Founder of Nepali orphanage OK but struggling after quake

A Laguna Beach woman who spends time every year in Nepal overseeing the orphanage she founded is safe but facing hardship after Saturday’s 7.8 earthquake in the southeast Asian country.

Christine Casey established in 2007 the nonprofit Chhahari, which provides shelter, clothes, food and education for children at a house in central Kathmandu. She emailed the organization’s board following the quake, which has claimed thousands of lives.

“As you may well expect, we are having all sorts of problems: water, electricity, food, shelter and now the scare of many different illnesses,” Casey wrote. “The improper handling of dead bodies is a major concern.”

Aftershocks have continued to rock the area.

“I feel like I just got off a ship,” said Casey, who has been at the orphanage for five months.

She said the 23 children at the facility are safe, as are the caretaker couple and their two young sons.

“We are cutting down on all items to save what resources we have,” Casey said. “Of course, price hikes are everywhere. Safe water will be our biggest issue in the days to come. I am to get the men to dig holes away from tented areas for toilet purposes. As of now most of these uneducated villagers are using any place for a toilet.

“Chhahari children slept outside first night but last night were housed at [a board member’s house] and will be tonight as well. Please continue to pray, or whatever one does, for all Nepali people.”

Children at Chhahari, which means “shelter” in Nepalese, are also given medical and dental care, and they participate in activities like music, dance, art, annual picnics, lunch outings and celebrations of Hindu and Buddhist festival days.

For more information, visit chhahari.org.