Submit your Article

WWF Nepal and the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) on Tuesday held an inception workshop for the Swachya Sagarmatha: Sustainable Waste Management for Clean Himalaya Project, bringing together government representatives, local authorities, development partners, and community organizations.

The three-year project aims to strengthen sustainable waste management systems, including the handling of electronic waste, across Sagarmatha National Park and its buffer zone. The initiative will be implemented by WWF Nepal in partnership with SPCC, the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, the Sagarmatha National Park Office, the Buffer Zone Management Committee, and local waste management groups. It is funded by the Thomas L Kempner Jr Foundation and aligns with the rural municipality’s Environmental Pollution Control and Sustainable Waste Management Plan 2023.

The workshop discussed project priorities and explored approaches for long-term, community-based waste management solutions in the Khumbu region. With tourist arrivals increasing from about 20,000 in 1998 to more than 50,000 in 2023, waste management has emerged as a growing environmental challenge in the area.

Participants from federal ministries, conservation agencies, local government bodies, the private sector, and the media attended the event. Discussions focused on project design, community capacity building, waste segregation, recycling practices, and coordination to establish systems for collecting, processing, and transporting waste, including electronic waste.

The Nepal GoodWeave Foundation has elected a new working committee under the leadership of Ubaraj Bhandari during its 30th annual general meeting and 15th convention held in Kathmandu.

According to the organization, the newly elected committee includes Balram Gurung as vice-chairperson, Kiran Thapa as general secretary, and Kalpana Timilsina as treasurer. Committee members are Atmaram Chapagain, Shirjana GC, Chitra Bahadur Basnet, Chitra Bahadur Basnet, Anju Shrestha and Amir Bhattarai.

Senior advocate and founding chairperson of the Nepal GoodWeave Foundation, Binod Bahadur Karki, presented certificates to the newly elected committee members. Karki said the organization, which was launched as the Rugmark Foundation by Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, has rescued, educated and reunited more than 5,000 child workers from Nepal’s carpet industry.

The organization stated that it will continue its efforts to eliminate child labour from the carpet industry and promote child rights. It has been implementing programmes focused on the rescue, education, training and rehabilitation of children engaged in carpet-related labour.

A documentary titled “Dreams Revived” was also screened at the program. The film depicts the experiences of children rescued from carpet weaving and later supported through education and housing. Individuals and organizations contributing to the foundation’s work were also honoured.

Balram Gurung, President of the Nepal Carpet Producers and Exporters Association, Keshar Bahadur Khadka, Felt Yarn Pvt Ltd, Sabina Kumari Shrestha, Rupa Munankarmi, President of Working Women Journalists (WWJ) Ramkala Khadka were honored in the program.

The Nepal Geotechnical Society (NGS) has announced that GeoMandu 2027, an international conference on geotechnical engineering, will be held in Kathmandu from 17-19 March 2027. The event will take place alongside the 11th Asian Young Geotechnical Engineers Conference (11th AYGEC) under ISSMGE and the proposed 1st South Asian Conference on Geotechnics (SACG) under the Association of Geotechnical Societies of South Asia (AGSSA).

The announcement event was attended by Chief Guest Keshab Kumar Sharma, Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Guest of Honor Keh-Jian (Albert) Shou, Vice-president (Asia) of ISSMGE. Senior regional leaders from AGSSA, the Indian Geotechnical Society, and the Pakistan Geotechnical Engineers Society joined virtually.

NGS President Indra Prasad Acharya said the conference aligns with the Society’s goal of promoting scientific collaboration, research, and resilient infrastructure development. He noted that the GeoMandu series has previously published four volumes of proceedings with over 125 papers through Springer Nature.

NGS General-secretary Kalpana Adhikari highlighted the Society’s focus on inclusive participation from government agencies, academia, research institutions, the private sector, and young professionals.

Conference Chair Mandip Subedi said collaboration with Asian and South Asian institutions will help address shared geotechnical challenges in Himalayan and sub-Himalayan regions. Technical Convener Dhundi Raj Pathak said the 2027 event is expected to host more than 500 delegates from over 40 countries and include over 240 technical presentations and panel discussions, with proceedings to be published by Springer Nature.

Youth Convener Rajan KC said the 11th AYGEC will prioritize youth engagement through affordable participation, awards, mentoring, and leadership opportunities.

Held under the theme “Mountain Geotechnics for Infrastructure Development,” GeoMandu 2027 will focus on issues such as landslides, slope instability, erosion, river dynamics, and seismic risks. International delegates will also be invited to experience Nepal’s cultural and natural attractions.

Kidzee preschools across Nepal held a nationwide Walkathon on Nov 22, promoting the theme “Walk for Play, Not Screens.” Preschoolers, parents, and teachers participated across Kathmandu and major cities including Chitwan, Biratnagar, Janakpur, and Birgunj, celebrating active childhood and family togetherness.

Just two days earlier, Kidzee Nepal announced former national cricket captain and CAN Secretary Paras Khadka as its new Brand Ambassador. He highlighted the value of real-world experiences over screen time.

Parents praised the initiative for encouraging children to be active and learn beyond classrooms. Filled with joy and community spirit, the Walkathon served as a reminder of the importance of outdoor play and meaningful family moments.