West Cork generosity helps Nepal families rebuild their lives

Meet the Rai family, who have security and a roof over their heads thanks to a Clonakilty-born teacher and the generosity of the people of West Cork.

Labourer Ganga Rai, 40, his wife Thulimaya, a cleaner, and their sons, Bikaash, 10, and Bishal, 7, were homeless for three months following the devastating Nepal earthquake last April.

However, money donated by the people of West Cork to Just-One, a charity for street children established by Declan Murphy, enabled the Rai family and eight other families to move into specially constructed bamboo-and-clay homes on a half-acre site leased by Just-One in the north-west of Kathmandu.

“The Rai family was left homeless by the earthquake because the room they rented was damaged,” says Mr Murphy. “The new accommodation has transformed their lives.”

Both boys attend school with the support of Just-One which helps about 80 children annually with the cost of uniforms, school shoes, books, and other charges which are often beyond their parents’ reach.

The €50,000 donated to the charity by the people of West Cork also allowed the provision of emergency food and sanitary support to about 1,000 people; the distribution of tankers of clean water to some 1,280 people; the distribution of replacement school uniforms, shoes, school bags, books and stationery items to some 970 students from seven schools, four of which were also provided with replacement books and educational games for their affected libraries; and the construction of longer-term shelters for three families.

Mr Murphy was visiting his family in Clonakilty when the earthquake struck on April 25 last.

“There was this incredibly huge outpouring of generosity from all across West Cork. Within just six weeks after the earthquake, we’d raised nearly €50,000.

“In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, many of the families and the children we work with were left homeless. They stayed under bamboo and tarpaulin tents that we helped provide as a result of the support from West Cork.”

Mr Murphy founded Just-One in 2004 after witnessing the plight of street children in Kathmandu. The charity supports them to return to their families and schools.

“Seeing the children on the street and working in the tea shops was the impetus.

“I got the idea to encourage schoolchildren in Ireland to help children in Nepal go to school,” he said, adding that the organisation has helped children on the run from violence at home or from abusive employers.

“We have residential transit accommodation for six children aged between seven and 12, boys only, where they stay while we trace their families and try to resolve whatever problems may have resulted in them ending up on the street.

“Once they’re back home with their families we provide educational sponsorship for them and their siblings and follow-up visits to ensure our intervention is worthwhile,”

said Mr Murphy, who now has a staff of 10 and an annual running cost of about €80,000.

“It’s daunting. The future sustainability of Just-One is by no means certain, but the incredible support that continues to come from West Cork is a huge source of hope to me and to the staff.”

Visit www.just-one.org.