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The Timal region was always on my mind, especially after the start of the coronavirus pandemic toward the end of the year 2019. The region had seen far better days before the pandemic. Why would it not? After all, it is said to be the only place on Planet Earth where the magical Buddhachitta trees grow. The trees bear those round, beautiful, magical things called the Buddhachitta that cost (or used to cost in those heydays) a small fortune. There’s an interesting folktale about the Buddhachitta tree. It goes something like this. The Shakyamuni Buddha came on a visit to this abode of peace and bliss once. Before leaving, he wanted to bless the place and the wonderful people living there. When asked, the local people asked for his rosary. The kind and the compassionate one gave the locals more than they had asked for. He gifted them the plant that would bear the fruits used to make his rosary. Apparently, for the faithful, the Buddhists from around the world in particular, Buddhachitta rosaries are a must-have. Many look for the finest ones having perfect shape and size and the ones that bear some sort of ‘natural engravings’ associated with the Buddha and his life. There was a time when the demand for the Buddhachitta was soaring, enabling local communities to make hay and have a party. Bottles of alcoholic drinks finely stacked by the entrance to those inns are perhaps a reminder of both the good and the bad times that have passed Timal by. At the height of the boom came reports about local farmers keeping guards to prevent the theft of their magical tree crops. Amid burgeoning trade and open hostilities, fights became common. But good things don’t last, or do they? First came the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake, then came the coronavirus pandemic and the Russia- Ukraine conflict, in a space of barely four years, pushing both the pandemic-infected global and national economies into deeper crises amid feeble signs of recovery. Against the backdrop of hard times, I went to meet Timal (Remember, I had a promise to keep) on a rain-soaked evening in May, to find that adverse weather conditions were already having an impact on the magical crop. The Kot Timal Bazaar appeared half-asleep (Or was it me, tired to the bone at the end of an hours- long journey?). To shake off sleep, I went around town, chatted with a couple of people, feasted on Ainselus/Chautaris (Chutro) by the roadside and managed to capture the dying ‘northern lights’ of the day from the meadows. Even on a piece of heaven, venturing out too far on your own was not a wise idea, so I retreated. At the ‘guesthouse’, as it turned out, I was the only human guest! For most of the night, a bumblebee trapped in the room kept buzzing from I don’t know where, giving me some company. As ventilation was almost non-existent, I feared for my breath and remained awake for the most part. The next morning, a rather chatty bird started his/her bird-talk long before the first tweets from Elon Musks, KP Olis and Donald Trumps of this world. Initially, I thought it was the bird’s way of wanting to know whether I was impressed with the room service. As the morning matured, the talk became faster and more intense, making me wonder if these chirpy little things imitate heated verbal exchanges that take place in families. The next day, my footloose streak continued well into the afternoon, taking me to places like the Raktakali Temple, Timal and Narayansthan on foot. Through conversation with some locals, I came to know about the shortage of water in their areas and how they were tapping rainwater to use it for irrigation, washing and for the cattle. Their hope was on a project that aimed to draw water from the Sunkoshi and distribute it to households through a network of water tanks and pipelines. During my wandering into the woods, the sound of a one-odd vehicle passing by occasionally would disturb the meditative peace of the woods that were in perfect harmony with chirps of birds and the roar of the Sunkoshi flowing down below. Even on this lap of Mother Nature, scars of development were clearly visible under the watchful eyes of Father Sky. Close to the Sunkoshi banks, earth-moving equipment were roaring, perhaps for the construction of some export-oriented hydel. Landslides by the roadside dampened my spirit a little bit. It is no secret that bulldozer-led works have often wreaked havoc and given development a bad name. Now that the local, provincial and federal elections are over, one hopes that the elected representatives will be a little more mindful of the environmental fragility of their constituencies. How about starting with environmental audits of past development works, learning vital lessons and moving on at albeit slow pace with environmental well-being, and not bulldozers, on the driving seat of development? Here’s hoping that this will help places like the Buddhachitta capital remain at peace with themselves and the rest of the world, even in hard times like these. With peace and bliss, other good things such as progress and prosperity will follow, won’t they?  

As part of undergraduate studies at King's College, I had the opportunity to participate in an impact evaluation assessment conducted by the Center for Research and Development (CERAD) at the college for Build Up Nepal Engineering (BUNE). BUNE is a social business that helps rural entrepreneurs produce CSEB (Compressed Stabilized Earth Bricks) and build affordable homes. These bricks are made by mixing and compressing soil, sand, and cement in a manual machine without the use of burning or fuel, making them environment-friendly and cost-effective. They are also earthquake-resistant when combined with iron rods, making them an ideal building material in rural Nepal. Buildup Nepal provides rural entrepreneurs with low-cost machines, training, and support in order to make these CSEB bricks and help them build successful micro-enterprises. As part of the assessment team, I traveled to all 7 provinces of Nepal, covering 33 districts in total, with most of our visits being to rural areas in the Terai and Hilly regions. As someone who was born and raised in Kathmandu, this journey gave me a much wider perspective on what life is like in different parts of the country. I had the chance to see firsthand how people and communities live in these areas. Reflecting on my journey of researching innovative micro-enterprises in Nepal has given me some key insights into how these businesses can contribute to sustainable development of rural communities and provide a solution to youth migration. Through interviews with the entrepreneurs associated with Buildup Nepal, I learned about their stories, challenges, and aspirations, which helped me understand the potential of micro-enterprises to create opportunities for young people in rural areas and keep them from having to migrate in search of work. Youth migration There is a trend among young people in rural Nepal to leave their villages and seek employment abroad, particularly in Gulf countries. In many villages, it is almost expected for a young person to go abroad to work. One of the main reasons we found is the lack of consistent work opportunities in the villages. On the bright side, many of the rural entrepreneurs we interviewed were migrant returnees with a strong desire to do something in their own communities. The money they earned working abroad has been invested in ventures that provide reliable employment opportunities for young people in the village. One example of this is a 19-year-old individual in Dumre, Udaypur district, who earns around NRs. 1200 per day working with CSEB micro-enterprise. He is satisfied with this work and feels that the earnings he is making are well worth the hard work he puts in. By being paid on a per brick basis, he has been able to maximize his earnings. Yet, as we walked through the villages, it was clear that there was a concerning trend of young people leaving to work abroad rather than staying in their own communities. In some villages, the streets were quiet, with only a handful of young people compared to the overall population. The limited number of young people was striking, and it was hard not to feel a sense of sadness as we imagined the struggles of the aging population left behind. Digital transformation On the brighter side, I observed that the digital economy holds great potential, particularly in rural areas. One of the most interesting findings of our study was the level of digital penetration even in remote parts of the country. When we asked entrepreneurs how they first heard about Buildup Nepal, the most common answer was that they heard it through YouTube or Facebook, where the organization has posted a number of informative videos. Even in a rural village in Siraha, we found that entrepreneurs were using the internet to find new ideas and opportunities. The widespread availability of internet access and smartphones, even in the most remote areas of Nepal, is only set to increase in coming years. This can be a game-changer for people living in these areas, giving them greater access to information and more opportunities to succeed. It is a sign that Nepal is well-positioned to take advantage of the digital economy and that people in rural areas are ready and willing to embrace new technologies. The fact that so many entrepreneurs were able to learn about CSEB bricks through the internet is a testament to the power of technology to connect people and create new opportunities. There is a huge potential waiting to be unlocked in rural Nepal, and better access to the internet and smartphones could be the key to unlocking it. Adopting the Buildup Nepal approach As I walked through the streets of Dadeldhura, I couldn't shake the image of a young mother struggling to make ends meet with her young child. Wearing worn-out clothes and carrying an infant on her back, she embodied the struggles and hardships faced by so many in rural Nepal. Despite the odds stacked against her, she persevered with determination in her eyes. It's moments like these that make me realize the importance of providing people with opportunities to make a living and improve their circumstances. Interviewing the Rawal family in Kanchanpur was a highlight of my trip to Nepal.  Despite coming from an unprivileged socio-economic background, this close-knit family is making a real difference in their community through their micro-enterprise. With a total of six people working in the business, including both men and women, they're showing that women can play a vital role in rural economic development. What was most striking was the sense of enjoyment and unity that the Rawals brought to their work. They were all working together with determination and a shared goal, and it was inspiring to see it all. Meeting the Rawal family gave me hope for the future of rural Nepal and the potential for young people like the young mother I saw on the streets of Dadeldhura to create a better life for themselves and their families. It is evident that the Buildup Nepal model of providing a blueprint for an innovative yet feasible idea like CSEB bricks for rural entrepreneurs is working. Furthermore, digital penetration has allowed even remote areas of Nepal to gain awareness regarding the existence of such opportunities. Therefore, to address the issue of youth migration in villages, we need to create more micro-enterprises that can provide employment opportunities for young people in their own villages. This is a long-term problem that will require a concerted effort to solve, but the Buildup Nepal model has shown promise and can be further developed to help create an ecosystem where young people are eager to work in their own villages. Particularly in the field of agriculture, subsistence farming remains a reality for many people in rural areas, and addressing this issue will require a focus on improving efficiency and productivity in agriculture. Adopting approaches like the Buildup Nepal model, which has shown success in empowering rural entrepreneurs and creating jobs at the micro level, can help create a thriving rural entrepreneurship culture across Nepal. By providing training, guidance, and support for innovative & feasible ideas, we can help unlock the innovativeness and potential of rural entrepreneurs and create new opportunities for growth and development. Conclusion The Buildup Nepal model has had a significant impact in rural Nepal, with each enterprise building an average of 15 houses annually and creating around 10 jobs. This not only provides employment and housing for the local community, but also helps to reduce carbon emissions by saving 70 tons of CO2 annually. With this model spreading to more than 300 villages across Nepal, the impact quickly accumulates. By empowering rural entrepreneurs and providing them with the tools and support they need to succeed, we can help to create a thriving culture of rural entrepreneurship that can contribute to the overall development and prosperity of Nepal. More innovative ideas at the micro-enterprise level which can be replicated across multiple villages, holds great power in unlocking the future for rural Nepal. Buildup Nepal has proven this roadmap to be both feasible and actionable. Overall, my research trip has given me a deeper understanding and appreciation of the people and communities of rural Nepal. It wasn't just the construction of beautiful homes that left a lasting impression on me. It was the smiles on the faces of the people I met, the sense of unity that echoed through each village, and the pride they took in their work. These were the real highlights of my trip, and they left me with a renewed sense of hope and optimism for the future of rural Nepal. The author is currently working as a Data Analyst at Upaya  

You are scrolling through your Facebook/Instagram feed. You see that someone you know, possibly a colleague or a school friend, has managed to secure a seat in an all-expenses paid trip to attend a conference abroad. The conference resonates with you and you realize if only you had been aware of the opportunity, you would have applied and quite possibly gotten a spot as well. You want to feel happy for your colleague or friend, but then there’s a sinking feeling inside of you that just won’t go away. With the advent of social media, it’s not uncommon for us to know what others around us are up to. We are constantly bombarded with all kinds of information. With the trend of Instagramming every little thing we do, social media can get a little overwhelming at times. Emotional intelligence is the ability to become smart and mature with our feelings. Being smart means thinking things through and not jumping to instant conclusions. Likewise, being mature means thinking not just from your perspective but from others’ perspectives too. When overwhelmed with feelings that arise from seeing others doing well in life, it’s helpful to ask ourselves some vital questions first. What am I feeling right now? Chances are, you are likely to feel one of two feelings: jealousy or envy. Although they sound similar on the surface, these two feelings couldn’t be more different. Envy doesn’t deny that seeing others do well is a bit unsettling, but it provides perspective as to what we value and would like to accomplish for ourselves. If anything, this feeling can help to push ourselves to pursue what matters to us. Watching others succeed in an area we would like to get better at can be a source of positive fuel. If you’re looking to develop your emotional intelligence, the first step is to work on the ability to label your emotions accurately. For this, you will need to develop your emotional vocabulary. When you step back and realize it’s envy that you are feeling, the next step is to understand the function of that particular emotion. Envy is telling you about something you wish for yourself that you haven’t quite managed to attain yet. If it is envy that you are in fact feeling, get into the habit of asking yourself these questions: First, what particular aspect of the news is making me feel envious? The answer would probably be along the lines of ‘I saw my friend applied to a conference and got in. I wonder how he comes to know of such opportunities. If only I was aware of such information, I would have worked hard to apply too’. Then, how does the answer to the first question relate to my short-term and long-term goals? You think to yourself: Going to such conferences would help boost my profile. I could get international exposure and bring back my learning to my own organization. Getting into one would probably be a starting point for further exposure, which would help me get opportunities to work with international clients. And then, ask yourself what you can do to take that first step toward the answer to question number two—I will approach my friend/colleague and inquire about such conferences in the future. But first, I will congratulate him. Emotions are useful data. They can help us know more about ourselves and the people around us. Instead of ignoring them or acting out on them, let us develop the skills necessary to identify, label, and understand them. Sagar Satyal is co-founder of My Emotions Matter, an education initiative that helps individuals and teams learn the mindset and skills of Emotional Intelligence. You can learn more at myemotionsmatter.com

I first learned of the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake late in the evening from a text message while at home in the USA. By then, I had served as a firefighter for 10 years and had spent many years off-and-on in Nepal and was therefore determined to do something. With generous help from friends around the world, I collected about 100 kilos of medical and survival equipment and within a few days was on a plane to Kathmandu. Among the items I bought was sufficient food and water purifying equipment to ensure I did not take away any resources from the people in Nepal. Having set up camp in the courtyard of a monastery in Tinchuli, I immediately went to work. By then, the rescues had largely concluded, except for maybe the miracle case in the Gongabu area of a boy trapped under a collapsed hotel. Nonetheless, much needed to be done. Assessing the impact American firefighters are trained extensively in building construction. As an assistant fire chief at the time, I had become an instructor of just such courses. We did not instruct our firefighters to act as engineers, rather the purpose was simply to determine whether staying in a compromised structure was exceedingly dangerous. The Nepali government had already been engaging in building inspection, marking structures with various colors to indicate the danger level in entering them. Still, in Kathmandu Valley thousands upon thousands of buildings had suffered damage. Government officials simply could not inspect them all in a short time. So, that is where I began. I inspected hundreds of homes, monasteries and shops throughout Kathmandu, particularly in the Bouddha and Kapan areas. Along the way, I provided medical treatment for minor injuries such as lacerations and contusions. To make my efforts possible, a Tibetan monk accompanied me as an interpreter; he spoke impeccable Nepali, English, and Tibetan. Search, rescue and reunion On several occasions, locals approached us asking for help to locate loved ones. In those first few days, phone and internet availability was sporadic, making it very difficult to communicate. These folks would provide a photo and some information about the person missing, and we would inquire with others as we moved from place to place. With incredible luck, we located nearly half of the people we were tasked with finding. In every case, the people had simply fled to the safest place they could find, unable to communicate by phone. As aftershocks continued, many people were reluctant to move about if they had found a reasonably secure location at which to remain. Once we found them, we would happily escort them back home for their reunion with their families. Indeed, for my own family back home, I myself remained ‘missing’ for some time as I could not find sufficient internet to inform them of my condition for nearly two weeks. Aside from inspecting buildings and dressing minor wounds, I also joined several missions into the higher terrains to deliver food, tarpaulins, medical and other supplies. Riding upon heavily laden trucks on mountain roads made dangerous by frequent aftershocks and landslides plagued my dreams for months afterwards. An emergency manual Upon my return to my family and job back in America, I was committed to continuing efforts toward making Nepal a safer place in the event of future disasters. First, drawing upon my expertise as a first responder, I drafted a manual on preparing for emergencies. The manual provides a guideline for institutions to set up an emergency plan. It is intended for places where many people might congregate at once, such as schools, hotels, monasteries or other public buildings. Written in simple language, it explains how to plan ahead, account for all the visitors and guests, and weather the storm afterward until professional help arrives. Doing simple things like establishing meeting points and evacuation routes, and designating “emergency managers” can save many lives and reduce the inevitable chaos disasters bring. The manual is available in hard or soft copy, in Nepali, English, and Tibetan. Since the publication of the manual, I started a new foundation called EALS Global. After my career in the fire department, I joined American law enforcement. My specialty there was technology crime, and I became quite adept in many different aspects of technology, such as application development, digital forensics, remote sensing technologies, and others. EALS Global is an organization designed to assist communities living in potential disaster zones. We are developing applications and other programmes to provide advanced warning and real-time emergency information to those facing disasters, location information to responders and media, and disaster data to research organizations. Our goal is to do whatever we can to reduce injury or death from incidents by informing people about imminent dangers, helping responders locate those who cannot escape, and providing data to planners and government officials. Living in a remote area should not mean people should not have information in advance, something that could save their lives. My foundation receives extensive input from first responders—people who have made a career of heading into disaster zones, at their own risk, for the benefit of others. In addition, we are growing our network of researchers, scientists, software engineers and like-minded organizations to launch our programmes wherever they are needed throughout the world. I have spent a career helping people living through all kinds of calamities—fires, floods, earthquakes, and crime. This foundation is a new chapter where I hope to put two decades of experience and training to work toward helping more people than I ever thought possible.