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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.

The literary work “Teen Bidhaka Prabaha” by writer Basu Dev Poudel has been launched amid a ceremony held at the Ramesh Bikal Literary Foundation Hall in Aarubari, Gokarneshwar Municipality-9, Kathmandu.

Poudel, who served over four decades in the teaching profession and is now retired, released his debut publication through this anthology that brings together poetry, stories, and essays. The event was chaired by local intellectual Achyut Prasad Chalise, with former Member of Parliament from Kathmandu-3, Santosh Chalise, as the chief guest, and Gokarneshwar Municipality Mayor Deepak Risal as the special guest.

The event started with a welcome speech from Saroj Nepal. Chief guest Chalise shared his long acquaintance with Poudel, appreciating his intellect, awareness, and passion for literature. He remarked that the newly launched book reflects the author’s profound social and literary personality.

Special guest Mayor Risal, who also described Poudel as his teacher, said that Poudel not only taught moral education in school but also practiced those values in real life. He further assured that the Gokarneshwar Municipality remains committed to promoting language and literature and will continue supporting such initiatives.

The ceremony also featured critiques on each of the three sections of the book. Deepak Lohani reviewed the poetry section, Ramesh Jung Thapa reviewed the short stories, and Ramesh Prasad Khanal analyzed the essays. The critics highlighted that Poudel’s work radiates deep spiritual insight, social morality, and love for nature.

Speaking briefly about his writing journey, Poudel expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported him. Reflections on his personality and contribution were shared by Ward Chairperson Rajib Thapa, writers Bajuram Poudel and Mahendra Chalise, critic Yuvraj Mainali, and Poudel’s granddaughter Sadiksha Nepal. At the end of the program, the book’s publisher and the author’s son, Nirmal Poudel, extended a vote of thanks, pledging to continue publishing his father’s unpublished manuscripts in the future.