Speaking at the British Expertise Networking Event at the House of Lords, Graham Olver announces WYG’s commitment to contribute funds and professional skills to support the reconstruction effort in Nepal following the devastating earthquakes in 2015.
Call to Action
In April and May 2015, two powerful earthquakes struck Nepal, killing 8,000 people, injuring more than 21,000, and leaving scores without shelter amid devastated communities and lives. Graham called his executive colleagues on the WYG Board and the Heads Of Region to garner financial and practical support to help with building and community reconstruction.
As Graham said at the launch,:
“[WYG’s] in-house capability to provide comprehensive “Duty of Care” for our employees puts us in a privileged position to assist Community Action Nepal with the skilled support that they so desperately need at this time. Our knowledge and expertise can make a tangible difference to those communities and it is our duty to help those whose lives have been left devastated by this natural disaster.”
Making a Difference – Partnering with Community Action Nepal
Having been introduced to Doug Scott, Graham was sure that Community Action Nepal (CAN) was the right partner through which to focus WYG efforts.
CAN is a UK based charity working in partnership with mountain villages and communities to provide health, education, income generation, cultural and mountain welfare facilities. All 40 of their projects suffered structural damage, and over half of these community assets needed total rebuilding or significant reconstruction.
Team Spirit
WYG pledged £20,000 to support CAN with the intention to help kick-start efforts through rebuilding the destroyed Health Post at Kutumsang to anti-seismic standards. This was just the beginning.
‘The response within WYG was great, I remember phoning every one of the 150 people who stepped forward to volunteer to welcome and thank them. This included ecologists, receptionists, engineers, planners, health and safety specialists, project manager, experienced and graduates alike. As ever it was courage, kindness and a willingness to put themselves forward that made me me feel that WYG plc had truly been transformed”
Sir Chris Bonington & Graham Olver at the British Expertise Networking event
Build back Better – An ongoing sustainable contribution
WYG continues to support CAN by helping them to plan their approach, facilitating the agreement to both the designs and the construction techniques, incorporating traditional methods and materials for greater resilience to future seismic activity, and helping projects to be deliverable and maintainable by local craftsmen.
Doug Scott, Founder of CAN commented:
“We would like to thank WYG for the company’s 100 percent commitment in support of the mountain people of Nepal.”
