Help Gyanu from Nepal: she lost her small house in the earthquake and is homeless

My friend Gyanu in the village of Bungamati in Nepal lost her tiny (3m x 3m) house in the earthquake. She lived there with her sick husband and her sons. Myself and two volunteers are trying to help Gyanu rebuild her house and get her life back together. We want to raise just £1,000 to help her rebuild her house. PLEASE HELP US.

One of us is travelling to Nepal in the middle of July and will give the money directly to her. She is a lovely kind woman who looked after us when we were volunteers there. At the moment she and her family are living in a tent in a field. And the rainy season is coming.

In exchange for any help you can give we will send you four of Gyanu's wonderful Nepalese recipes. (Oh, one is for carrot cake learned from German hippies in the 1960s!)

Here is our story....

​When I travelled to Nepal in 2012 I was only seventeen and I met the most wonderful woman, who taught me so much about the world we live in. We could not communicate well as her English was limited and at first my Nepalese was non-existent. Little by little however, we learnt to communicate, mainly because I learnt the words delicious and so delicious. You see these words were important because this ever so special woman, Gyanu, would cook in the hostel where I was staying. And oh my word, how she could cook! I had never tasted such fresh and exciting meals. All flavours blended beautifully and every dish was new and special therefore required me to eat it until I couldn’t possibly eat anymore. From pancakes to chapatti, from curry to ajar. This woman was the Queen of the kitchen. Gyanu started to teach me to cook. She would demonstrate what to use and I would write it down in my little diary. She taught me how to cook whilst squatting on the floor and she gave me recipes that I will treasure forever along with the moments that I spent with her. Even with little communication I remember just sitting in the kitchen and laughing with her, uncontrollable laughter!

I became fascinated with Gyanu, we spent evenings and afternoons together. I idealised this woman who worked so hard and who always looked so happy. The truth of the matter is that every morning she would wake up at 4AM and go to the rice fields to work and then would head over to the hostel at around 6:30 to welcome us to the day with either omelette, pancakes, a muffin and always a fresh slice of mango. She shared a small room with both her son and husband. I never saw the inside. I think in some way, it would have made her uncomfortable. She worked all day and then late into the night, when everything was clean and everyone was happy she would retire to her home.

Unfortunately Gyanu’s house was destroyed in the Earthquake which hit Nepal on ther 25^th of April 2015. I was heartbroken. How can a woman who is so loving, understanding and open be faced with such tragic events? I want to help Gyanu because she helped me and taught me so much. In only a month she impacted me in a way I had never been before. She taught me the harsh and beautiful realities of a life that I had never lead.

Her son, her husband and her are now living in a tent. The rainy season will soon hit and they will be in terrible trouble. You see Bungamati, the village where they are from, is a very muddy place and the risk of disease to spread once the monsoon season starts is a terrifying threat. Gyanu and her family have sadly no money to rebuild their home.

This is why I am asking for your help. As a student I cannot afford to help her rebuild herself a home, even if it is 9m². All I can do is tell her story and hope that through my words people realise how important this woman was to me. I am not asking for much, simply a small donation in exchange for four of Gyanu’s delicious recipes. I can assure you that they will make your mouth salivate and your family appreciate it! You would also be helping one of the loveliest women I have ever met.

Thank you for your time,

Namaste,

Daniela Parkes