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Run Toward The Impossible

I am not here to tell you how incredibly successful I have been since I made the decision to become a founder of a non-profit organization, because as most people in this sector will tell you, to make any sort of positive impact you need to give everything you have to make your vision a reality. For me, this began with leaving the safety of the life I had begun to build and focus all my time, effort and money into what seemed like an untouchable dream. This decision was not easily made, especially in a time where success is measured by the model of your car, the size of your house and the wage packet you take home each month. It can be hard to listen to the voice within when your desires seem so different. Don’t get me wrong, I still want all of the securities that come with the above but I have also had all of these things and it didn’t bring me the satisfaction that I seek at this point in my life.

I remember the strong desire to travel even when I was a little girl, but as I grew up and became an adult, I soon realized to travel you need money and to have money you need to work. I would spend my days dreaming of faraway destinations, how others lived in those places and if they, too, were sitting and dreaming of an escape, perhaps to the very spot where I was sitting. After some time, I finally came to the decision that I wanted to travel. However, for me to feel fulfilled I had to find a bigger purpose than just pack a bag and enjoy the freedom of travel and meeting new people. Volunteering would become the driving force behind me finally taking the next step.

In April 2015, the country of Nepal was hit with a huge 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Killing nearly 9,000 people and leaving 2.8 million in need of humanitarian aid. The following November Nepal Mountain Aids journey began. Jordane, Janet, Raju and I set out as individuals traveling from Germany, America, Nepal and England in hopes of helping people in any way we could. Eighteen months later, we are now a team who has organized and raised funds to complete two successful projects. The latest being a goat breeding program which involved 110 goats to some of the most remote villages. By introducing a simple means of work via farming to the people at the epicentre of the earthquake who are still rebuilding their lives, we help provide them with a lost lasting source of income, thereby improving their standard of living and making education more attainable for future generations.

Over the last 2 years I have left myself with very little money and worked myself to the ground trying to help build a non-profit that can truly make a difference in the lives of others. Some may consider this a little self-destructive, but I believe that things will come together and the months of planning will become more than just lists on paper or sketches in a book. It is at that time that you can see with your own eyes the difference it has made. That feeling is so powerful, it becomes an addiction to those who are lucky enough to experience it.

Nepal Mountain Aid would not be able to achieve all that is has so far without the help of the amazing people from across the globe who have been so generous with donations and the incredible volunteers who have stepped up and worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality.
I remember reading once that it takes a small ripple in the water to create huge waves, and I can see now more than ever that this is true. We all have desires to achieve certain things in life but most of us won’t even attempt to reach those goals because of self-doubt or fear of failure. Nepal Mountain Aid’s story is proof that if we push past our comfort zones and believe in something strongly enough, anything is possible.

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About the Author:
Rachel Crawford is 29 years old from the midlands, England. She splits her time between earning a living working as a Production Assistant making flatulence filtering underwear for www.myshreddies.com (REALLY!) and attempting build a non-profit charity from the ground up. She left school without brilliant grades and was unsure what career path she wanted to take. However, she knew she had to make a difference where she could-gig or small. She listened with her heart and ignored the fear. With some dear friends, she began to build a non-profit: Nepal Mountain Aid. Within a short period Nepal Mountain Aid  has grown and now has projects available for volunteers to join in helping villagers in the Himalayas rebuild their lives. Her hope is to continue this work and expand the ideas and projects to many other countries around the world who need the help of others less fortunate than themselves.

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