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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, May 7, 2015 | 12 Devastation from quake in Nepal evident in people by Bob Mitchell Oakville Beaver Staff The devastating pictures of earthquakeravaged Nepal only tell part of the story, says World Vision Canada incoming president Michael Messenger. It's only when you talk with the people, especially the children, that you really begin to understand the emotional toll. "There was this 13-year-old boy named Ram, who loved school and wanted to practise his English with me because his school had been destroyed," Messenger said. "But he told me he didn't want to go back to school because he didn't want to see which of his classmates were still missing or dead. Traumatic impact on children "You realize how much an impact something like this has on a young boy, who has to carry this burden of fear with him. Fortunately, his family and relatives survived but their ancestral home was destroyed." Messenger spoke with the boy in one of the hundreds of temporary tents that families have been living in since the earthquake struck Nepal on April 25. "Essentially, four branches of his family had lived in this home, so under their small tarp were 35 people from the ages of six months to the elderly. " Leaving his Oakville home on April 26, Messenger arrived at dawn on April 28 for a first-hand look at the devastation and the aid international relief organizations, such as World Vision, are providing. Fields of tents visible from the air "As we flew in, you could see fields with hundreds of these colourful tents... It was like looking at a circus, but then once you actually went to these settlements you realized there were families living under each of them," Messenger said. The death toll from the country's worst quake in 80 years has now risen to more than 7,200 with another 17,000 injured and millions of others displaced. Besides delivering tarps, blankets, food and clean water, World Vision set up seven childfriendly places within the settlements -- safe areas where children can get away from the misery and enjoy life as children. "It's a place where children can begin to heal from the trauma," Messenger said. "We have trained counsellors and volunteers organizing arts and crafts and games for about 300 children each day from age three to 16." see Messenger on p.13 World Vision Canada incoming president and Oakville resident Michael Messenger in Nepal observing earthquake damage with World Vision representative and local displaced Nepal residents. | photo by photo by Britt Hamilton, courtesy World Vision Canada GET INSPIRED AT THE CORK HOUSE voted #1 Develop Superior Reading Skills Before School Starts Oxford Learning's R.E.A.D. Elite Program Reading Excellence & Academic Development For 4 to 6 year olds · · · · · Reading Skill Development Academic-foxused streams 4 to 6 students per class Flexible class times & legnths French component available Flooring store in oakville · CORK FLOORING · CORK HOME · CORK WALL DECOR & CEILING · CORK GIFT ITEMS COVERINGS · INSTALLATIONS Enrol Today! Cork: Natural, Renewable, Sustainable,Versatile, Comfortable, Beautiful D I S C OV E R T H E B E AU T Y OF CORK! oxfordlearning.com Join the conversation! 905.257.5588 · www.corkhouse.com 2441 Neyagawa Blvd., Oakville Oakville South 905.849.4027 2-511 Maple Grove Drive 1131 Nottinghill Gate Suite 14 Oakville, ON L6J 6X8 Oakville, Ontario L6M 1K5 oakvillesouth@oxfordlearning.com oakville@oxfordlearning.com Oakville 905.469.1929