On Thursday, a handful of volunteers gather in an open space in Thapathali inside the large compound of a little house bringing together baby blankets and lactogen 1.

‘Support 10,000 women’ is a new campaign started by Loom, a women’s rights organisation where they are focusing on new and expecting mothers, and children under the age of five, who have been affected by the earthquake on 25 April, within 15 days.

Jyotsna Maskay, director of Loom, says, ” There are no resources for new and expecting mothers, so we want to provide them with the basics,” as she packs a child care package that has some baby clothes, a baby blanket, baby oil, nappies and lactogen 1. “Mothers have not been able to feed their babies because stores are closed,” added Maskay.
In addition, they are also making a mother care package that will consist of undergarments, sanitary products, folic acid tablets and basic hygiene kit.

The Loom team and its volunteers are aiming to provide these packages to 10,000 women and children in Dhading, Sindhupalchowk, Nuwakot, Dolakha, Kavre, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.

“We plan to create a strategic data follow up for 5,000 women in six months time at hard hit places. We also want to provide trauma counseling with the help of Women’s rehabilitation Centre (WOREC),” says Maskay with determination.

‘Support 10,000 Women’ is looking for medical professionals and volunteers to help them with this altruistic venture. Currently the staff and volunteers are buying the supplies so they can head out to Kavre, their first destination on 1 May.

Aware of the numerous fundraising campaigns floating around Nepal, this ‘Support 10,000 Women’ campaign has a volunteer finance auditor who will provide everyone, who donates, with a receipt for every contribution made and a separate audit will be catered to this finance process in six months.

“We are accepting baby clothes, baby products and anything suitable for new mothers to head out tomorrow,” says Maskay who has not been able to get in her own apartment due to the earthquake and is sleeping under a tent in the Thapathali lawn with the neighbors.
“The situation is not easy, but many have it much worse.”
If you would like to help ‘Support 10,000 Women’ contact
Jyotsna Maskay: 9801037338
Kshitiz Adhiraj: 9841337338
Sashul Shrestha: 9803269849 (Finance)

Anjana Rajbhandary