UBCO Students From Nepal Organize Kelowna Candlelight Vigil

(Photo Credit: Santosh Sharma/CARE Australia)

UBCO students and staff are joining with those from Nepal to honour those killed in the recent 7.8 magnitude earthquake.

The Nepalese Scholars’ Association and UBC students and staff will be joining hands to help those students from Nepal deal with the devastating disaster back home. “Our friends and families are in great pain and despair,” says Dinesh Adhikary, founding member of UBC Okanagan’s Nepalese Scholars' Association. “We Nepalese students at UBC Okanagan are in great pain as well. Our immediate families are fine, but our homes are in ruin and our families are out on the streets. But we Nepalese students have not lost hope. We believe, it is time to step forward and do the best we can to support our people.”

Not only is the candlelight vigil meant to raise awareness about the destruction and loss of lives in Nepal, but it’s also launching a student-led fundraising campaign through Red Cross. People can bring cash donations to the vigil or donate to the Red Cross through the UBCO students’ fundraising page.

Nepalese Scholars' Association raising funds for earthquake relief. (Photo Credit: Facebook)

With Canada’s pledge to match eligible contributions to the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund until May 25, your donation can be doubled. The UBC Students’ Union Okanagan is making their own $1,500 donation to the earthquake relief effort.

Everyone is invited to the vigil on Sunday, May 3rd at 7:30 p.m. at Stuart Park on Water Street. The event will involve some speakers, a candle lighting, and a minute of silent prayer. Refreshments will be served at the vigil.

(Photo Credit: Aapo Huhta/Finnish Red Cross)

These students are trying to raise $40,000 in the next six months to help earthquake victims and their families in Gorkha district, which saw the worst destruction.

See KelownaNow’s story here on Adhikary’s experience of being so far away from home when the earthquake hit.