Nepal was struck by a horrendous earthquake in April 2015 which killed nearly 9,000 people and injured nearly 22,000. It has been the worst natural disaster to hit Nepal since 1934 and has severely impacted the lives of many Nepalese people: more than half a million homes were destroyed and many people lost everything they owned including food and livestock. Poverty is also a serious issue in Nepal. 23.8% of Nepali citizens live below the poverty line and it is the second poorest country in Asia. Only 6% of women are in formal employment and only 10% of working women receive payment for their work.

I am going to Nepal for 10 weeks to help provide water infrastructure and sanitation facilities in the Gorkha region of Nepal, where the epicentre of the earthquake was, to help the Nepalese people rebuild their lives. I will also be helping to provide entrepreneurial programmes that advise women and young people on how to provide for themselves.

I will be doing a sponsored walk along the Jurassic Coast to help raise awareness for the cause. All fundraising will be going directly towards kit and vaccinations that are vital for volunteering in Nepal and will allow me to be completely hands on in the reconstruction of the lives of the Nepalese.