Navarai Neupane, PDEng of Software Technology at TU/e heard about the disaster in his home country through Facebook on April 25. Initially, he thought the remark his friend made about a fallen monument was some kind of joke, but he soon found out it was quite real indeed. It was fifteen minutes after the devastating earthquake.

Neupane: “I called my parents right away. They’re in Gulmi in the Lumbini Zone, some two hundred kilometers from the epicenter. Thankfully they were okay. My brother and sister both live in Kathmandu and they’re doing fine as well. Their houses are relatively new and they haven’t been damaged. I’ve lived in Kathmandu for over six years myself, so it’s bizarre to see all the places I know so well in ruins.”

Automotive student Aarya Shah’s family is doing well, too. “They live in Kathmandu. They’re doing okay, but my grandmother hurt her leg for which she’s undergoing surgery. Our house survived the quake.”

Nepali from Eindhoven and surroundings got together to see what they could do for their fellow countrymen. Neupane: “We’ve e-mailed our colleagues with the request to please donate to giro 555. We’ve also distributed donation boxes.” With the money raised, the initiators have purchased food and medication. Neupane: “We’re working with people we know and trust in Nepal, so we know exactly where the money ends up.”

The event Eat, Watch and Donate will be held this Sunday. Visitors are welcome at The Hub Eindhoven for Expats at Vestdijk 25 from 1 p.m. They’ll be treated to Nepalese snacks and music from Nepal, and there will be a photo exhibition and a movie screening. Visitors can donate whatever they feel like. The fundraiser serves a specific purpose. Neupane: “With the imminent monsoon it’s important people have a roof over their heads. We want to construct temporary housing. There are many temporary materials we can use, and the people there will help us build the homes. One roof is 120 euros, and those are the only costs. Say we raise two thousand euros, we can house almost twenty families.”

According to numbers of the Education and Student Service Center (STU), TU/e has six Nepali students: a graduate student, an undergraduate student, two bridging program students, and two PDEng students. STU has no records of any TU/e students being in Nepal for their studies or an internship.