ATOMIC

ATOMIC employees travel the globe on a regular basis for client jobs and vacations but it’s not every day two employees trek to Asia on a relief trip. Scenic Account Manager Kate Wallace and Assistant Project Manager Autumn Obenchain recently traveled to Nepal to aid locals in the rebuilding and recovery from the devastating April earthquakes.

Peak Elevation Expeditions founder and part-time ATOMIC scenic team member, Bob Grote, led the trip to Nepal. Bob has led over 20 expeditions to Nepal where he supports Shree Mangal Dvip School and visits the remote villages of the Tsum Valley, Nubri and Lho, where the team focused their relief efforts. Also joining Kate, Autumn and Bob was part-time scenic team member Chris Simpson.

Before the two-week relief trip, the group gathered monetary donations and supplies such as tents, tarps, medicine, toys and school supplies to carry over to Nepal. Arriving with seven huge duffel bags of supplies, the trip was a whirlwind of handing out of the donations, visiting with locals and giving school supplies to the students. Seeing the level of devastation was extremely eye-opening for the team. Knowing that so many families were displaced but were still positive and generous was very impactful, according to Kate and Autumn.

“I was amazed at how resilient people can be, especially those who have so little. They picked up right away as soon as tragedy struck and just focus on living and rebuilding. They’re not focused on the negativity of it.” said Autumn.

During the trip, the ATOMIC team visited the SMD School and handed out supplies, which they described as a three-ring circus and Christmas morning all at once, as the students received toys and supplies. The relief efforts continued as they gave medical supplies to the school and village elders where the students’ families lived. Finally, in keeping with the sense of community, the team gave rice, money and supplies to local contacts in Kathmandu who in turn shared the donations with their remotely located home villages.

“The people we met were unfailingly generous and kind. With their time, their country, their homes, their food, and their stories, they welcomed us and wanted us to enjoy our trip to Nepal, even while they were dealing with disaster in their own homes, villages, and temples. It was an enlightening look into a place where the sense of the community is truly embraced,” Kate reflected.

Every once in a while, it’s good to get a new perspective on life and Kate and Autumn certainly experienced that. Relief efforts and rebuilding are slow moving and will take years to fully restore Nepal. The people of Nepal need assistance. ATOMIC: Mission Give (our charitable giving committee) donated to the Himalayan Children’s Fund, an organization that supports the SMD School and so can you! Send donations and learn more about the planned November relief trip here: http://www.gofundme.com/wpwbrs