Lindsay Kalbfleisch, a Recreation and Leisure student who lived at St. Paul’s in 2010-11, was immediately moved to action when she heard the news about the devastating earthquake in Nepal. Kalbfleisch had travelled to Mount Everest base camp along with 13 other UWaterloo students and their Geography Professor Sanjay Nepal in April 2014. At least half of those students had lived at St. Paul’s and many others participated in academic and community life at the College. In fact, approximately 30 St. Paul’s students have lived in or travelled to Nepal to participate in experiential learning in the past three years.
Kalbfleisch reached out to the others in that group and started an online fundraising appeal, which has already raised over $4,000 to be donated to the Canadian Red Cross. She hopes others will be inspired to act and contribute what they can to the effort.
Last Friday, seven International Development students arrived home to St. Paul’s from Nepal – only hours before news broke of the earthquake. Two of those students, Erin McLaren and Meagan Shantz, say that it has been difficult to process the news of the disaster, considering the already challenging task of reintegrating to Canadian society after spending eight months immersed in Nepali culture. They both agree that having the support of classmates as well as friends, family, and others in the St. Paul’s community has helped.
All seven students lived in and near the capital city Kathmandu, which has been particularly hard hit, but so far most of their Nepalese friends and colleagues have been safely accounted for.
Staff at St. Paul’s are making plans for a fundraising event to be held in May or June.