Bhaktapur, where we have a fully functional clinic for our volunteers.

Early on Saturday we woke to hear the heartbreaking news that Nepal had been hit by a 7.8 earthquake. Nora Livingstone, one of Animal Experience International’s Co-Founders, has spent significant time in that area and was able to tell the team even before most news became official, that the devastation was going to be extensive. AEI reached out immediately to their volunteers, their partners and many of their friends in the affected areas, and have been able to make contact.

AEI volunteers are safe, the placements and clinics are intact and their partners and friends have been on the front line helping the broken cities. All of the housing AEI volunteers live in and all the clinics they use to treat and house animals have miraculously stayed structurally safe. The airports are open and websites are functional to not only receive aid but also to provide answers for people looking for ways to help. AEI will send volunteers immediately who are interested in helping these pre-established and partnered with projects. This is not just to get on their feet but have a hand in the rescue and recovery of the animals and people in the critically affected areas. Currently there are 5 volunteers leaving in the next two months and AEI is ready to send more. "The need for ongoing support is great. We need boots on the ground night now but we need to make sure that those boots stay on the ground for months and years to come. This isn't a fly in and fly out mission, we are dedicated to Nepal. We committed to meaningful service volunteers could provide before this earthquake and so we will make sure that meaningful service continues. We will not forget about the animal victims, nor will we forget about their caretakers. We have always made sure that our volunteers are in safe, productive and meaningful volunteer placements- this will never change." said Nora Livingstone, CEO and co-founder of Animal Experience International.

AEI has been in constant communication with all of their partners and will be staying in close contact during these difficult times. They continue to say the most important thing to do right now is empower the greater community on how they can help. If they can't volunteer, they can donate, if they can't donate they can pass this information to others. Community and cooperation is essential right now. The immediate need is of course donations for the animal clinics in Nepal. Food, water, tarps, medicine - everything is in short supply in the Kathmandu valley and the best way to get these supplies to those in need is by providing financial donations. Animal rescue, recovery and rehabilitation efforts will take years so interested animal lovers are urged not to forget about Nepal.

Anyone interested in donating should consider donating to one of specific programs or specific volunteer teams. Donating to specific clinics and volunteers means that funds will get to the projects right away and through transparent and efficient channels. Sending donations to the Bhaktapur Animal Welfare team or the earthquake fund for Kathmandu Animal Treatment will mean animals and their caretakers are fully sported through this time of grief but also hope. "We are all in this together, Nepal is hamro ghar, our home." Nora Livingstone.

Animal Experience International is a B Corporation on a mission to help animals around the globe by matching clients with animal related volunteer opportunities at sanctuaries, hospitals, wildlife rehabilitation centres, conservation projects and government programs. AEI clients pay a placement fee and are provided with an all inclusive Experience that benefits the community, animals and their professional development, education and/or their adventurous spirits.

An animal volunteer company, AEI is about creating connections between communities and international travelers. Ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions for the local community members, clients of AEI can travel in peace knowing they are part of the just, ethical and beneficial solution to identified and hidden animal and conservation problems around the world.

For more information, visit www.animalexperienceinternational.com

Animal Experience International

Animal Experience International

Animal Experience International - Empowering people to travel by providing exceptional volunteer animal adventures.

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