Youth for Climate and Social Action Project - 2023 to 2025

The Eco-Brick Construction Project was a community-led effort to tackle plastic pollution by turning non-recyclable plastic waste into sustainable building materials. It engaged 101 individuals training 65 participants and collaborated with local partners like Chintansil Amma Samuha, Samata Shikshya Niketan, and ward offices. 

The project began with household surveys and a waste collection campaign to promote plastic segregation. Practical training sessions taught participants to make eco-bricks by compacting plastic into bottles, which were later used to build two garden beds as functional demonstrations. Women and students played a key role, ensuring inclusive participation and long-term engagement. Social media was used to share experiences and expand the project’s reach. Despite challenges like limited funding and school schedules, the team adapted effectively. The initiative resulted in reduced plastic waste, increased awareness, and a shift in community attitudes toward sustainability. It also opened dialogue with local government to support eco-friendly waste policies. Future recommendations include scaling training, improving waste systems, and building partnerships for wider impact.

Team Members: Anjana Subedi, Samiksha Ghimire 

The second phase of the Environmental Law Clinic marked a significant step in connecting legal education with real-world environmental justice the initiative aimed to empower law students while tackling critical environmental issues through strategic legal action. The clinic supported public interest litigation efforts while engaging over 50 law students from across Nepal in writ-writing and legislative drafting competitions. These activities provided hands-on experience in using legal tools to protect the environment. Combining practical legal advocacy with student involvement proved both innovative and impactful. The clinic’s reach extended beyond participants, generating over 3,000 social media views and inspiring environmental law discussion groups in several law colleges. 

In collaboration with the Center for Rule of Law (CROL), the clinic ensured quality content and evaluation. A public award ceremony at Maharshi Law College helped raise the profile of the initiative and sparked further student interest in environmental law.

Overall, the clinic established a model for integrating legal education with grassroots environmental action transforming environmental law from theory into a practical means for safeguarding Nepal’s natural resources and promoting environmental justice. 

Team Members: Deepshika Ghimire, Bijena Lama

The Ripple Connective team launched a creative and impactful project that utilises art as a tool for climate activism, highlighting the gendered impacts of climate change. The initiative draws attention to how women are disproportionately affected, particularly in their work, household roles, and social status issues that are often neglected in mainstream discussions.

Using expressive forms such as street theatre and poetry, the project fosters public dialogue and reflection. These performances take place in open community spaces, encouraging spontaneous interaction, and are also shared via social media to engage a broader audience. By targeting both local and online communities, the project raises awareness and inspires conversations about gender and climate justice.

Team Members: Shreya Singh, Pratima Baral, Gopal Gupta, Santosh Sunuwar.

Promoting Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) in Malangwa Municipality-12. The " Promoting Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)” project brought sustainable agriculture to Gamhariya Hamlet, Sarlahi. Aimed at reducing reliance on chemical inputs and building climate resilience, the initiative prioritised marginalised communities—87% of the 30 trained farmers were women, with 70% identifying as Janajati and 30% as Dalit—ensuring strong social inclusion.

Participants were trained in natural farming practices like Jeevamrit (a soil-enhancing microbial culture) and Agniastra (a natural pesticide), with practical demonstrations on three learning plots. One case of incorrect application, later resolved with youth team support, underscored the importance of proper technique and mentorship.

The project also engaged youth through environmental education in two schools, reaching 58 students and establishing Green Clubs to promote peer-led sustainability advocacy. In total, 375 community members (225 female, 150 male) were reached, sparking greater awareness of organic alternatives and changing perceptions around the use of cow dung and urine in farming.

Government officials, including the ward chair and agricultural officers, actively participated and expressed interest in integrating ZBNF into local development strategies, signalling a strong step forward for eco-friendly farming in the region.

Team Members: Dr Shyam Nandan Mandal, Aaditya Mandal, Nishu Chaudhari, Anil Kumar Yadav, Manjit Yadav

Green Loop Pokhara is a youth-led initiative aimed at transforming waste management in the city through education, engagement, and creative action. Despite initial logistical, technical, and financial challenges, the team adapted by using street dramas, digital campaigns, public dialogues, and art-based activities to promote the 8Rs of the circular economy: Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Regift, Recover, and Recycle.

Collaborating with partners like Pokhara Research Centre, Shakti Milan Kendra, and Forestry Youth Network, the project implemented diverse activities such as “Best from Waste” school sessions, a high-level policy panel, the digital campaign “The Green Wave,” and the interactive Green Loop Fest.

The project trained 202 students, engaged 33 policy stakeholders, and reached over 25,000 people online. It fostered behavioural change, encouraged the formation of eco-clubs, and promoted sustainable practices through a gender and rights-based approach. With strong partnerships and growing community interest, Green Loop Pokhara has ignited a local movement for environmental regeneration and long-term systemic change.

Team Members: Avishkar Ghatane, Ashmi Ghatane, Deepika Dangol, Sneha Uprety, Shristi Koirala, Rejal Paudel, Sangit Bhattarai, Nirmal Pandaya, Sushan Thapa

Homemade sanitary pad-making training in Kathekhola Rural Municipality of Baglung District. Young influencers raised awareness of health and environmental hazards due to the use and improper disposal of commercial sanitary pads. They trained 30 local women in homemade sanitary pad-making, including local government officials, the health post in-charge, and volunteers, who also actively participated in this initiative. 

The Raji Rising Project was a youth-led initiative aimed at empowering the historically marginalised Raji community through culturally rooted, inclusive action. Focused on leadership development, civic engagement, and the promotion of indigenous identity, the project addressed long-standing socio-economic and political exclusion. Activities included community rallies, eco-clubs, youth dialogues, cultural events, and policy interface meetings — engaging both the Raji community and local/provincial stakeholders. Strategic partnerships with Gauriganga Municipality, JCI clubs, local media, colleges, CSOs, and government agencies ensured broader support and sustainability. A key achievement was the growth of Raji youth leaders, who gained practical skills in project management, communication, and advocacy. These young changemakers actively led discussions with authorities and advocated for the Raji community’s inclusion in local planning.

By blending traditional knowledge with civic tools, the project fostered ownership, visibility, and resilience, successfully bridging the gap between indigenous voices and decision-making spaces. It offered a powerful model for grassroots empowerment and inclusive development.

Team Members:  Tek Raj Ojha, Bijay Rana, Manisha Nepali, Kamdev Ojha, Chandrakant Paneru 

"Plastic Free Tomorrow" was a youth-led climate action initiative in Janakpurdham, aiming to reduce plastic pollution through community engagement and cultural expression. Implemented across two wards, the project combined eco-awareness workshops, school eco-clubs, street dramas, Mithila art campaigns, pond clean-ups, and tree plantations—culminating in a multi-stakeholder dialogue event, Wada Sambad.

Over 500 people were directly engaged, with broader outreach to neighbouring communities. The use of local language and Mithila art made the campaign culturally resonant and impactful. Youth played a central role, initiating follow-up actions like clean-ups and promoting eco-friendly practices.

The project achieved notable outcomes, including the formation of an eco-club, public dialogue on plastic regulation, and visible environmental improvements. Women and marginalised groups made up 50% of the participants, reflecting strong inclusion. Despite resource constraints, effective partnerships with NYCA, the local government, Mithila Trust, media, and leaders ensured success. Future recommendations include institutionalising eco-clubs, expanding artistic outreach, and advocating for policies to curb single-use plastics. 

Team Members: Bikash Sah, Muskan Kri Singh, Shankar Das, Bandana Yadav, Baliram Kapari, Arun Shah, Wakil Mukhiya, Dhiraj Shah, Kaiyum Rain

Project Resilient Minds, led by students from Kathmandu University, was a youth-driven initiative in Bethanchowk, Kavrepalanchowk, aimed at addressing climate-induced anxiety by integrating mental health into climate adaptation strategies. Conducted from January to April 2025, the project engaged students, farmers, health professionals, and local communities.

Key activities included a mental health survey, training for 17 health professionals, a school session with 52 students focused on waste management and emotional well-being, and the introduction of the Super Krishak app to over 60 farmers to promote climate-smart agriculture. An art competition and national self-writing contest fostered emotional expression and digital engagement, reaching over 10,000 people online.

Despite logistical challenges, the team adapted to using solar power and local networks. In partnership with the British Council Nepal, AYON, Bethanchowk Municipality, and others, the project emphasised inclusion, gender equity, and youth empowerment.

By linking climate action with mental health, the initiative laid the groundwork for school eco-clubs, climate-informed mental health policies, and replicable resilience models, offering a powerful new lens for sustainable community development. 

Team members: Sagar Budha, Susan Sapkota, Sushmita Adhikari, Iftrat Fatima, Amit Budhatho, Aarya Prajapati, Srijana Joshi, Prashamsa Chaudhary, Pratik Rai

Implemented by The Nepali Foundation for Media Communication and Development Group (TNFMDG), the "I CAN" project tackled climate misinformation and promoted youth-led climate advocacy in Bardiya district. Held from 9–12 March 2025, the initiative engaged 108 youth—mainly from marginalized and indigenous groups—through a four-part Tea Talk Series, blending climate education with media literacy and fact-checking skills.

A key outcome was the formation of the Creative Youth Climate Network (CYCN), uniting young leaders from all eight local levels of Bardiya. Despite challenges such as limited resources and coordination barriers, the project succeeded through strong local partnerships and mentoring support from AYON and the British Council.

Participants gained critical thinking skills and became active climate communicators in their communities. The project also fostered policy discussions and collaboration with local institutions, including Bardiya National Park and media outlets. With a strong focus on gender equity, inclusion, and rights-based approaches, the initiative laid a foundation for building climate resilience in Bardiya's fast-changing social and environmental landscape.

Team Members:  Prem Bahadur BK, Sirjana Kumari Tharu, Karna Bahadur BK, Karodh Raj BK, Sudichha BK, Rabin Kumar Tharu, Ritu Tharu

The Trash Art Competition held on May 9-17 2023, was a unique climate action project that engaged young people from Grades 9 and 10 of Ananda Jyoti Secondary School, from Pokhara Metropolitan City, Gandaki Province in creating art through waste materials that inspires action on climate change. Seven youths receiving the British Council youth leadership training developed and implemented this initiative with support from mentors and school administration. The students also had the opportunity to understand the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle) concept through a field visit to a recycling plant. 

The LED bulbs were distributed to 150 households in Dodhara Chaandani Municipality of Kailali district, followed by an awareness campaign. 

The Art of Vermicomposting. This social action was carried out in Janajagriti Gyan Rashmi Secondary School, Kharibot, Banasthali. The training provided detailed information about vermicompost, its use, and theoretical methods of tank installation. The students also observed the installation of a vermi tank with 4kg of earthworms, 500kg FYM, 5kg cocopeat and about 20kg organic waste. They were told to inspect the tank daily and to add any organic waste. The training also focused on technical aspects of vermicomposting, such as harvesting, packaging, by-product management, and marketing.  

The project held discussions with the officials of the local bodies of Gauriganga Municipality about preventing forest fires and controlling wood smuggling under the legal framework, and discussed how to develop the necessary coordination between local people, consumer committees, and local bodies.  The project distributed plants to 175 households through the "Ek Ghar Ek Bot" program. 

The Last Drop – Echo for Eco is a youth-led climate awareness project that promoted environmental action across Nepal through creative, educational, and technology-based approaches. The project used climate theatre, AI-based animated videos, digital storytelling, community documentation, and youth competitions to make climate change more understandable and relevant to everyday life. Through initiatives such as Ban Bina Ko Bikash, Ek Prithvi Farak Aawaz, and Green Trails of Lamjung, the project highlighted the impacts of climate change on livelihoods, water resources, and communities while promoting local eco-friendly practices and youth-led solutions. 

The project engaged 272 participants through in-person activities and reached over 200 people through online platforms. By connecting traditional knowledge with modern environmental education, The Last Drop - Echo for Eco strengthened climate awareness, encouraged youth leadership, and promoted collective responsibility for protecting the environment.

Plastic-Free Tomorrow Phase II - Collect, Create, Act was a youth-led environmental initiative implemented in Janakpurdham to reduce single-use plastic through awareness, community action, and stakeholder collaboration. The project encouraged sustainable practices by combining plastic collection campaigns, shopkeeper engagement, public awareness activities, youth mobilisation, and policy dialogue. Key activities included plastic collection races, cloth bag distribution and training for local vendors, street drama, a citywide cycle rally, and Wada Sambaad with local stakeholders. The initiative directly engaged over 240 participants and reached more than 1,500 community members, promoting responsible plastic use and strengthening youth leadership in environmental action. The project contributed to increased awareness, community participation, and local commitments toward reducing plastic pollution. Building on this momentum, a bio-plastic industry was later established in Janakpurdham as an alternative to single-use plastic, supporting sustainable solutions and long-term environmental change.

Sanskriti ra Jalawayu: Community Resilience through Indigenous Knowledge Documentation in Panauti explored the relationship between culture and climate change by preserving and promoting indigenous knowledge, cultural heritage, and environmental practices. Led by Environmental Science and Engineering students from Kathmandu University, the project engaged local elders, young people, schools, cultural experts, and municipal representatives through field visits, interviews, storytelling sessions, and educational activities. It produced a community documentary and a child-friendly illustrated comic, Panauti ka Galli Haru: Maiya ra Kala ko Panauti Yatra. The initiative directly engaged 60 students and reached an estimated 50,000–60,000 people online, inspiring youth leadership, environmental stewardship, and the preservation of Panauti's cultural heritage.

The Green Loop Pokhara was a youth-led initiative promoting sustainable waste management through community awareness, participation, and collaboration in Pokhara Metropolitan City. The project engaged students, women's groups, farmers, community members, local leaders, and municipal stakeholders to encourage waste reduction, segregation, reuse, and responsible waste management practices. Through school awareness programmes, public discussions, the Green Loop Fest, waste reuse workshops, community surveys, and stakeholder dialogues, it promoted practical solutions to local waste challenges. The initiative directly engaged 283 participants and reached approximately 23,000 people through digital platforms, strengthening youth leadership, community ownership, and partnerships with local government to advance environmental protection and sustainable waste management.

Project Resilient Minds was a youth-led initiative implemented in Kavrepalanchowk and surrounding areas to address the interconnected challenges of climate change, mental well-being, and youth livelihoods. The project combined psychosocial support, climate awareness, green entrepreneurship, and practical agricultural learning to build resilience among young people and communities. Activities included climate hikes, mental well-being and resilience sessions, coffee plantation, sustainable farming training, mushroom cultivation, and green learning visits. The initiative directly engaged 206 participants and reached approximately 45,897 people through digital platforms. It strengthened youth leadership, promoted climate-smart skills and green livelihoods, and demonstrated how mental well-being and environmental action can drive sustainable community resilience.

Raji Rising - Phase II focused on strengthening sustainable forest protection through a community-led and school-based approach within the Raji indigenous community. The project brought together students, youth, elders, Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs), and local stakeholders to promote shared responsibility for forest conservation while valuing indigenous knowledge and practices. Key activities included establishing an Eco Club, training youth as "Forest Friends," environmental awareness sessions, intergenerational knowledge sharing, plantation activities, promotion of eco-friendly practices, and kitchen gardening initiatives. The project reached 250 individuals and strengthened youth leadership, community ownership, and collaboration among schools, communities, and local authorities. By promoting sustainable practices and indigenous-led environmental action, Raji Rising – Phase II contributed to long-term forest conservation and community resilience.

Eco-Unity: Women, Lakes, & Bamboo Futures was a youth-led initiative implemented in Parsa District and Pokhara Metropolitan City to promote environmental sustainability, women's empowerment, and nature-based solutions. The project supported bamboo-based green enterprises, lake conservation, and sustainable waste management through entrepreneurship training for marginalised women, lake clean-up campaigns, plastic awareness programmes, and community engagement activities. It directly engaged 97 participants and 14 volunteers, while installing bamboo dustbins around lakes to encourage responsible waste disposal. The initiative strengthened women's confidence, promoted youth leadership, and inspired community ownership of environmental conservation, demonstrating how inclusive, low-cost climate action can create sustainable livelihoods while protecting local ecosystems.

Eco Justice Initiatives – Reimagining Tomorrow: Climate, Law and Community Action was a community-centred climate justice project implemented by Kathmandu University School of Law in Banepa, Panauti, and Bethanchowk. The initiative engaged 437 participants, including students, farmers, teachers, women’s groups, and municipal representatives, to explore environmental protection through legal awareness, accountability, and community action. Activities included school awareness sessions, environmental testing demonstrations, interviews, focus groups, and governance dialogues. A key achievement was establishing the Women Climate Champions Group in Bethanchowk to strengthen local leadership and environmental advocacy. The project advanced legal literacy, youth engagement, and community participation, promoting climate justice and sustainable local governance.