On April 25th, the tiny Asian nation of Nepal, situated between India and China, experienced its worst disaster in over 80 years. At approximately 11:56 NST, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck from 9.3 miles beneath their earth’s surface. With the epicenter located some 21 miles east-southeast of Lamjung, Nepal, thousands of people were injured and killed. At the time of writing this, there have been 5,200 confirmed deaths with the toll expected to climb towards 10,000 before everything is said and done.
While a significant amount of aid is pouring into the tiny nation, and its neighbors India, and China as well as other nations around the world are helping to feverishly search for the last possible survivors, more can still be done to help tens of thousands of displaced individuals.
In order to help out, popular 3D model repository and marketplace, Pinshape, has teamed with MiniWorld to design a 3D printable model of Nepal’s holiest Buddhist temple, the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu. The temple which suffered damage 36 years ago in an earthquake itself, has since been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This most recent quake has also taken a terrible toll on the temple, causing substantial damage to it, as well as several other UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the region.
In a joint effort, both Pinshape and MiniWorld have teamed up to release these 3D files in exchange for a small donation of $10, of which 100% of the profits will be donated to UNICEF Nepal Relief. This isn’t all though. Not only will your money go directly to the people in need, but your donation will be tripled, thanks to the kind efforts of government and corporate sponsors.
What better way to help the people of Nepal during these trying times, while also obtaining a model of a temple which currently is significantly damaged, thus raising awareness for World Heritage Monuments, than through this initiative? Although no one has printed the temple out and uploaded it to the Pinshape site as of yet, the model certainly looks like it could be the subject of quite an interesting print. We look forward to seeing the various prints created by those who have donated.
For those of you wanting to do more than merely donate $10 via Pinshape, you may go directly to the UNICEF.org website to find out how else you can help out. Our hearts are with the people of Nepal, and all the families which have been torn apart by this terrible natural disaster.
Let us know if you’ve donated to this cause either through the Pinshape site or via another means, and if you have downloaded and printed out the 3D model of the Boudhanath Stupa. Discuss in the ‘Pinshape Models to Help for Nepal’ forum thread on 3DPB.com.
A look at Boudhanath Stupa after this recent quake
