Members of a community from the Dho Tarap Valley (Dolpa) after a river clean-up campaign. One of the aims of Connecting the Climate Challenge is to give underrepresented Himalayan communities a voice in the climate change debate.

Collaborators: University of Edinburgh (Scotland), Tribhuvan University (Nepal), Teach for Nepal, Midlothian Council (Scotland)

An initiative of Engage Nepal with Science (University of Edinburgh-UK and Research Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology-Nepal) in collaboration with Tribhuvan University, Teach for Nepal and the Midlothian Council (UK, Scotland) funded by the British Council.

Connecting the Climate Challenge connects communities in Nepal and Scotland to work together towards finding solutions to tackle the climate crisis using an interdisciplinary approach that includes digital technologies, science and art as platforms to educate, raise awareness and problem solve. Schools covering the main climatic areas of both Scotland and Nepal are the primary audience, as they act as an excellent entry points to the wider community. 

The aim of this initiative is to empower Nepalese and Scottish communities to make real change and become positive role models to raise environmental awareness and inspire climate action while building, what we hope will be, long-lasting bridges between their communities. Through this initiative, we also aim to give underrepresented communities a voice in the climate debate and reduce inequalities by levelling up schools from both countries.

Diryanshu from Janakpur is growing plants in the garden as part of his eco-committee work. Trees and plants absorb the carbon dioxide that causes climate change, so the more plants we grow, the more carbon dioxide is absorbed. 
Drawing from Biplab from Arghakachi after giving him the prompt: ‘The world might look different in the future because of climate change. Please draw a picture how you think the world will look in the future’.
Group of students from Jhapa undertaking a litter survey from an area close to the school. Students find that plastic is one of the major environmental pollutants in Nepal and all around the world.
Partner schools map

The milestones of the project are: 

  • To educate and raise environmental awareness using an interdisciplinary approach (maths-digital technologies-science-art and media) 
  • Capacity building and empowerment in environmental education
  • Give underrepresented communities a voice in the climate debate
  • Find innovative solutions to tackle climate change through students/community leadership
  • Showcase the communities’ work through artist collaboration and a documentary to raise awareness of global issues and inspire action

What the schools have done so far:

  • Pre-project drawings: Students were given the prompt to draw: The world might look different in the future because of climate change. We will give the same prompt at the end of the project and the drawings will help us understand the students’ knowledge, attitude and behaviours towards climate change and to evaluate if there have been any changes due to the project.
  • Schools have established eco-committees and are being encouraged to engage their communities using art as a platform.
  • Schools perform parallel environmental measures: 1. Air and water pollution levels, 2. Litter Analysis, 3. Atmospheric CO2 levels-temperature-pressure-humidity-rainfall (with weather stations), 4. Qualitative assessment of changes in biodiversity and climate during the last few decades (interviews to elder people), and record the data in a shared google drive folder to share results and conclusions
  • Schools have been regularly interacting with each other to share experiences, knowledge and results.

Testimonials from some Nepali schools:

'Collaborating with senior students to conduct experiments together, and coming up with conclusions is the best part where I feel I can work from my side and play a small role in tackling the crisis resulting from climate change.'- Isha (Student), Shree Saraswoti Model Secondary School 

'Leading the group of learning enthusiasts has been a wonderful journey. I’ve learnt about the flora and fauna of the Himalayas and got the opportunity to interact with locals and various authorities to discuss the environmental changes in the Himalayan region of Nepal.' - Nabina (Teacher), Crystal Mountain school 

'Being an educator it’s great to see new projects coming into our school that engage students with global issues like Climate Change. Engage Nepal with Science is helping us through the project which includes many scientific experiments, surveys and activities. This initiative made me realize that what was in the textbooks about weather and climate is now being understood practically. This is being a life-changing experience for me and my school due to all the opportunities it has generated!'- Sagar (Principal), Motherland English Boarding school

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