Eugene’s long‑standing sister‑city partnership with Kathmandu, Nepal, marked its 50th anniversary with a heartfelt candlelight vigil on the evening of Sept. 20. The event, organized by the Eugene‑Kathmandu Sister City Association, honored the victims of the deadly landslides and floods that struck Nepal in August and September, which claimed over 1,400 lives and left thousands missing.
Remembering a Tragedy Across the Globe
In late August, massive landslides ripped through Nepal’s mountainous regions along the southwestern border of China, followed a month later by severe flooding in the same areas. The twin disasters halted relief efforts and left communities reeling. Though the tragedies occurred thousands of miles from Oregon, the sister‑city relationship gave many Eugene residents a personal connection to the loss.
Community Leaders Share Their Thoughts
Preeti Yonjon Feist, a board member of the association and hospice bereavement coordinator who immigrated from Nepal in 2006, explained the importance of gathering in collective grief. “It was really important we sat in our collective grief,” Feist said. “It felt sort of fake from here in the States, so it was imperative to remind folks it’s real.”
Mayor Kaarin Knudson, who helped launch the partnership in 1975, traveled to Nepal in March and addressed the vigil, emphasizing the enduring bond between the two cities. “Grief isn’t personal; many times it occurs on an immense scale that stops us in our heels,” Feist added, noting that grief knows no borders.
Volunteer Efforts and Ongoing Support
Ken Beeson, president of the association and longtime volunteer, highlighted the modest yet meaningful nature of the event. “We didn’t try to market the vigil as a big event. We didn’t want to distract from the reason we were there,” Beeson said. “There was a solid turnout and anyone is always welcome.”
The association receives an annual $5,000 grant from the City of Eugene, which covers most event expenses. In addition, a scholarship program for Nepali students at the University of Oregon was established in 2024 thanks to a $50,000 donation from Mary Lou Vignola in memory of her husband, Frank Vignola. “The scholarship in Frank’s memory is fulfilling something he intended to establish,” Vignola said. “With Ken Beeson’s immeasurable help, it’s in place and helping to change a few lives.”
Looking Ahead
At the recent DesiFest in Eugene, Beeson and Feist set up an information table to recruit new volunteers and expand the board. “If there are more people out there who might want to be part of our network, I’d love to talk with them,” Beeson said. “Our basic mission is to build friendship and connections between the citizens of Eugene and citizens of the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu.”
The vigil and ongoing outreach illustrate how a local nonprofit can turn international tragedy into a catalyst for community solidarity, cultural exchange, and educational opportunity.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
