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Nepal GoodWeave Foundation marked its anniversary by celebrating a collective birthday of children under its care at the transit home Hamro Ghar in Kathmandu on Wednesday. The children cut a cake together and received birthday gifts from GoodWeave and partner organizations.

Vice President of Nepal GoodWeave Foundation and President of the Nepal Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Balram Gurung, welcomed the participants. The program was chaired by Foundation President Yubaraj Bidrohi and attended by General Secretary Kiran Thapa, Treasurer Kalpana Timilsina, and guests including Working Women Journalists (WWJ) President Ramkala Khadka, Looniva President Rupa Munakarmi, among others.

Speaking as the chief guest, Deputy Mayor of Kageshwori Manohara Municipality Shanta Thapa said she was pleased to attend the event and acknowledged the foundation’s work in addressing child labor in the carpet industry and supporting children’s return to education. Foundation President Bidrohi said GoodWeave has been observing the collective birthday of children every year on January 1, noting that the initiative aims to promote a positive environment, emotional well-being, and social inclusion. He also encouraged the children to focus on positive actions in the New Year 2026.

Consortium Nepal President Pradeep Kumar Lamichhane said such collective celebrations could serve as a model for other child protection homes. The program also featured cultural performances by the children, and prizes were distributed to winners of sports, art, and other competitions organized by GoodWeave.

Students from the Kathmandu University School of Law are implementing the Eco-Justice Initiatives, a project focused on environmental issues, community engagement, and governance along the Roshi River corridor.

According to the organizers, the initiative includes field research, community interaction, environmental assessment, and engagement with local governance bodies to collect data and inform discussions on environmental management and policy.

The project began with a panel discussion titled “Reimagining Tomorrow” at CV Raman Hall, Kathmandu University. The panel included Sagar Dhakal, Tashi Lhazom, Arnab Chaudhary, and Prasuj Mainali, who discussed topics related to environmental justice, governance, and community participation.

As part of field activities, students visited Kalati, Panauti, Banepa, and Bethanchwok. During these visits, they interacted with local residents and conducted environmental assessments, including water quality testing, soil sampling, and air quality monitoring, to document environmental conditions in the area.

The initiative also includes educational sessions at schools, where students discussed environmental awareness, sustainability, and civic engagement with schoolchildren.

In addition, the team has submitted Right to Information (RTI) requests to relevant authorities seeking information on land use, mining permits, and environmental governance. Information obtained through RTI responses is being used for research and discussion with local government bodies.

A Local Governance Dialogue was organized involving representatives from Bethanchwok, Dhulikhel, Banepa, and Panauti municipalities. The dialogue focused on environmental protection, policy implementation, and coordination between local governments, communities, and researchers.

The project also involves the production of a documentary intended to record environmental conditions, community perspectives, and project activities in the Roshi River area.

Organizers said preparations are underway to form a Women’s Climate Champion Group aimed at encouraging women’s participation in environmental and governance-related activities at the local level.

The Eco-Justice Initiatives project is supported by the British Council and the Association of Youth Organizations Nepal (AYON).

Participants at an interaction program titled “The Current Political Landscape: Reality and the Way Forward” have said that addressing the demands raised by the GenZ movement is essential to steer the country towards development. The participants noted that successive governments have failed to adequately address youth concerns related to good governance, transparency, and democratic practices, leading to growing frustration and disillusionment in society.

The interaction was jointly organized on Friday in Kathmandu by Youth Initiative, NGO Federation Nepal, and the Association of International NGOs in Nepal. The programme featured direct dialogue between youths and speakers including NGO Federation Nepal President Arjun Bhattarai, former minister Sumanā Shrestha, Monika Niraula, Pratigya Basyal, and journalist Hari Bahadur Thapa.

During the discussion, youths emphasized the need to ensure good governance, provide political space based on merit, and end nepotism. They also stressed the importance of sustaining anti-corruption campaigns and conducting elections in a transparent manner.

The program also discussed the perceived gap between rural and urban movements, challenges faced by traditional mainstream media in maintaining credibility in the digital age, and the need to reduce growing distrust between the state and young people. Participants further exchanged views on measures to address digital security risks.

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.