Local college students start relief fund after Nepal earthquake

The program is called Making Lives Better and was started by Westminster students about three years ago.

It was started to provide assistance to countries going through disaster by students from Nepal. Now, they are sending relief back to their home country.

Shrijan Amatya said the day before the earthquake hit could have been the last time he spoke to his mother. They were having a conversation and he cut the call short and said they would talk tomorrow, but tomorrow may not have come for his family.

“I realized how… you don’t realize what’s going to happen tomorrow,” said Amatya.

After the earthquake hit Nepal, students who organized Making Lives Better started gearing up to send what relief they could back home.

“So we would like to collect the money here and then through our contacts, there are a few students going back to Nepal this summer and they are going to be responsible for it,” said group organizer, Suravi Shresdha.

Shresdhda said the main focus for relief in Nepal is water. She said they are taking donations of all kinds to provide what relief they can to the country.

Tripti Giri is also apart of the organization. She said when the earthquake hit, social media was the tool in getting in contact with her family and staying in contact with them the past few days.

“Facebook has been the big use for this situation. It’s easier to keep in contact with everything,” said Giri.

Giri also said not only has Facebook been a tool for her to stay in contact with loved ones, but it’s also helped get the word out about the Making Lives Better organization.

The students from Nepal said if anyone wants to make donations they can on their Facebook page, Making Lives Better.