Standing With Nepal: MIT Community Backs Bhotekoshi Flood Relief

More than 70 staff and students at MIT's Melbourne campus came together today to support families in Nepal, with proceeds going toward a long-term education program for children affected by the Bhotekoshi flood.

The event was held in support of the MIT Group Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the MIT Group, which has a long history of backing communities across Nepal, India and Kenya. A decade ago, the Foundation helped rebuild around 500 homes in Nepal following a major earthquake, and it has continued to run education and community projects in the region ever since. Following the flash floods that struck Rasuwa, Nepal on 26 August 2026, the Foundation proposed a long-term program to the Government of Nepal to support up to 110 school-age children who lost one or both parents, covering their education through to Grade 12. It is now working toward a formal agreement with Nepali authorities to identify eligible children and oversee delivery of the program over roughly ten years.

This kind of work sits at the heart of MIT's commitment to social corporate responsibility. Rather than one-off relief, MITGF favours sustained support, recognising that the disruption a child faces after losing a parent can last for years - and through the Foundation, MIT is able to connect its campus community directly to long-term outcomes on the ground.

In response to the Foundation's Nepal Flood Appeal, MIT's Melbourne campus organised an on-campus fundraising event, coordinated through the Campus Director's office, giving staff and students a direct way to contribute. Today's turnout of more than 70 people reflected strong support across the Melbourne campus, and the Finance Department is continuing to accept donations for anyone who couldn't attend on the day. MIT's Sydney campus will be running its own fundraising event in support of the appeal this coming Monday.

Addressing attendees, MIT's Group General Manager thanked the campus community for coming together to support people in Nepal during such a difficult time, describing the fundraiser as part of a broader effort to help rebuild lives and communities. He noted that this is not the first time the Foundation has stepped in during a crisis, recalling its work rebuilding around 500 homes in Nepal after a major earthquake roughly a decade ago, and pointed to its ongoing support in other regions, including India and Kenya. He thanked the Foundation's CEO and management team for their continued leadership on the ground and closed by thanking everyone who donated on the day.