Adalbert Raps Foundation supports reconstruction in Nepal
Kulmbach, November 2016: In spring 2015, Nepal was massively damaged by several earthquakes. Together with Nepalhilfe Kulmbach eV, the Adalbert Raps Foundation is helping the Nepalese population to rebuild. For the second time, the foundation finances the active commitment of employees of the spice manufacturer RAPS GmbH & Co. KG and their relatives in Nepal. There they help with the construction of earthquake-proof buildings and instruct the Nepalese to help themselves.
Since the severe earthquakes in April and May 2015, many buildings in Nepal are in danger of collapsing or have collapsed. The Adalbert Raps Foundation intervened for a short time: in 2015 it contributed to the construction of two school buildings with a donation of 55.000 euros, and this year it supported Nepalhilfe Kulmbach eV on site for the second time. In Malekhu, a small mountain village around 70 kilometers north-west of Kathmandu, employees of the RAPS company helped the Nepalese people to build houses in four assignments, each lasting two weeks. The flights of the helpers, their stays as well as travel insurance and necessary tools financed the Adalbert-Raps-Stiftung. In return, the RAPS employees spent their vacation days on construction sites: at 38 degrees and over 90 percent humidity, where they built earthquake-proof houses with lattice frames made of reinforced concrete side by side with the Nepalese population.
This year, construction experts from Dechant Hoch- und Ingenieurbau from Weismain in Upper Franconia accompanied the missions in Malekhu, which lasted from the beginning of August to the end of October. Last year, the focus was still on manual work, but this time the teams of helpers were able to proceed mainly logistically and in an advisory capacity, because the Nepalese construction companies had quickly adopted the new and earthquake-proof construction method. In the meantime, a certain routine has established itself and the procurement of building materials has been significantly accelerated. In cooperation with the population, the reconstruction of Malekhus is proceeding quickly. The reconstruction of two schools was particularly important to the foundation, as this ensures the necessary education for the children.
The commitment of the Adalbert Raps Foundation in Nepal proves that helping people to help themselves works. “You almost don't need us any more. Now it's working ”, sums up Gerd Schramm, dental technician and already two-time assistant. Together with Yola Klingel, head of the Adalbert Raps Foundation, and in cooperation with various dentists, he also set up the “tooth camp”. This consists of a small dental team that treats all school children and some adults from the population in the rebuilt school in Malekhu.
Schramm reports constant and friendly contact with the population. The Nepalese gave the helpers a warm welcome and kept sending them pictures after their return to show the progress of the construction site. “You take a lot with you. You also get a lot in return - but it's still exhausting, ”is how Schramm summarizes his aid mission in Nepal. Nonetheless, he will travel to Malekhu again next year.
More information about the project can be found at www.raps-stiftung.de
About the Adalbert Raps Foundation
Founded in 1976 by the estate of the pharmacist and visionary industrialist Adalbert Raps, the Kulmbacher Foundation has been committed to social projects and research in the food industry for almost 40 years. The Adalbert Raps Foundation is a silent partner in RAPS GmbH & Co. KG.
