Earthquake in Nepal

Stamford, Conn. (April 25th, 2015) – A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal this morning, leaving more than 800 people dead and many more injured. The quake was centered less than 50 miles from Kathmandu. At this time, buildOn has confirmed that our staff, their families and our volunteers in the region are safe.

A volunteer group from Australia was in Kathmandu completing the buildOn Trek for Knowledge program at the time of the earthquake. All members of the team have been accounted for and are safely located at the Kathmandu Airport and Australian Embassy.

buildOn’s work is primarily centered in the far-western region of Nepal. Due to the distance, we expect that all of our schools have remained unharmed. Our staff will begin assessing any potential damage to our schools in the coming days.

Since 1993, buildOn has constructed 131 schools in Nepal, where more than 20,000 children, parents and grandparents learn each day. Additionally, buildOn brings groups of volunteers from across the globe to Nepal to work side-by-side with community members to break ground on these schools through the Trek for Knowledge program.

We are monitoring the situation closely and will provide more information about buildOn’s efforts in the region as it becomes available. Our thoughts are with all those who have suffered loss in the midst of this tremendous tragedy.

About buildOn: At home or abroad, buildOn’s goal is to break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and low expectations through service and education. Across the U.S., buildOn empowers urban youth to transform their neighborhoods through intensive community service and to change the world by building schools in some of the economically poorest countries in the world. Since 1991, buildOn has constructed 736 schools worldwide, with more than 95,000 children, parents and grandparents attending these schools every day. For more information, visit www.buildon.org.

Media Contact:
Carrie Pena
carrie.pena@buildon.org
224-420-1825