The Federation University Australia teaching student volunteered at a school in Nepal for not-for-profit organisation the Shauna Rose Kaufman Foundation in December.

Ms Dontje, 22, said she was struck by the beauty of the country and the people.

“As soon as I heard what had happened, I was absolutely devastated,” she said. “I immediately thought about what I could start doing to help the people impacted and, having still been in contact with the Shauna Rose Kaufman Foundation, I was able to touch base and find out what the affected  communities needed most.”

Over the next few weeks the group hopes to raise up to $10,000 to help the country’s recovery.

Ms Dontje said the funds would go directly to an appeal to purchase medical supplies, waterpurification tablets, blan-

kets, food and materials to make shelters for those left without homes.

She already has a group of students working alongside her. Ms Dontje and fellow volunteer Jessica Vince also hope to travel to Nepal at the end of the year and assist with the rebuilding of schools destroyed by the earthquake. She will be holding a pop-up information stall over the next two weeks at the university’s Mount Helen Campus.

Anyone interested in getting involved should contact the university’s student leadership program officer Luke Icely by email at l.icely@federation.edu.au

For details of upcoming fund-raising events or to donate, visit www.face

book.com/thehelpnepal appeal.