 students visit the center weekly. Children really enjoy spending time in the center. They enjoy reading books, stories , watching educational videos, and so on, which is helping them to gain more experience and knowledge.
Emergency Health-care: Ambulance
On May 29, 2016, we delivered an ambulance to Barpak responding to the urgent medical needs resulting from lost access to health care post the earthquake. The ambulance has had a great impact in transporting patients to the hospitals on time. Before people had to wait around 10-12 hours for an ambulance . In emergency cases it was extremely difficult and in past, a lot of patients had lost their lives. But now there is no need to wait for the ambulance and people are able to receive prompt medical attention. Mostly, it has helped pregnant women from Barpak and nearby villages. More than 200 people have already used it and are very happy with the service.
Entrepreneurs: Reviving Businesses
On March 15, 2017, Barpak’s first financial institution (community cooperative) was launched, and approval of USD $30,000 in subsidized loans to fourteen local businesses provided through the same Nat Geo Grant was announced. With guidance from the village advisory committee, and by developing business plans jointly with local businesses affected by the earthquake- the cooperative made informed loan decisions. The loans made a tremendous impact in getting businesses back on their feet. Now the businesses are stable and people have already started paying back loans. This is a huge step in stimulating Barpak's local economy.
Fundraising Efforts: Open Mic Thursdays
Open Mic Nights is Gorkhaly Foundation’s flagship recurring event. It was started in July 2015, immediately following the aftermath of the earthquake in Nepal, in partnership with Le Mirch. The goal of Open Mic Nights is to provide a platform for local artists of the DMV area to showcase their creative talents. It also became a space for people affected by the earthquake to commiserate on the tragedies brought about by the disaster. While we have been able to achieve our intended goal, Open Mic nights has evolved to be a unique opportunity for people to network and socialize in the DMV area.
Open Mic Nights are hosted every last Thursday of the month at Le Mirch near Dupont circle in Washington, DC from 7-10pm. Le Mirch is an Indian restaurant with a French influence that uses the farm-to- table concept in a posh venue. Le Mirch is our official partner that has continuously provided the space for this event.
Where: Le Mirch, 1736 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009
When: 7-10pm, last Thursday, every month
Support US in 2019!
You can donate by visiting www.gorkhaly.org. All your donations are Tax Deductible. Once we have received your donation, upon request, we can send you the EIN information for Tax Deduction. Please mail the check to the following address:
Gorkhaly Foundation
11324 Links Court
Reston, VA 20190