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Meet&nbsp;Chankhey Majhi, a 28-year-old waste collector from Golanjor Rural Municipality. For the past four years, he&rsquo;s been collecting waste for the municipality, but something changed after he attended a training session by the CAP Project in August 2024. &nbsp;
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Before the training, Chankhey and his team would collect waste and dump it at the landfill site without segregation. But after learning about the harmful effects of plastic pollution and the project&rsquo;s linkage with waste aggregators, he saw an opportunity. Now, he and his team segregate recyclable waste like PET bottles and sell them to aggregators.  &nbsp;
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This new practice has become an additional source of income for Chankhey. He earns an average of Rs. 875 per week (Rs. 3500/month) by selling recyclables, on top of his regular job. He even saves Rs. 900 monthly in a local cooperative for his family&rsquo;s future. 💪 &nbsp;
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Chankhey shared, &ldquo;I learned how plastic pollution harms our environment. Plastic is everywhere, but we need to reduce single-use plastics. Now, I&rsquo;m not just collecting waste&mdash;I&rsquo;m turning it into income while helping the planet.&rdquo; &nbsp;
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The CAP Project is empowering marginalized communities like Chankhey&rsquo;s, providing training and ensuring dignity of labor for informal waste workers. Together, we&rsquo;re building a cleaner, greener, and more inclusive future!  &nbsp; 
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Meet Chankhey Majhi, a 28-year-old waste collector from Golanjor Rural Municipality. For the past four years, he’s been collecting waste for the municipality, but something changed after he attended a training session by the CAP Project in August 2024.  

From Waste to Wealth: Chankhey Majhi’s Inspiring Journey with the CAP Project!   

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Yesterday, we celebrated the #InternationalDayofForests, which emphasizes the vital role forests play in ensuring food security. Forests regulate water cycles, support biodiversity, and provide essential resources for agriculture and livelihoods. This highlights the interconnectedness of forests, water, and food systems, reminding us of the importance of understanding how Earth's elements work together. To address the challenges we face, we must adopt a holistic approach, acting collaboratively and with a deep understanding of these interconnections to protect and preserve our environment.&nbsp;
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Today March 22, 2025, there is another unique and powerful alignment that is being celebrated&nbsp;&mdash;Earth Hour and World Water Day. While Earth Hour has long been recognized as an occasion to raise awareness about energy conservation and environmental sustainability, World Water Day highlights the urgent need to preserve one of our most precious natural resources: freshwater. The convergence of these two events offers a golden opportunity to emphasize the interconnectedness of our planet's ecosystems. Water is vital for every living being on Earth, and it plays a crucial role in sustaining life, biodiversity, and even the health of our energy systems.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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What better way to honor both causes than by dedicating this day to remember and appreciate efforts and contributions on protecting our environment&mdash;by conserving energy and safeguarding freshwater resources?&nbsp;
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World Water Day, observed annually on March 22, reminds us of the global water crisis that many communities face, particularly in arid regions. Freshwater, the lifeblood of agriculture, industry, and human survival, is becoming increasingly scarce due to pollution, overconsumption, and climate change. Freshwater conservation is not just about managing water usage; it&rsquo;s also about protecting water systems from contamination, particularly by plastics. Our rivers, lakes, and oceans are being choked by plastic waste, which is not only harming aquatic ecosystems but also the communities that depend on these waters for drinking, farming, and sanitation.&nbsp;
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On this remarkable day when Earth Hour and World Water Day come together, we can take meaningful steps toward both reducing our energy consumption and preserving our water resources. While it&rsquo;s important to switch off lights for an hour and reflect on our energy habits, we must also turn our attention to the pollution that threatens our water systems. Plastic waste is one of the biggest threats to freshwater conservation, as it can end up in rivers and lakes, leaching toxic chemicals and endangering aquatic life.&nbsp;
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This is where innovative solutions and projects come into play. As part of our commitment to freshwater conservation, we are proud to highlight a project that plays a critical role in protecting our rivers and lakes from plastic pollution, Project CAP.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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Project CAP (Collaborative Approach for Preventing Plastic Leakages in Rivers of Nepal) - a project run by CREASION, aims to divert plastic waste into product value chain from landfills and rivers by strengthening plastic waste collection mechanism and strengthening recycling efforts through the introduction of technological innovations. The project will develop a collaborative model to engage all the major stakeholders in establishing a strong plastic waste value chain. Project CAP is funded by PLEASE (Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia), implemented by South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme, supported by the World Bank, and with implementing support from UNOPS.&nbsp;
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This project&nbsp;focuses on preventing the leakage of plastics into waterways, where they can cause long-lasting damage to ecosystems. Our efforts include developing and implementing solutions to capture and contain plastic waste before it can reach rivers and lakes, ensuring that freshwater systems remain clean and safe for both wildlife and human consumption.&nbsp;
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Through collaboration with local communities, governments, and environmental organizations, we are working to reduce plastic leakage, promote waste management, and raise awareness about the importance of clean, sustainable freshwater resources through circular economy model. This project is an example of how small, localized efforts can lead to widespread change, making a tangible difference in the fight for freshwater conservation. Know much about the project outcome and impact so far through our latest News and Updates.
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How You Can Make a Difference ?
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On this extraordinary day, as Earth Hour and World Water Day coincide, consider taking a few simple actions to make a lasting impact:&nbsp;
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Support freshwater conservation: Donate to or volunteer with organizations that are actively working to protect freshwater resources and combat water pollution.&nbsp;
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Minimize plastic waste: Reduce your plastic consumption by choosing reusable materials and avoiding single-use plastics. Participate in community cleanup efforts to help keep plastic out of our rivers and lakes.&nbsp;
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Advocate for change: Raise awareness about the importance of freshwater conservation and urge governments to implement policies that protect our water systems from pollution and overuse.&nbsp;
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Join the conversation: Share your thoughts and actions on social media using the hashtags #EarthHour and #WorldWaterDay. Let others know that you&rsquo;re committed to both energy conservation and freshwater protection.&nbsp;
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Let these special days inspire us to act&mdash;whether it&rsquo;s by turning off the lights for Earth Hour, advocating for sustainable water practices, or supporting initiatives that prevent plastic waste from reaching our rivers. Together, we can create a ripple effect of positive change that ensures a thriving, sustainable planet for future generations. By conserving energy and protecting freshwater, we make the Earth&rsquo;s biggest hour a steppingstone toward a healthier, more sustainable world. Let&rsquo;s celebrate Earth Hour and World Water Day&mdash;not just for one hour or one day, but for a lifetime of meaningful change.&nbsp;
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Today March 22, 2025, there is another unique and powerful alignment that is being celebrated —Earth Hour and World Water Day

Valuing Water, Securing the Future

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The UN Environment Program reports that every day, the equivalent of 2,000 waste trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world's oceans, rivers, and lakes. Every year, 19-23 million tonnes of plastic garbage flow into aquatic environments, damaging lakes, rivers, and oceans. Binu Majhi, 32, of Golanjor Rural Municipality, is unaware of the negative impact of plastic pollution on our lives.&nbsp; She has seen and used plastics since her childhood but never realized the harmful effects they could have on our lives. &ldquo;I was shocked to learn about the negative impact of plastic pollution, particularly its effects on a wide range of animals and the (Pic 1: Binu Majhi, trainee of vulnerable community training) environment,&rdquo; said Binu, participant who received training through&nbsp;the CAP project. and sold, providing us with an opportunity to earn extra income." 
Following the training, Binu began collecting PET bottles and other recyclable debris, which she sells to local aggregators. She earns an average of Rs 200 every month. While it may be a small sum, it has motivated me to be more mindful about properly disposing of plastic waste. I also gather the recycable wastes especially PET bottles, around my house and, when possible, sell it to waste aggregators. "This is a valuable approach to keeping our surroundings clean while also generating extra income,&rdquo; said Binu. She added that she thoroughly enjoyed the training, which was engaging with interactive games and discussions, and provided an opportunity to learn many practical skills.
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Following the training, Binu began collecting PET bottles and other recyclable debris, which she sells to local aggregators. She earns an average of Rs 200 every month.

Binu Majhi’s Journey: Turning Awareness into Action for a Plastic-Free Future

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For Ek Bahadur Majhi, 47, from Golanjor, Sindhuli, discarded plastic bottles are no longer just waste&mdash;they have become his source of income. His perspective toward waste plastic bottles has changed after receiving the training from the Project Collaborative Approach for Preventing Plastic Leakages in Rives of Nepal (CAP) Project.&nbsp; &ldquo;Before receiving the training, I often used to neglect and throw the plastic bottles generated by customers consuming mineral water at my hotel. However, after receiving training, I started collecting the PET bottles and selling them to local recycling collectors,&rdquo; explained Majhi, the owner of a hotel in Khurkot Bazar. "I am earning around Rs. 1,200 per week by selling PET bottles," said Majhi, adding that while it may appear to be a modest sum, I am satisfied to have an extra income from recycling and, more importantly, I can contribute to saving environment from plastic from my end.<span class="EOP SCXW112446787 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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He had also built seven fishponds on his land beside the Sunkoshi River, intending to start commercial fish farming.&nbsp; But he had to endure a loss as his ponds were completely washed and damaged by the flood of October. He only managed to sell a few fish.<span class="EOP SCXW112446787 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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In addition to his fish farming, he opened a hotel in Khurkot Bazar a few years ago, which was doing well. However, following the Sunkoshi River floods, major portions of the highway were washed away, greatly disrupting traffic flow and consequently damaging his business.<span class="EOP SCXW112446787 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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Through the CAP project, I learned that pollution and other climatic conditions have drastically reduced the fish population in the Sunkoshi River. However, customer appetite for fish is increasing. So, I am determined to restart my fish farming and&nbsp;operate my hotel smoothly for economic generations. "I have not lost hope, and the project has boosted my confidence," he added. is training and equipping the fishermen group in Golanjor Rural Municipality and Dhobi communities in Bharatpur Metropolitan City to collect plastic waste from rivers and divert them into established materials recovery facilities (MRFs). Also, the marginalized communities were trained in plastic collection ensuring the dignity of labor.<span class="EOP SCXW112446787 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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For Ek Bahadur Majhi, 47, from Golanjor, Sindhuli, discarded plastic bottles are no longer just waste—they have become his source of income. His perspective toward waste plastic bottles has changed after receiving the training from the Project Collaborative Approach for Preventing Plastic Leakages in Rives of Nepal (CAP) Project. 

From Trash to Treasure: How Ek Bahadur Majhi Turned Plastic Bottles into a Source of Hope and Income  

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Tilisara Rai, a dedicated waste segregator at the Plastic Recovery center in Bharatpur, has transformed her life through sheer determination and hard work. Originally from Naubise, she migrated to Bharatpur four months ago in search of better opportunities. Previously working as a school cleaner, she rejoined the waste segregation sector, a job she had left years ago, in hopes of securing a stable income to support her family. <span class="EOP SCXW216912246 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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Now employed as an informal waste worker, Tilisara works a nine-to-five shift, earning NPR 600 per day. With one hour for lunch, her work involves carefully sorting plastic waste, primarily PET bottles. The training provided by Project CAP has equipped her with essential skills and knowledge on occupational health and safety, ensuring she can perform her job with greater awareness and protection. The provision of safety gear has further improved her working conditions, making her more confident in handling plastic waste. <span class="EOP SCXW216912246 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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Tilasara's earnings have become the backbone of her household. She, along with her husband&mdash;who works as a part-time waste collector&mdash;manages daily expenses while saving a portion of their income, thanks to the financial literacy training she received. Their combined efforts have ensured that their two daughters, studying in grades 6 and 3, receive a proper education. Recalling her childhood, Tilisara shares, &ldquo;I was unable to study due to my parents' financial struggles, but I am determined to provide the best education for my daughters.&rdquo; <span class="EOP SCXW216912246 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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Despite the wage gap between men and women in the waste management sector, she finds solace in her steady income and the security it provides. Her previous work at the dumpsite had a higher daily wage of NPR 1,500, but it was physically exhausting and unpredictable. Compared to that, her current job at the plastic baling area is easier and offers stability. <span class="EOP SCXW216912246 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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Tilisara acknowledges the financial challenges posed by the rising cost of living, but she remains optimistic. &ldquo;This job helps me run my household and educate my children. My husband's income is higher, as men in this field earn more, but together we manage to make ends meet,&rdquo; she explains. <span class="EOP SCXW216912246 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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Her journey reflects resilience, adaptability, and the desire for a better future for her children. Through her hard work, Tilisara has carved out a stable life in Bharatpur, proving that determination and opportunity can change lives. <span class="EOP SCXW216912246 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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Tilisara Rai, a dedicated waste segregator at the Plastic Recovery center in Bharatpur, has transformed her life through sheer determination and hard work. Originally from Naubise, she migrated to Bharatpur four months ago in search of better opportunities. Previously working as a school cleaner, she rejoined the waste segregation sector, a job she had left years ago, in hopes of securing a stable income to support her family.  

A Story of Resilience: Tilisara Rai’s Journey 

🌍♻️ Waste Smart Village: Nets of Change and Collaboration ♻️🌍

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At Jana Jyoti School, Golanjor, students are taking the lead in waste management through the Waste Smart Club, an initiative supported by Project CAP. Equipped with the Waste Smart Kit, club members organize weekly cleanup programs and actively promote plastic waste reduction within their school and community.&nbsp;
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Following a capacity-building training conducted by Project CAP in June 2024, the 11 members of the Waste Smart Club have been instrumental in engaging the entire school in waste management activities. Utilizing funds provided by Project CAP, they organize awareness programs, inspiring their peers to adopt sustainable waste practices. Their efforts go beyond simple cleanup-they are emerging as young environmental leaders, fostering a culture of responsibility and conservation.&nbsp;
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A key initiative of the club is waste segregation, where students sort waste into designated bins-Red, Green, and Blue-at the Waste Smart Museum. This hands-on approach enables students to learn beyond textbooks, gaining real-world insights into waste management, environmental conservation, and sustainability.&nbsp;
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The transformation in the school&rsquo;s waste management practices is commendable. Once, waste was burned unsegregated on school premises, causing environmental and health hazards. Today, thanks to the Waste Smart Club, waste is properly managed and disposed of at designated municipal landfills. This behavioral shift among students, teachers, and school administrators marks a significant success for Project CAP, demonstrating the power of awareness and action.&nbsp;
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By taking small but impactful steps, these young leaders are influencing friends, families, and their broader community, proving that change begins at the grassroots level. Their dedication is not only transforming their school environment but also shaping new societal norms for a cleaner and greener future.&nbsp; -Lila Paudel (Environment Safeguarding Officer)
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"From Waste to Wonder: Jana Jyoti School’s Youth Drive Sustainable Change! ♻️✨"

Meet Nabin Poudel, from Bharatpur an aspiring student and General Secretary of the Waste Smart Club at Sajhapur Secondary School in Bharatpur, Nepal. At just 14 years of age, Nabin is already leading an aspiring student and General Secretary of the Waste Smart Club at Sajhapur Secondary School in Bharatpur, Nepal, is advocating for a reduction in plastic consumption and waste at his school. His incredible work exemplifies how young people can drive important social change. Thanks to the training session and knowledge provided by CRESION.&nbsp; 
The turning point in Nabin&rsquo;s journey came when he and other club members attended a two-day training session in Kathmandu organized by CREASION. The training wasn&rsquo;t just about waste segregation and recycling; it was about learning to lead by example and inspire others. Nabin remembers how the interactive workshops, such as the waste-sorting games, made the learning process fun and effective. &ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t just learn about waste management&mdash;we learned how to teach others and lead by example,&rdquo; he says, a lesson that has become the foundation of his work within the club.
Today, his leadership in the fight against plastic waste is about more than just organizing clean-ups&mdash;it's about creating a culture of environmental responsibility and inclusion among his peers, while learning valuable lessons that will guide him throughout his life.
When Nabin first joined the Waste Smart Club, he never imagined how deeply it would shape him. He realized that the key to success in this project wasn&rsquo;t just spreading awareness but creating an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of gender or background, felt empowered to contribute. The team was intentionally diverse&mdash;five boys and six girls, ensuring that both genders played an equal role in making a change. &ldquo;We wanted the club to represent everyone," says Nabin, recalling how he, the club president, and the Waste Smart focal teacher from his school, Mr. Shangram Pokhrel, carefully selected members with an emphasis on inclusivity. He believed that environmental issues, like plastic pollution, impact everyone and that everyone should have a voice in solving them.
But the road wasn&rsquo;t always smooth. Working with younger students in grades 5 to 7 was relatively easy&mdash;they were eager to follow instructions and take part. However, convincing the older students in grades 10-12 to engage was a different challenge. &ldquo;It was hard to get their attention at first because they were older than us,&rdquo; Nabin admits. But instead of giving up, he and his team kept at it, showing the older students, that environmental responsibility transcends age. Over time, they broke through the barriers and gained the respect of their senior peers. This was a major turning point for Nabin, as he realized that leadership isn&rsquo;t about age it&rsquo;s about passion, commitment, and the ability to inspire others.
Balancing his schoolwork with the responsibility of running the Waste Smart Club was another hurdle. Organizing clean-up campaigns, spreading awareness, and coordinating events required careful time management. &ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t easy at first. I had to juggle school and club activities, but I learned how to manage my time better,&rdquo; Nabin reflects. He credits this experience with teaching him not only how to prioritize but also how to work efficiently under pressure skills that have been invaluable in both his academic and leadership pursuits.
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Nabin&rsquo;s leadership has brought real, tangible changes to his school. Under his leadership, the Waste Smart Club initiated several campaigns, including a cycle rally with messages about plastic waste management and school-wide clean-up drives. These events weren&rsquo;t just about cleaning they were about educating the wider community, raising awareness, and sparking conversations about how everyone can contribute to a cleaner, greener environment. The impact has been significant: fewer students are bringing plastic bottles to school, and bring junk foods wrapped in plastic wrappers have been banned at school, canteen has shifted away from selling plastic-wrapped junk foods, encouraging healthier alternatives. Nabin is particularly proud of how the school environment has become cleaner and how students are now more conscious of their role in managing waste.
Despite the challenges, Nabin has grown more confident in his leadership abilities. &ldquo;Before I joined the club, I was just a regular student,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;But now, I see myself as someone who can lead, who can make a difference.&rdquo; That shift in mindset has fueled his drive to continue spreading awareness and inspiring others, whether it's within his school, family, or the community. Nabin&rsquo;s journey has proven that even small actions, when taken consistently, can lead to meaningful change.
Looking toward the future, Nabin is optimistic and enthusiastic about continuing his work. &ldquo;Plastics are not good for our health or the environment,&rdquo; he says, emphasizing how the convenience of plastic often overshadows its harmful impact. &ldquo;We should be thoughtful before using it. Avoiding single-use plastics is the best thing we can do for the planet.&rdquo; Nabin also stresses that managing waste at the source by segregating degradable and non-degradable waste is crucial for effective waste management. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a small but vital step. Segregation is key, and recycling is a practice we all need to adopt.&rdquo;
As Nabin reflects on his journey, he remains determined to continue making a difference. &ldquo;If we start small and stay consistent, we can achieve big things,&rdquo; he says. His vision is clear: a world free from plastic pollution, where everyone young and old takes responsibility for protecting the environment. Nabin&rsquo;s story is a powerful reminder that the actions of today will shape the world of tomorrow.
If Nabin&rsquo;s journey has inspired you, it&rsquo;s time to take action. We all have a role to play in reducing plastic waste and managing our resources better. Whether it&rsquo;s using reusable bags, participating in local environmental initiatives, or simply spreading awareness about the importance of waste segregation, every small step counts. Join the movement and help make the world a cleaner, greener place. 
-Manisha Bhattarai (GESI and Safeguarding Specialist)
&nbsp;

🌍 Meet Nabin Poudel: A Young Leader in Waste Smart Solutions! ♻️

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The battle against plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges today. But in Patihani, Chitwan, a group Bote community is leading the way&mdash;demonstrating that grassroots action, combined with collaboration, can have a profound impact on our environment and communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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The Bote community, traditionally known for their fishing and boating skills, is deeply connected to the Rapti River. This vital water source not only sustains their livelihoods but also supports the wildlife in Chitwan National Park and attracts tourists to the region. However, with the growth of tourism and increased human activity around the river, plastic pollution has become a serious concern.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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In response, the Bote community have taken matters into their own hands. Every month, on the first day of the Nepali calendar month, they come together to conduct a river cleanup campaign, specifically targeting plastic waste&mdash;PET bottles, plastic wrappers, and other debris that threaten the river&rsquo;s ecosystem.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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These women are not just cleaning up plastic; they are safeguarding their livelihoods and protecting the natural beauty that draws tourists to their community. Their efforts reflect the deep interdependence between the environment, their community, and the tourism sector that supports their economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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While their cleanup efforts are commendable, the challenge doesn&rsquo;t end with removing plastic from the river. Without proper waste management systems in place, much of the plastic collected is burned, releasing harmful toxins into the air. This highlights a crucial gap&mdash;one that the Please Project is working to address.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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Through collaboration with local hotels, recycling facilities, and the Bote community, the Please Project aims to establish a sustainable system for managing plastic waste. By facilitating the collection and recycling of PET bottles, we can reduce harmful practices like burning and create a circular economy that benefits everyone&mdash;from the Bote community to the broader tourism sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
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Under a new agreement facilitated by the CAP Project, the Bote community are now selling the plastic they collect to a recycling facility they are also collaborating with the local hotel to donate/sell the PET bottles which they sell to recycling facility to make additional income. This creates a dual benefit: not only does it prevent plastic from being burned or discarded, but it also provides the community with a new source of income. This initiative is a perfect example of a circular economy&mdash;where waste is turned into a resource, helping to preserve the environment and create economic opportunities for marginalized communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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For the Bote community living in Patihani, this partnership is more than just a clean-up project&mdash;it&rsquo;s an opportunity to take charge of their environmental future. By engaging in sustainable waste management practices, they are not only reducing plastic pollution but also contributing to a more sustainable tourism model that will benefit future generations.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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The collaboration between the Bote community, local hotels, and recycling organizations serves as a powerful model for sustainable waste management in emerging tourist destinations. It demonstrates the potential of local communities to be at the forefront of environmental solutions, especially when supported by partnerships that foster collaboration, innovation, and mutual benefit.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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The CAP Project is proud to support this initiative, and we are committed to working alongside communities like the Bote women to build sustainable solutions that reduce plastic leakage, promote recycling, and protect our natural resources.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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The Bote community is leading the charge against plastic pollution&mdash;and their efforts are making a tangible difference. By turning waste into a resource, they are not only protecting the Rapti River but also creating a positive impact on their community's economy and the environment. This is a prime example of how collective action, fueled by community leadership and collaboration, can drive meaningful change.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
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We hope that the story of the Bote community&rsquo;s work will inspire others to take action in their communities, as we all work together to reduce plastic waste and build a circular economy that benefits both people and the planet.
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A Win for the River, A Win for the Community

वार्षिक ६० हजार टन प्लास्टिकजन्य फोहोर उत्पादन हुने नेपालमा २० हजार टन त्यस्तो फोहोर नदीमा मिसिनु चिन्ताको विषय हो
गत १६ सेप्टेम्बरमा एनबिसी न्युजमा प्रकाशित काइत्लिन सुलिभानको लेखले वैज्ञानिक, चिकित्सा, जनस्वास्थ्य तथा वातावरण क्षेत्रका विज्ञलाई मज्जाले तरंगित बनाइदियो, जसमा ब्राजिलका विज्ञानिकले मानव शवमा गरेका परीक्षणमा मानव मस्तिष्क र त्यसवरपर उल्लेख्य मात्रामा &lsquo;माइक्रोप्लास्टिक&rsquo; भेटिएको कुरा उल्लेख थियो । मानव शरीरमा अब प्रशस्त मात्रामा माइक्रोप्लास्टिकले स्थान लिइरहेकोमा कुनै आशंका रहेन । माइक्रोप्लास्टिक कुन स्रोतबाट आएर र मानव शरीरमा कुन माध्यमबाट प्रवेश ग&zwj;र्&zwj;यो भन्ने मात्र मूल प्रश्न हो । &lsquo;जामा नेटवर्क&rsquo; नामक वैज्ञानिक जर्नलको हवाला दिँदै एनबिसी न्युजमा प्रकाशित सो लेखले उल्लेख गरेअनुसार ३३&ndash;१०० वर्षको उमेरमा निधन भएका १५ वटा शवको परीक्षण गर्दा तिनको शरीरमा उल्लेख्य मात्रामा माइक्रोप्लास्टिक भेटिएको हो र सबभन्दा धेरै घ्राण प्रणालीको बल्बमा अर्थात् नाकभन्दा माथि गन्ध पहिचान गर्ने (ओल्फ्याक्टरी बल्ब) तन्तुमा भेटियो । यसको कारक वायुमा माइक्रोप्लास्टिकको उपस्थिति धेरै हुन सक्ने अनुमान वैज्ञानिकहरूले गरेका छन् ।&nbsp;
हामीले सास फेर्ने वायुमा बढ्दो प्रदूषण र त्यसमा पनि प्लास्टिकको मात्रा धेरै हुनाले घ्राणतन्तुमा माइक्रोप्लास्टिक धेरै भेटिएको हुन सक्ने वैज्ञानीकहरूको आकलन छ । किनकि, नाक र यसको माथिल्लो तन्तुले कुनै पनि प्रदूषणलाई फिल्टर अर्थात् छान्ने काम गर्छ, ताकि फोक्सोमा स्वच्छ वायु मात्रै जान सकोस् । यसर्थ, त्यही फिल्टर गर्ने तन्तुमा माइक्रोप्लास्टिकको मात्रा शरीरको अन्य अंगहरूमा भन्दा अत्यधिक देखिनु स्वाभाविक हो । तर, त्योभन्दा ठुलो चिन्ताको विषय के छ भने यो तन्तु मस्तिष्कसँग जोडिएको हुन्छ, जसका कारण मस्तिष्कलाई पनि यसले प्रत्यक्ष असर गर्न सक्छ । मानव शरीरमा अहिले उल्लेख्य परिमाणमा माइक्रोप्लास्टिक छन् । त्यसैगरी, टर्कीको सुप्रसिद्ध सुकुरोभा विश्वविद्यालयमा भएको अध्ययनले पनि मानव मस्तिष्कको कुल वजनको ०.५ प्रतिशत माइक्रोप्लास्टिक रहेको पुष्टि ग&zwj;रेको छ । यससम्बन्धी लेख गत २७ अगस्टमा गार्जियनलगायत धेरै अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय छापामा प्रकाशित भएको थियो ।
कुनै समय प्लास्टिकलाई &lsquo;वन्डर अब्जेक्ट अर्थात् गज्जबको वस्तु&rsquo; भनी भरमार प्रयोग गर्न थालियो । किनकि, यो उत्पादन गर्न निकै सस्तो, हलुका, घामपानीले नबिग्रिने भएकाले धातु र काठको उत्तम विकल्प मानियो । हामीले प्रयोग गर्ने हरेक वस्तुमा प्लास्टिक उपयोग गर्न थालियो । यस लेखका लेखकले पनि प्लास्टिककै स्क्रिन र बडी भएको ल्यापटपमा यो लेख लेख्दै छ भने ऊ बसेको टेबल र कुर्सी पनि प्लास्टिककै छन् । कार्यालयबाट घर फर्किंदा प्रयोग गर्ने वाहनको पनि आधाभन्दा बढी हिस्सा प्लास्टिकले नै ढाकेको छ । घर पुग्दा ढोका, फर्निचर, पंखा, ओभन, सोफालगायत सबैजसो सरसामानमा प्लास्टिक र प्लास्टिकजन्य वस्तुबाट बनाइएका रुवो (फाइबर) जडित वस्तु छन् । प्लास्टिकमा आज मानवजीवन यतिविधि आश्रित भइसकेको छ कि यसको विकल्प भेटिन गाह्रो प्रतीत हुन्छ । तर, मानव तथा पर्यावरणलाई मध्यनजर गर्ने हो भने यसको व्यवस्थापन हुनु अति नै जरुरी छ ।&nbsp;
अहिले खासगरी सामुद्रिक जीवजन्तुमा प्लास्टिकका मिहिन टुक्राहरू अत्यधिकै भेटिन्छन्, जसका कारण समुद्री जीवजन्तुमा आधारित आहार खानेहरूको शरीरमा पनि प्लास्टिकको मात्रा बढ्दै गएको छ । प्लास्टिक सयौँ वर्षसम्म नगल्ने र नकुहिने तर अत्यन्त मिहिन टुक्रामा क्षयीकरण हुँदै जाने हुँदा पानीमार्फत यो सजिलै जीवजन्तुको शरीरमा प्रवेश गर्छ । फेरि मानवलगायत कुनै पनि जीवमा प्लास्टिक पचाउन सक्ने क्षमता नभएकाले यो शरीरमा प्रवेश गरिसकेपछि त्यहीँ अड्केर बस्छ । सामान्यतः खाना र पानीमार्फत प्लास्टिक मानव शरीरमा प्रवेश गर्ने भएकाले सबैभन्दा पहिले यो पाचन प्रणाली अर्थात् पेटमा पुग्छ । अन्य खानेकुरा पचेर सानो तथा ठुलो आन्द्राको भित्तामार्फत पौष्टिक तत्वहरू रगतमा सोसिने वेला यो पनि सोसिन्छ र रक्तप्रवाहसँगै दौडिन थाल्छ र शरीरका अन्य मुख्य अंगहरू जस्तै&ndash; मुटु, मिर्गाैला, फोक्सो तथा मस्तिष्कसम्म पुग्छ र त्यही थुप्रिन थाल्छ ।
आइयुसिएनको एक अध्ययनअनुसार विश्वमा प्रत्येक वर्ष ४६ करोड मेट्रिक टनभन्दा बढी प्लास्टिक उत्पादन गरिन्छ । यसमध्ये अनुमानित दुई करोड मेट्रिक टन प्लास्टिक फोहोरका रूपमा प्रत्येक वर्ष खुला बातावरणमा विसर्जित गरिन्छ, जसको अधिकांशजसो हिस्सा पानीमा मिसिन्छ । विश्वबैंकको सन् २०२० को अध्ययनअनुसार नेपालमा वार्षिक ६० हजार टन प्लास्टिकजन्य फोहोर उत्पादन हुन्छ । त्यसमध्ये २० हजार टन नदीमा मिसिन्छ ।&nbsp;
नेपालका नदीमा मिसिएको यो प्लास्टिकजन्य फोहोर अन्ततः भारतको गंगानदी हुँदै बंगालको खाडीमा पुग्छ र समुद्रलाई थप प्रदूषित बनाउन सघाउँछ । समुन्द्रसँग जोडिएका अन्य थुप्रै देश तथा टापुमा पनि प्लास्टिकको प्रयोग अत्यधिक भइरहेकै छ । यसबाट उत्पादित फोहोर र तिनको समुद्रमा मिसावट पनि अत्यधिक छ । यो समस्या आर्थिक रूपमा विकसित मुलुकमा भन्दा विकासोन्मुख र अल्पविकसित देशमा अझै धेरै छ । नकुहिने तर मिहिन चम्किला टुक्रामा क्षयीकरण हुने प्लास्टिक मसिना र चम्किला हुन्छन् र झट्ट हेर्दा यी खाने धुलो नुनजस्तो देखिन्छन् । समुद्रबाट निकालिने नुनमा पनि प्लास्टिकको मात्रा भेटिएको छ । यसैगरी हिलियोन नामक अनलाइन जर्नलमा प्रकाशित ढुंगेल तथा महर्जनद्वारा गरिएको एक अध्ययनमा नेपालमा प्रयोग गरिने एक किलोग्राम धुलो नुनमा ८० देखि १०४० टुक्रासम्म मिहिन प्लास्टिक भेटिएको तथ्य उल्लेख छ ।
समाधानका उपाय : बढ्दो प्लास्टिकजन्य समस्या र यसको विकराल अवस्थालाई हेर्दा तत्काल प्लास्टिकलाई निषेध गर्नुपर्ने देखिन्छ । तर, यो उपाय व्यावहारिक देखिँदैन । एकपटक प्रयोग गरेपछि काम नलाग्ने अर्थात् &lsquo;सिंगल युज&rsquo; प्लास्टिकलाई त निमिट्यान्न पार्न सकिएला । तर, समस्त प्लास्टिक जगत्लाई बदल्न भने धेरै चुनौतीपूर्ण छ । यसर्थ, प्लास्टिकको न्यून प्रयोग तथा यसबाट उत्पादित फोहोरको उचित व्यवस्थापनबारे जनचेतना र रिसाइक्लिङको माध्यमद्वारा प्लास्टिकजन्य फोहोरको पुनः प्रयोगमार्फत प्लास्टिकजन्य प्रदूषणलाई उल्लेख्य रूपमा घटाउन सकिन्छ । यसको लाभ वायु र नदी दुवैलाई हुँदै पारिस्थितिकीय प्रणाली र मानव स्वास्थ्यलाई पनि हुनेछ ।
पहलकदमी : पछिल्ला दिनमा नेपालका प्रमुख नदीहरू सरसफाइका लागि केही पहलकदमी भएका छन् । जल तथा वायुमा माइक्रोप्लास्टिकको प्रदूषण कम गर्न बहुआयामिक दृष्टिकोण चाहिन्छ । सामुदायिक विद्यालयका विद्यार्थीमार्फत प्लास्टिकको प्रयोग र यसको व्यवस्थापनबारे ज्ञान दिन सकिन्छ । जनचेतना र पैरवीका लागि प्रत्येक पालिकाका युवासँग साझेदारी गर्न सकिन्छ । त्यसैगरी, नदीसँगै जिउने समुदाय माझी, बोटेहरूलाई पनि नदी सरसफाइ अभियानको मूलधारमा सहभागी बनाउनुपर्छ । विभिन्न श्रम तथा आयमूलक स्वरोजगार, पेसागत र स्वास्थ्यलगायत तालिमसँगसँगै माछा मार्ने तथा प्लास्टिकका बोतल संकलन गर्ने जालीलगायत थुप्रै बहुउपादेयतामूलक सामग्रीको वितरण गर्नु उचित हुन्छ, जसले यी समुदायलाई आफ्नो आय बढाउन र नदीमा रहेका प्लास्टिकजन्य फोहोर संकलन गर्न सहज हुन्छ । यस दृष्टिमा सबैभन्दा महत्वपूर्ण वर्ग भनेको सरसफाइकर्मी हुन्, जसले फोहोर टिप्ने तथा संकलन गर्ने कार्य गर्छन् । यस्ता समुदायलाई पनि पेसागत सुरक्षा, तालिम, आवश्यक सुरक्षित वस्त्र तथा उपकरणद्वारा सुसज्जित गरिनुपर्छ । यसले उनीहरूको कार्य क्षमता र आम्दानी दुवै बढाउन सघाउँछ । थप प्लास्टिकजन्य फोहोरको संकलन र त्यसपछिको रिसाइक्लिङ कार्यमा पनि वृद्धि भई नदी सफाइमा थप लाभ पुग्नेछ । यसरी संकलित प्लास्टिक रिसाइक्लिङ उद्योगमार्फत पुनः बजारमा फर्किई परिचक्रीय आर्थिक व्यवस्थालाई सुधार गर्न मद्दत मिल्छ ।&nbsp;
प्लास्टिकजन्य फोहोरलाई ल्यान्डफिल साइट र नदीबाट उत्पादन मूल्य शृंखलामा परिणत गर्न, प्लास्टिकजन्य फोहोर संकलन संयन्त्रलाई मजबुत पारेर प्रविधिगत नवप्रवर्तनको उपायमार्फत चक्रीय आर्थिक व्यवस्थालाई बलियो बनाउन ध्यान दिनुपर्छ । सबल प्लास्टिक फोहोर मूल्य शृंखला स्थापना गर्न सबै प्रमुख सरोकारवालालाई संलग्न गराउने सहयोगात्मक मोडेल विकास गर्नुपर्छ । स्रोतः नयाँ पत्रिका

प्लास्टिकजन्य फोहोरको भयावहता

Project CAP and the Path to a Circular Economy: Understanding MRFs

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Hello,&nbsp;I&rsquo;m a plastic bottle. Some of you may know me as PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) &mdash;light, portable, and practical. But to be honest, I&rsquo;m often seen as the villain in the environmental story. People grab me off the shelf, use me for a moment, and then forget I even exist once I&rsquo;m empty. I&rsquo;ve been misunderstood, and my story, though often ending in waste, has a different side&mdash;one of transformation and redemption.&nbsp;
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I was created in a factory, molded into shape, filled with cool, refreshing water, and designed to serve a single purpose: quench someone&rsquo;s thirst. For a brief moment, I felt valuable. Someone grabbed me eagerly, drank from me, and then tossed me aside when I was empty. My purpose was fulfilled, and with that, my journey seemed to end. I was discarded, left to face an uncertain fate.&nbsp;
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But here&rsquo;s the thing&mdash;I&rsquo;m not just a one-time-use item. I am PET, and I have far more potential than just being thrown away. After I was discarded, I wasn&rsquo;t simply a waste. I was a resource waiting for a second chance. Yet, instead of being recycled, I was carelessly abandoned on the street, swept by the wind, and eventually found myself in a river.&nbsp;
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I wasn&rsquo;t the PET everyone loves&mdash;the one sitting on your desk or traveling in your bag. I was the PET discarded; the one people didn&rsquo;t want to face. Lying on the streets, floating in rivers, or washed up on riverbanks, I became part of the growing pollution crisis.&nbsp;
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The images I saw were heart-wrenching: plastic bags drifting like jellyfish, fish struggling to navigate through the mess I contributed to, and children playing near the riverbank, unaware of the invisible dangers lurking beneath the surface. I never chose to be here. But there I was&mdash;caught up in the chaos, adding to a crisis that felt too big to fix. But then I had to ask: Am I really the villain?&nbsp;
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A Second Chance: Project CAP&nbsp;
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Just when I thought my story was doomed to end as trash, something changed. A group of passionate young volunteers from Project CAP found me during a river clean-up. Instead of seeing me as just another piece of garbage, they saw my potential for transformation. They gave me a second chance.&nbsp;
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I was taken to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF), where the process began to give me a new life. I was cleaned, shredded, and transformed into pellets&mdash;no longer waste, but a valuable resource. Thanks to the efforts of the CAP team, I was saved from a life of pollution and given an opportunity to become something useful again.&nbsp;
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&nbsp;Behind the Transformation: The People Who Made It Happen<span class="EOP SCXW132050614 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}">&nbsp;
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At the MRF, I saw the people behind my redemption. There were informal waste workers, who now had the chance to earn a living by collecting plastic waste. I saw youth groups actively educating their communities about the importance of recycling, and schoolchildren involved in Waste Smart Clubs, learning how they could make a difference. These individuals&mdash;through their hard work and dedication&mdash;gave me a second chance, and for that, I am proud to be part of this movement that&rsquo;s changing how the world views plastic.&nbsp;
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What started as a bottle discarded without thought became a catalyst for change. The story of my transformation isn&rsquo;t just mine&mdash;it's shared by billions of bottles that are thrown away every day. Yet, initiatives like Project CAP prove that change is possible.&nbsp;
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The Bigger Picture: Collective Action Against Plastic Pollution<span class="EOP SCXW132050614 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}">&nbsp;
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Through collective action, we can make a difference. By collecting, sorting, and recycling plastic, we can prevent it from harming our environment. Communities can come together to reduce plastic waste and build awareness about the importance of recycling. And in doing so, we don&rsquo;t just protect our planet&mdash;we create jobs, stimulate local economies, and work toward healing the damage we&rsquo;ve done.&nbsp;
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A New Beginning: The Circular Economy<span class="EOP SCXW132050614 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}">&nbsp;
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Today, I am no longer a waste. I&rsquo;ve been reincarnated as something useful&mdash;a park bench, another bottle, or even a piece of clothing. Through recycling, I am now part of the circular economy, showing that plastic can have a future beyond the landfill. I&rsquo;m not just trash anymore; I&rsquo;m a resource&mdash;a valuable part of a system that keeps materials in use for longer.&nbsp;
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The next time you see me, take a moment to think. I may not be the one you keep for long, but I still have value. By recycling me, you help reduce plastic pollution and give me a second chance. Every bottle can make a difference when treated with care.&nbsp;
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Together, we can keep plastic out of rivers, landfills, and oceans. We can turn trash into transformation&mdash;one bottle at a time.&nbsp;
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Hi, I’m PET, and I’ve Got a Lot to Say 

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In today&rsquo;s digital age, access to information has become a cornerstone of education and empowerment. Recognizing the potential of technology to revolutionize learning, Project CAP has taken a bold step forward by establishing 12 e-libraries in 12 Waste Smart Schools across Nepal. These digital hubs are not only reshaping the traditional education model but also fostering environmental consciousness among young learners.<span class="EOP SCXW17076305 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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The e-libraries under Project CAP are designed to provide students with resources that extend beyond standard curricula. With access to over 9,701 e-books, 3,849 audiobooks, and 3,144 videos, students are exposed to a diverse array of topics, including environmental sustainability, waste management, and climate action. These resources, available in multiple languages, ensure inclusivity and relevance for the communities served.<span class="EOP SCXW17076305 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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By integrating modern technology into the classroom, these e-libraries aim to enhance learning experiences and promote digital literacy. They are a testament to the project&rsquo;s commitment to equipping the youth with the knowledge and tools necessary to address pressing global challenges like plastic pollution.<span class="EOP SCXW17076305 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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A unique feature of the waste smart club initiative is the active involvement of 132 Waste Smart Club members who manage these e-libraries. These students act as environmental ambassadors within their schools, facilitating access to resources and organizing activities that promote sustainable practices. Their leadership underscores the importance of youth-driven action in creating lasting change.<span class="EOP SCXW17076305 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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The e-libraries also support ongoing campaigns and programs initiated by Waste Smart Schools, such as recycling projects, awareness drives, and clean-up campaigns. By combining technology with grassroots activism, the project is cultivating a generation that understands the value of both digital and environmental literacy.<span class="EOP SCXW17076305 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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The e-libraries are already benefiting over 6,500 students, providing them with the tools to learn, grow, and lead. Beyond academics, these resources inspire students to think critically about their environment and take proactive steps toward its preservation. The initiative aligns with Project CAP&rsquo;s broader goal of creating sustainable, waste-smart communities.<span class="EOP SCXW17076305 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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As technology continues to shape our world, initiatives like these highlight their potential to drive social and environmental progress. By making education accessible and environmentally relevant, Project CAP&rsquo;s e-libraries are paving the way for a more informed and sustainable future. Through the power of digital transformation, the next generation is being equipped to tackle the challenges of today and lead the charge for a greener tomorrow.<span class="EOP SCXW17076305 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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आजको डिजिटल युगमा, इन्टरनेटले ज्ञानको सीमा फराकिलो बनाएको छ । क्याप परियोजनाले सानो उमेर देखिनै कक्षामा वातावरणीय शिक्षाको दीगो तथा उज्ज्वल भविष्य निर्माण गर्ने उद्धेश्यले वेस्ट स्मार्ट क्लबको स्थापना स्थानिय सामुदायिक विद्यालयमा गरको छ । यो क्लबले विद्यार्थीहरूलाई प्लास्टिकको बढ्दो प्रयोग, यसबाट उत्पादित फोहोर तथा प्रदूषणबाट सिर्जित समस्या र यसको समाधानका बारेमा ज्ञान तथा जानकारी गराउनुका साथै दीगो समाधानका उपायहरु समेत सिकाउन मद्घत गर्छ । &nbsp;
यस पहलको एक महत्वपूर्ण पक्ष भनेको नयाँ प्रविधी युक्त ई-पुस्तकालय (e-library) पनि हो । विद्यार्थीहरूलाई सान्दर्भीक र बातावरण-उन्मुख ९,७०१ इ-पुस्तकहरू, &nbsp;३१४४ भिडियोहरू, ३,८४९ अडियोबुकहरू र अन्य अन्तरक्रियात्मक सामग्री जस्ता बहुभाषिक सामग्री उपलब्ध गराउँदै, परम्परागत शिक्षा प्रणाली भन्दा आधुनिक ढंगले उनीहरूमा नयाँ ज्ञान, शीप तथा जानकारी गराउन मद्घत गरेको छ ।
यी डिजिटल प्लेटफर्महरू द्वारा ६,५०० भन्दा बढी विद्यार्थीहरूलाई प्रत्यक्ष र अप्रत्यक्ष रूपमा लाभ पुर्याउँदै, साक्षरता र वातावरणीय शिक्षामा योगदान पुर्याइदै आइरहेको छ।
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 ई-लाइब्रेरीहरूले विद्यार्थीहरूलाई प्लास्टिक प्रदूषण, रिसाइकलिङ, र पुन: प्रयोगका बारेमा पनि सम्पूर्ण जानकारी दिन्छ। विद्यार्थीहरूले इ-पुस्तकहरू, भिडियोहरू, र अन्तरक्रियात्मक शैक्षिक सामग्रीको माध्यमबाट सन्देशलाई अझ गहिरो रूपमा बुझ्ने अवसर प्रप्त गर्दछन्।&nbsp;
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यहाँ सिकेका कुरा केवल कक्षामा सिमित छैन&mdash;यी विद्यार्थीहरूका लागि इन्टरएक्टिव र बहुभाषिक सामग्रीहरूको माध्यमबाट काम गर्ने अवसर पनि दिइन्छ, जसले सिकाइको प्रक्रिया अझ आकर्षक र प्रभावकारी बनाउँछ। गोलान्जोर, गजुरी, इच्छाकामना, बर्दिबास, भरतपुर, ललितपुर र हेटौंडाका वेस्ट स्मार्ट विद्यालयहरूमा, यी ई- पुस्तकालयहरु स्थापना गरिएको छ।&nbsp;
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Digital Transformation Through E-Libraries: A initiative by Project CAP

के तपाईंलाई क्याप परियोजनाले स्थापना गरेको ई-लाइब्रेरीको बारेमा थाहा छ?

Asha Kumari Shah: Leading Change in Bardibas with Project CAP
As one of the VFC Youth Cohort members in Bardibas, Asha Kumari Shah is a shining example of what determination and teamwork can achieve. Leading 11 enthusiastic young volunteers, Asha has taken significant steps toward addressing waste management issues in her community, becoming a beacon of hope for others.
Before joining the CAP project, Asha was deeply concerned about the growing waste problem in Bardibas. Her worries turned into action when she got the opportunity to be part of the initiative. Speaking about her journey, she says:
"I was initially very concerned after seeing the waste management situation in Bardibas. At that time, I got the opportunity to join the CAP project. Through this project, I hoped I could bring some positive change to my community and myself, and now I truly feel that change and am extremely happy. With the support of this project and our hard work, we have managed to improve waste management to some extent. We have organized river cleaning programs and are also conducting awareness campaigns in schools and our own community."
Despite facing challenges, including skepticism from some community members, Asha and her team remained undeterred. She adds: "We faced various challenges along the way; some people ignored us, while others even called it a drama. But as the saying goes, 'When there is a will there is a way,' we faced all the challenges and, in the end, succeeded in achieving our goal. It feels great to see that people are now appreciating our work. I have received praise from my community, school, and even relatives. I had the chance to work happily with new friends and seniors, and I have become an inspiration for many children and women. This experience has proven to be one of the golden opportunities of my life."
Through her work, Asha has become a source of pride and inspiration, showcasing how local efforts can create significant change. Her leadership reflects the core mission of Project CAP&mdash;empowering communities to tackle plastic pollution and promote sustainable practices. Asha&rsquo;s journey is a reminder that even small actions, when done together, can make a big impact.

बर्दिबासको VFC युवा समूहकी सदस्य आशा कुमारी शाहले फोहोर व्यवस्थापनको समस्या समाधान गर्न उल्लेखनीय पहल गर्दै समाजमा प्रेरणादायी योगदान दिइरहेकी छिन्। ११ सदस्यीय युवाहरूको समूहको नेतृत्व गर्दै, उनले आफ्नो समुदायलाई सफा, प्लास्टिक फोहोर मुक्त, र दिगो बनाउने अभियानलाई सक्रियतापूर्वक अघि बढाइरहेकी छिन्।
आशाले यस विषयमा आफ्नो अनुभव यसरी व्यक्त गरिन्:
"मैले पहिले बर्दिबासको फोहोरमैला व्यवस्थापन देखेर निकै चिन्ता महशुस गरें। ठीक त्यस समयमा मैले क्याप परियोजनामा संलग्न हुने अवसर पाए। मैले यो परियोजनाबाट मेरो समाज र आफूमा सकारात्मक परिवर्तन ल्याउन सक्छु भन्ने आशा राखेकी थिइं, र अहिले म साँच्चिकै परिवर्तनको अनुभव गर्दैछु र म अत्यन्त खुशी छु। हामीले यस परियोजनाको सहयोग र आफ्नो लगनशीलतासँगै फोहोरमैला व्यवस्थापनमा केही हदसम्म सुधार गर्न सफल भएका छौं। हामीले नदी सरसफाई कार्यक्रम सञ्चालन गरेका छौं र स्कूलहरूमा तथा आफ्नै समुदायमा जनचेतना फैलाउने कार्यक्रमहरू पनि अघि बढाइरहेका छौं।"
&nbsp;
चुनौतीहरूको बाबजुद, आशा र उनको समूह दृढ र अडिग रहे। उनी थप्छिन्:
"हामीलाई यस अभियानका क्रममा थुप्रै चुनौतीहरूको सामना गर्नु परेको थियो; कतिले हामीलाई अनदेखा गरेका थिए, भने कतिले यसलाई नाटकको नाम पनि दिएका थिए। तर, नेपाली उखान छ&mdash;&lsquo;खाने मुखलाई जुँगाले छेक्दैन।&rsquo; हामीले ती सबै चुनौतीहरूलाई पन्छाउँदै, आफ्नो लक्ष्यमा पुग्न सफल भएका छौं। अहिले समाज, विद्यालय र आफन्तजनहरूले हाम्रो कामको प्रशंसा गर्दैछन् र यसले हामीलाई थप हौसला दिएको छ। मैले नयाँ साथीहरू र अग्रजहरूसँग काम गर्न रमाइलो अनुभव प्राप्त गरें, र धेरै बालबालिका र महिलाहरूका लागि प्रेरणाको स्रोत बनेको महसुस भएको छ। यो अनुभव मेरो जीवनको एउटा सुनौलो अवसर साबित भएको छ।"
आशा कुमारी शाहको नेतृत्वमा गरिएको यो प्रयासले केवल स्थानीय स्तरमा मात्र होइन, दीर्घकालीन रूपमा पनि सकारात्मक प्रभाव पारिरहेको छ। यस अभियानले क्याप परियोजनाको उद्देश्यलाई अझ बलियो बनाएको छ&mdash;समुदायलाई सशक्त पार्दै, प्लास्टिक प्रदूषणको समाधानमा स्थानीय समुदायसँग मिलेर एकसाथ काम गर्दै, हामी प्लास्टिक प्रदूषण कम गर्न सफल भएका छौं।

Asha Kumari Shah: Leading Change in Bardibas with Project CAP

आशा कुमारी शाह: बर्दिबासमा सकारात्मक परिवर्तनको नेतृत्व

When the floodwaters of the Sunkoshi River surged through the village, they did more than just inundate fields and homes&mdash;they tore apart the very fabric of a community&rsquo;s life. For one local couple, the devastating flood swept away their house, their crops, and everything they had worked for. Left with nothing but the muddy remnants of their former life, it seemed as though hope had washed away with the river.
Yet, the couple discovered an unexpected chance to rebuild in the same river that had taken so much from them. As the floodwaters receded, they saw something unusual&mdash;plastic bottles, tangled in debris, littering the riverbanks. It was plastic, the very thing that had contributed to the river&rsquo;s pollution and the destruction of the local ecosystem, yet they found an opportunity in this waste. Armed with the knowledge they had gained from a recent community training; they began collecting plastic bottles washed ashore by the floodwaters.
It was a small but significant step. They learned that by gathering these bottles and selling them for recycling, they could earn a modest income&mdash;a way to support themselves while the river and land slowly healed. In an unexpected twist, what seemed like a tragedy had opened the door to a new way of life. The couple had turned plastic waste into a lifeline, transforming their loss into a chance to rebuild their future.
This story is not an isolated one. The entire Majhi community of Golanjor, once heavily reliant on fishing, had seen their rivers slowly choked with plastic pollution. The once-pristine waters, teeming with fish, were now filled with waste. It became clear to the community that their way of life was at risk. In response to this environmental crisis, Project CAP stepped in with a training program on August 22, 2024, to raise awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and to teach the community how managing plastic waste&mdash;specifically PET bottles&mdash;could help restore the health of the rivers while also creating new economic opportunities.
When disaster struck, this couple, like many others, found a new sense of purpose through the training. They put their newly acquired knowledge into practice, using plastic collection as both a means of survival and a way to contribute to cleaning up the environment. The process wasn&rsquo;t easy, but with resilience, resourcefulness, and determination, they slowly began to rebuild their lives.

सुनकोशी नदीमा आएको भिषण बाढीपहिरोले स्थानीय दम्पतीको घर, बालीनाली र जीविकोपार्जनका आधार समेत बगाउँदा उनीहरूसँग केही पनि बाँकी रहेन र उनीहरुको जीवन शुन्यमा पुग्यो । नदीमा आएको भिषण बाढीपहिरोले उनीहहरुको सबैथोक बगाएपनि जीवन जिउने एक अनपेक्षित आन्दानीको श्रोत फेला पारे ।&nbsp; त्यही नदीले बगाएर ल्याएका प्लास्टिकका बोतलहरु संकलन गरेर उनीहरुले यो विपत्तिलाई आन्दानीको नयाँ अवसरको रुपमा परिणत गरे ।
गोलान्जरका स्थानीय माझी समुदाय, उनीहरु परम्परागत रूपमा माछा मार्ने काममा निर्भर रहेका छन् । उनीहरुले यहाँका नदीहरू दिनानुदिन प्लास्टिक प्रदूषणका कारण प्रदुषित भएको प्रत्यक्ष देखेका छन । जसले उनीहरूको जीवनशैलीलाई खतरामा पारेको अनुभूत समेत गरेका छन । यसका लागि प्रोजेक्ट क्यापले २२ अगस्ट, २०२४ मा वातावरणीय जागरूकता बढाउन र प्लास्टिकको फोहोरमैला (विशेष गरी पीईटी बोतलहरूको) व्यवस्थापनले नदीहरूलाई पुनस्र्थापित गर्न मात्र होइन कि नयाँ आर्थिक अवसरहरू कसरी सिर्जना गर्न सकिन्छ भन्ने गर्न एक विशेष प्रशिक्षणको सञ्चालन गरेको थियो ।
जब, ती दम्पतीले भिषण बाढीपहिरोको प्रत्यक्ष सामना गरे, उनीहरुले प्रशिक्षणबाट आर्जन गरेका (सिकेको) ज्ञानलाई व्यवहारमा लागु गर्दै प्लास्टिकको फोहोरलाई आफ्नो जीवनको पुनर्निर्माण गर्ने प्रमुख श्रोत मोहरमा परिणत गर्न अग्रसर भए । विस्तारै उनीहरुले दुढ आत्मबल, सृजनशीलता र अटुट संकल्पको बलमा उपलब्ध साधनश्रोतका साथ विनाशमाथि बिस्तारै विजय प्राप्त गर्ने दिशामा पाइला अगाडि बढाई रहेका छन ।&nbsp; उनीहरुको कथाले अकल्पनीय क्षतिको दुःखद अवस्थामा पनि प्लास्टिकको फोहोरले पुनरुत्थान, नयाँ आम्दानीको श्रोत र आशाको नयाँ किरण छर्दै नव पथ प्रदान गर्न सकिन्छ भन्ने कुराकोे सशक्त स्मरण गराउँछ ।

Why are they holding Nets

By Priyashma Shrestha
Program Associate
Plastics!
Plastics have seamlessly integrated into every aspect of our lives, becoming a term, we all recognize. But are we truly familiar with plastics? 
From supermarkets to our homes, plastic is our constant companion. Consider this: when we walk out of the store with our hands full of chocolate packets, shampoo bottles, toothpaste, or other items, we often request a bag. And if you are responsible enough, hopefully not a plastic one. In that moment, a plastic bag seemed like a convenient friend&mdash;something we rely on without a second thought.
However, once we toss the same plastic bag into the trash, it abruptly changes from being a friend to a foe. This paradox reflects how plastics, once so useful, can quickly become a major threat to the very human race that depends on them.
We often think of plastics merely as the polythene bags we carry or the plastic bottles we buy, but have we really considered the myriad products we use daily? From shampoo bottles and toothpaste tubes to ice cream containers, water pipes, and even the chairs we sit on&ndash; everything is made of plastic, including the computer that I am typing on right now. While it is impossible to completely eliminate plastics from our lives, the real challenge is not eradicating them but in understanding them.
Did you know that there are more than 50 types of plastics, categorized into 7 main types based on their characteristics?
Today, we use &ldquo;plastic&rdquo; as a blanket term, but these 7 categories vary in their chemical composition, purpose, recyclability, and hazardous nature. Understanding these differences is essential to make informed choices as a conscious consumer. 
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal">Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): A light, durable, transparent plastic commonly used in everyday products like soda bottles, water containers, cleaning products and polyester clothing. PET prevents oxygen from spoiling contents and is highly recyclable, often turned into fibers for clothing or new containers.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE): Found in household items like detergent bottles, milk jugs, and piping. HDPE is sturdy, moisture-resistant, and has a waxy texture. It is easily recyclable and can be recycled into new bottles and other durable goods.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): Common in construction and medical equipment, PVC is durable but contains toxic chemicals like phthalates, making it harmful. It is used in pipes, window frames, and medical tubing which is difficult to recycle.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE): This flexible, lightweight plastic is found in items like plastic wraps, grocery bags, and sandwich bags. It is moisture-resistant, however not biodegradable making it challenging to recycle.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Polypropylene (PP): Tough, lightweight, and resistant to chemicals and heat, PP is used in food containers, bottle caps, and straws. Although it is recyclable, it is not as easily processed as PET or HDPE.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Polystyrene (PS): Commonly found in disposable coffee cups and foam packaging, PS is highly harmful, non-biodegradable, and challenging to recycle due to its low density.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Other Plastics: This category includes materials like Polycarbonate, Multi-Layered Plastics (e.g., chip packets), CDs, and nylon. The recyclability of these plastics varies depending on their complex composition.</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;I had the opportunity to conduct a &ldquo;Know Your Plastics&rdquo; session for students as part of Project CAP. While there are few such initiatives aimed at helping young students recognize and understand the types of plastics in their environment, such efforts are crucial for empowering them to make conscious decisions. Just as climate change has become a prominent topic in classrooms and textbooks, plastic pollution deserves equal attention.
As these students share chocolates with friends, scribble notes with their pens, or pack lunch in their favorite lunch boxes, I hope they think not only about the treats and tools but also about the journey of plastics they are using and how they can contribute to smarter, greener alternatives.
Not just for students, I hope that the next time you are in the grocery aisle searching for your favorite snacks, you will not just look out for the colorful packaging but check the label to identify the type of plastic used, helping you make more eco-friendly choices!

Decoding Plastics: A Guide for Conscious Consumers

Prioritizing Safety at the PET Recycling Facility Construction Site

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By Sabina Chaudhary
Communications Officer
The journey of Sujata Nepal with Project CAP has been nothing short of transformative&mdash;not just for the environment, but for herself, her community, and her understanding of what it truly means to create change. Sujata, a young woman with a background in agriculture, had limited initial knowledge of plastic pollution. She knew plastic waste ended up in landfills, but she didn&rsquo;t fully comprehend the scale of the problem or the potential solutions. However, what started as an opportunity to learn quickly became a powerful mission to make a difference.&nbsp;
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When Sujata joined Project CAP as one of the youth cohorts, she expected to find the usual challenges of waste management: piles of trash, difficult-to-manage plastic, and communities unaware of the environmental consequences. She didn&rsquo;t expect to see how plastic waste could be turned into a resource, not a burden.&nbsp;
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In Bharatpur, she was shocked to find that the quantity of PET bottles was far lower than anticipated. With an existing Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in the area, Sujata witnessed firsthand the impact of proper waste management. This sparked a realization: Plastic doesn&rsquo;t have to be waste. It can be valuable if we manage it correctly.&nbsp;
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"My engagement in this project has taught me the importance of addressing root causes through a grassroots-level, holistic approach to solving complex issues like plastic pollution," Sujata reflects. "It has enhanced my research skills, particularly in data collection and evaluating solutions. I also learned the effectiveness of using innovative methods, such as street drama, to engage audiences, proving that tailoring communication strategies to the target audience is key."&nbsp;
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&nbsp;But perhaps the most profound transformation came when Sujata began to see the human faces behind the waste. As she worked closely with informal waste workers (IWWs)&mdash;especially women&mdash;Sujata was struck by their pride and dignity in their work. These women were not just sorting plastic; they were taking charge of their lives, their futures, and the environment. It wasn&rsquo;t the type of work that defined their value&mdash;it was their determination, resilience, and independence that spoke volumes.&nbsp;
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&ldquo;I never realized how empowering this work can be for women,&rdquo; Sujata shared. "Many people think these women are marginalized because of their work, but in reality, they are independent and proud of what they do. They have so much to offer, and their involvement in Project CAP has been a game-changer."&nbsp;
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Sujata's vision for the project had always been to see more women engaged in environmental action, and she was thrilled to witness women leading initiatives like river cleanups, school awareness programs, and waste segregation campaigns. With her own eyes, she saw how the involvement of women in these programs helped shift attitudes and bring about tangible change in the community.&nbsp;
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One of the highlights of her journey came when she helped organize a street drama called Jalsakhi: A Drama on River Plastic Pollution and its Ripple Effects. The performance staged at the Narayani Riverbank, wasn&rsquo;t just a play&mdash;it was an emotional call to action. Over 160 community members gathered to watch as actors brought the devastating effects of plastic pollution on aquatic life to life. For Sujata, it was a powerful reminder of how creative, community-centered approaches can leave a lasting impact.&nbsp;
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&ldquo;It was incredible to see the community come together,&rdquo; Sujata recalls, eyes alight with excitement. &ldquo;Street drama allowed us to reach people who might never engage with environmental issues in a classroom or seminar. The play wasn&rsquo;t just entertainment but a wake-up call for change. It showed me the power of storytelling in environmental advocacy.&rdquo;&nbsp;
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For Sujata, the project became a lesson in root cause identification&mdash;a realization that addressing plastic pollution isn&rsquo;t just about collecting trash; it&rsquo;s about addressing the deeper issues that cause plastic to flood our rivers, our streets, and our lives. From proper waste management systems to changing people&rsquo;s behavior, it became clear that long-term solutions require systemic change, and these changes must begin at the grassroots level.&nbsp;
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&ldquo;The street drama was a turning point,&rdquo; she reflects. &ldquo;I understood that true change happens when we meet people where they are&mdash;when we listen, adapt, and take action that resonates with them. That&rsquo;s what I&rsquo;ve learned here: It&rsquo;s about building trust, identifying what really matters to the community, and creating solutions together.&rdquo;&nbsp;
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Through Project CAP, Sujata has not only enhanced her research and leadership skills but also gained a deeper understanding of how to use creativity, collaboration, and community-driven efforts to combat plastic pollution. Her journey has been one of personal growth, but more importantly, it has shaped her into an advocate for a sustainable future&mdash;a future where the voices of young people, women, and marginalized communities are heard, valued, and empowered to create lasting change.&nbsp;
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Sujata&rsquo;s story is a testament to the power of youth-led initiatives, the dignity of informal workers, and the strength of community-driven solutions. As she continues to work with Project CAP, her passion for the environment and the people she works with only grows stronger, proving that with the right tools, knowledge, and collaboration, a better future is possible.&nbsp;
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How Sujata Nepal Realized Plastic Waste Can Be a Resource, Not Just Tras

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By Sabina Chaudhary
Communications Officer
For Abhishek Chand, the fight against plastic pollution began not with a grand plan, but with a single moment of realization: "We can do something about this." In Hetauda, a city grappling with the escalating issue of plastic waste, Abhishek was selected to lead a group of 11 youths as part of the VFC Youth Cohorts under Project CAP. This initiative wasn't just about raising awareness&mdash;it was about taking action to tackle plastic pollution head-on.<span class="EOP SCXW168270296 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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The mission was straightforward but challenging: clean up the rivers, protect the environment, and change people&rsquo;s minds about the impact of plastic. The team got to work, conducting two river cleanup campaigns in Hetauda. They spent hours collecting plastic waste from the rivers, directly confronting the problem that was suffocating local ecosystems. But the hardest part wasn&rsquo;t just picking up trash&mdash;it was convincing the community that plastic pollution was a real threat. For many, plastic was just a normal part of life, something that seemed harmless and easy to ignore.<span class="EOP SCXW168270296 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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Despite the skepticism, Abhishek and his team didn&rsquo;t give up. They held community meetings, organized workshops, and visited schools to spread awareness. Over time, they began to change the way people saw plastic and its impact on the environment. One of their most successful initiatives was the "Trade Plastic Waste for Plants" event. In this creative project, community members could exchange their plastic waste for a plant, turning trash into something green and alive. It wasn&rsquo;t just about cleaning up&mdash;it was about showing how we can repurpose plastic waste and create something positive.<span class="EOP SCXW168270296 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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One of their most successful initiatives, the &ldquo;Trade Plastic Waste for Plants&rdquo; event, stands as a powerful testament to what small actions can lead to. In this innovative project, community members exchanged their plastic waste for a plant, turning what was once discarded into something green and alive. It wasn&rsquo;t just about getting rid of trash&mdash;it was about showing how plastic waste could be a resource&nbsp;if we only managed it with care and creativity.<span class="EOP SCXW168270296 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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For Abhishek, this journey was about more than solving a problem&mdash;it was about inspiring others to act. His message to young people everywhere? &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t wait for motivation&mdash;create it. Don&rsquo;t follow others; lead with your ideas and&nbsp;take action on what matters.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW168270296 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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Abhishek&rsquo;s story proves that one person can spark a movement and that when young people rise&nbsp;and take the lead, they can change the world around them. His work with Project CAP is helping to build a cleaner, greener future, where plastic pollution is no longer allowed to threaten our rivers, wildlife, or planet.<span class="EOP SCXW168270296 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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This is only the beginning. Abhishek&rsquo;s journey is a reminder that the future doesn&rsquo;t just happen&mdash;it&rsquo;s made by the hands of those who dare to act, it&rsquo;s something we create with every step we take.<span class="EOP SCXW168270296 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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A young leader with a vision, a city full of plastic, and a dream to make it disappear

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By Sabina Chaudhary
Communications Officer
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In many parts of the world, Informal Waste Workers (IWWs) play a vital, though often invisible, role in waste management. Despite their essential contribution to reducing environmental pollution, IWWs face challenges such as unsafe working conditions, financial instability, and social exclusion. Similarly, vulnerable communities like the Bote people, who rely on their local rivers for fishing and ferrying, face increasing threats due to plastic pollution.<span class="EOP SCXW72286061 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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To support these communities and enhance their contributions to sustainable waste management, targeted efforts are needed. Through Capacity Building Training for Vulnerable Communities, we are taking a small step to empower both IWWs and the Bote community to tackle plastic waste head-on and create lasting change. The training was designed to develop key skills, promote financial resilience, and encourage social inclusion&mdash;helping them transform a pressing environmental challenge into meaningful opportunities.<span class="EOP SCXW72286061 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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1. Skill Development &amp; Capacity Building: Enhancing Capabilities for Better Waste Management&nbsp;
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The Capacity Building Training brought together 20 participants from the Bote community and the IWW sector, uniting them to address plastic waste, an urgent issue for both groups. The training provided participants with hands-on activities and practical knowledge about waste collection, sorting, and recycling. They learned effective techniques for managing plastic waste, which not only protects the environment but also transforms it into valuable economic opportunities.<span class="EOP SCXW72286061 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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By equipping these communities with essential waste management skills, they can transition from informal practices to more efficient, sustainable methods, significantly increasing their productivity and the economic value of their work. This empowers IWWs and the Bote community to reduce plastic pollution and find innovative ways to manage waste responsibly.<span class="EOP SCXW72286061 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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2. Financial Education &amp; Support: Building Financial Resilience and Independence<span class="EOP SCXW72286061 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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One of the crucial components of this training was financial literacy. By offering sessions on savings, budgeting, and investment strategies, the training aimed to strengthen financial resilience for the participants. This is especially important for IWWs and the Bote community, who often live in precarious financial conditions.<span class="EOP SCXW72286061 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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Teaching them how to manage their earnings, invest in their future, and plan for long-term financial security empowers them to build a more stable and independent income. Additionally, understanding financial management provides the tools needed to safeguard their futures against economic instability, helping them achieve better livelihoods and ensure their families&rsquo; well-being.<span class="EOP SCXW72286061 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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3. Health &amp; Safety Protection: Prioritizing Health, Safety, and Well-Being<span class="EOP SCXW72286061 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:319,&quot;335559739&quot;:319}">&nbsp;
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The health and safety of waste workers and vulnerable community members is often overlooked, but it is a crucial aspect of their empowerment. The training program included key sessions on health and safety practices, providing participants with the necessary knowledge and equipment to protect themselves from the risks associated with waste collection.<span class="EOP SCXW72286061 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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From personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves and masks to hygiene practices, participants were taught how to minimize exposure to harmful waste and chemicals, ensuring their long-term health. This focus on health and safety not only improves their quality of life but also boosts productivity by allowing them to work in a safe and secure environment.<span class="EOP SCXW72286061 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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4. Community Engagement &amp; Social Inclusion: Fostering Ownership and Equal Opportunity<span class="EOP SCXW72286061 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:319,&quot;335559739&quot;:319}">&nbsp;
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This training also aimed to create a sense of community and social responsibility among participants. By encouraging their active participation in local decision-making and environmental initiatives, the training empowered IWWs and Bote community members to take ownership of their role in addressing plastic pollution.<span class="EOP SCXW72286061 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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Through this process, IWWs and the Bote people are not just recipients of training; they are seen as valued contributors to their communities. This inclusion is crucial for social equity, as it helps integrate marginalized workers into mainstream environmental solutions. When communities see the value in these workers, it encourages a collective movement toward sustainable and inclusive waste management.<span class="EOP SCXW72286061 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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Transforming Plastic Waste: How Empowering Communities Creates Lasting Change 

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By Lila Paudel
Environment Safeguarding Officer, Project CAP
Ever since I was a child, I have been told that Nepal is the second richest country in the world in terms of water resources. Our rivers, lakes, and ponds were described as the lifeblood of the nation, originating from the Himalayas, civilizing the valley, and nourishing the Terai plain. I vividly recall the clear, fresh water of the small&nbsp;kholas (streams) and ponds around my hometown in Bardiya. As a kid, those pristine waters felt like an everlasting gift&mdash;always pure and flowing, a perfect place for swimming. However, as I grew older, that illusion gradually shattered.&nbsp;
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The streams of my childhood, once full of life, are now dried up and clogged with heaps of waste discarded by nearby households. I used to pay little attention to the plastic bags, bottles, and debris littering the banks, but now I realize that we are polluting our water sources and, in the process, losing a piece of our childhood memories. I fear that future generations may not have the opportunity to witness and enjoy these resources as we did.&nbsp;
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Research shows that surface water in Nepal is increasingly polluted due to untreated waste from homes and industries, exacerbated by careless sewage dumping. This is particularly alarming given that, despite the country's abundant water resources, the safety of drinking water remains a significant concern. According to the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, while approximately 80% of the population has access to drinking water, it is often not safe for consumption. In rural areas, families frequently walk long distances just to fill a single bucket, highlighting the urgency of addressing this critical issue.&nbsp;
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Climate change adds to the problem, affecting water sources in higher areas and causing water levels to drop. Additionally, blocked river channels from waste dumping led to flooding in cities, threatening farms and homes. The numbers are truly concerning, municipalities in Nepal produce around 3,023 tons of waste every day, with about 2.7 tons of that being plastic. Most of this waste ends up in open dumps or along rivers, putting serious health risks on nearby communities.&nbsp;
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When waste isn&rsquo;t sorted and is dumped in rivers or burned, it releases harmful pollutants like methane, black carbon, and other toxic substances. These not only harm our health but also contribute to climate change. Open burning makes up 9% of waste disposal in Kathmandu, affecting vulnerable groups, especially children and the elderly. Plastic waste, which can take over 500 years to break down, has become a quiet, deadly problem for our water ecosystems, blocking rivers, reducing oxygen levels, and harming fish and other wildlife.&nbsp;
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This crisis has led to the term &ldquo;Plastisphere,&rdquo; describing the plastic-filled ecosystems forming in our water bodies. The Bagmati River shows this issue well: while the upper parts in Sundarijal are still alive with fish, it becomes lifeless as it flows through Kathmandu. We see similar problems all over the country, where even endangered species, like the gharial crocodiles in Chitwan National Park, often get caught in plastic nets.&nbsp;
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Despite many policies aimed at reducing plastic pollution, the situation seems to be getting worse. Plans like the Action Plan for Ban on Plastics 2022 and the Solid Waste Management Act 2068 are slow to take effect, and waste piles keep growing in our landfills. Informal waste workers, who collect recyclables from riverbanks or dumps, often work in unsafe conditions without protective gear, highlighting the need for effective solutions.&nbsp;
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To tackle this growing problem, we need to focus on cutting down plastic production and use. If we can&rsquo;t completely stop generating plastic waste, we should at least prioritize reusing and recycling it, which requires sorting waste properly at the source. This is where projects like CAP come into play. Run by CREASION, CAP aims to divert plastic waste into the product value chain from landfills and rivers by strengthening plastic waste collection mechanisms and enhancing recycling efforts through technological innovations. By developing a collaborative model that engages all major stakeholders, Project CAP is establishing a robust plastic waste value chain and implementing solutions to combat pollution.&nbsp;
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As we have conducted initiatives like river clean-up campaigns and established the Waste Smart Museum, we are actively fighting plastic pollution and working towards a sustainable future. By collaborating with private waste companies, such as door-to-door collectors and recyclers, we can greatly reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfills while giving new life to materials like plastic, metal, and glass. Additionally, composting organic waste, which is a large part of what we throw away, and capturing methane from decomposing waste for renewable energy could help relieve pressure on our rivers.&nbsp;
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Our rivers are in danger, and this isn&rsquo;t just a government issue&mdash;it&rsquo;s personal. If we want a better tomorrow, we all need to take responsibility today. It&rsquo;s easy to blame the government, but our individual actions, whether reducing waste or pushing for better waste management, can lead to real change in restoring our rivers and water systems.&nbsp;
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The freshwater ecosystems of Nepal are too valuable to lose. The rivers that once shaped our nation can still be saved&mdash;if we act now.&nbsp;
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Where We Once Swam, Now Plastic Swims there  

Sabina Chaudhary
Communications Officer
What if trash could be transformed into something more than just waste? What if plastic, one of the world&rsquo;s biggest environmental challenges, could be the key to creating jobs, changing lives, and even sparking an economic revolution in a small village in Nepal?
&nbsp;
For Puja Dallakoti these weren&rsquo;t just questions&mdash;they were the start of a movement. In a community where plastic waste seemed to drown the rivers and litter the streets, Puja saw&nbsp;untapped potential&mdash;a chance to create jobs, foster entrepreneurship, and most importantly, protect the environment. Through her venture, Puja Rupantaran Samagri Collection and Suppliers, she is not just tackling plastic pollution in Gajuri&mdash;she is reimagining how a community can come together to solve its plastic waste problem.
&nbsp;
Her journey began with a transformative workshop focused on plastic pollution and effective advocacy. Trained through Project CAP, Puja and her fellow youth learned about the devastating realities of plastic waste and developed action plans to address it. Armed with new insights and financial support, they launched initiatives to combat pollution, including impactful river cleanup drives in hotspot areas. &ldquo;We can&rsquo;t just stand by while our rivers drown in trash,&rdquo; Puja proclaimed, rallying her neighbors to take action. But she didn&rsquo;t stop there. Puja saw not only a growing environmental issue but a business opportunity&mdash;whereas others might have seen only a problem.
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Through her initiative, Puja forged partnerships with local hotels that had been unknowingly contributing to the plastic pollution problem by burning PET bottles due to improper disposal methods. Recognizing this gap, Puja offered a sustainable solution: she would buy PET bottles from their waste and sell them to recycling centers. In doing so, she not only helped hotels adopt more sustainable disposal practices but also created a steady income stream for her own business&mdash;turning what was once trash into profit. Since starting her enterprise, Puja has already collected more than 8,000 bottles, which have been sent for recycling, helping divert plastic waste from landfills and rivers.
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Puja&rsquo;s work has expanded beyond the collection of bottles. She is building a growing network of local vendors and young people, all united in the mission to reduce waste and create a cleaner, greener future. Through her leadership, Puja is showing her community that entrepreneurship doesn&rsquo;t just solve environmental problems&mdash;it can unlock new economic opportunities, creating jobs and a sustainable economy in the process.
&ldquo;This is just the beginning,&rdquo; Puja says with conviction. With every bottle collected and every mind changed, she is proving that one person&rsquo;s determination can spark a movement&mdash;a movement that will not only protect Nepal&rsquo;s rivers and landscapes but transform them into symbols of possibility.

The Alchemist of Gajuri: Turning Plastic Waste Into Possibility

By Larisha Dhakal
Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Specialist
One of the key components of Project CAP is to inspire behavioral changes in school students, fostering a natural inclination towards recycling, reducing, reusing, and developing a strong sense of environmental responsibility from an early age. In addition to tackling the immediate challenges of plastic waste management in Nepal, the project aims to cultivate a future where individuals are acutely aware of their consumption and disposal habits. As part of this initiative, 12 Waste Smart Clubs were launched in July 2024 across seven municipalities, engaging a total of 132 student members. Since then, these clubs have organized a variety of activities&mdash;rallies, poetry competitions, awareness campaigns, and clean-ups&mdash;impacting over 1,100 students. Club members, with the support of focal teachers, have taken the lead in these efforts.
&nbsp;
As a monitoring and evaluation specialist, I visited the schools in September and held in-depth conversations with the club presidents to assess the clubs' effectiveness and identify early behavioral changes.
&nbsp;
One notable interaction was with 13-year-old Ashila Basnet, the Club President at Shree Sharmik Secondary School in Hetauda-4, Makwanpur. I had initially met Ashila during a two-day workshop organized by Project CAP in Kathmandu before the clubs were officially established. During the workshop, she shared her feelings about being a new student adjusting to her peers and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to attend.
&nbsp;
I was thrilled to see Ashila step into her role as Club President.
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&ldquo;I was initially hesitant about becoming the President,&rdquo; Ashila shared. &ldquo;I knew it would require me to speak in front of my peers and teachers, and I often feel nervous. I suggested that my friend Nihal take on the role while I served as the vice president, but Nihal encouraged me to step up as President. My focal teacher also supported this idea, assuring me that I would learn and gain confidence over time.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
When I asked if she felt more comfortable in the role now, Ashila responded positively.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;I definitely feel more confident now. This is my first time taking on any leadership position, so initially I felt slightly nervous. But my focal teacher supported me a lot in the beginning. If I made any mistakes, he&rsquo;d correct me, and over time I felt okay with making small mistakes. Now I am much more comfortable in the position and look forward to our club meetings.&rdquo;
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I followed up by asking if she&rsquo;d noticed any other changes in herself, particularly regarding plastic usage and management.
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&ldquo;Compared to my old school, this one already had some good practices in place to manage plastic waste&mdash;like disallowing junk food within school premises and having students participate in school clean-ups. But I think the club activities and what we learned in the workshop have helped us understand why these things matter. Previously, I was mostly concerned about not breaking rules, but now I see the importance of these actions. Our teachers don&rsquo;t have to push us as much.
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I've even talked about the importance of segregating waste at home with my family because it is important to manage plastic waste outside of school as well. I've started noticing food wrappers on the ground when I'm walking around outside of school premises, which I didn&rsquo;t pay much attention to before. Now, if I eat something like a packet of noodles, I make sure to keep the wrapper in my pocket until I find a proper place to throw it away.&rdquo;
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Additionally, I wanted to learn more about how the club operated and how active it was, so I asked Ashila to give me a brief overview.
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&ldquo;We try to hold a meeting every week. Before organizing any club activity, we have a brief meeting in the library. We mostly use our half-time and occasionally the last period, which is social studies. During these meetings, we review the club action plan and decide when and how to conduct the activity. Once everything is confirmed, we announce it during the assembly.
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We also keep minutes for each meeting. This is my first time actually, learning how to write minutes. At first, our focal teacher helped us with it, but now it's our secretary and sometimes me who take care of it.&rdquo;
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To understand whether managing academics alongside club responsibilities posed challenges, I asked Ashila if she or other club members had faced any academic difficulties after joining the club.
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&ldquo;Our focal teacher is quite strict about not missing classes as much as possible. It is only sometimes that we utilize our last period for club meetings. And to be honest, social studies is easier to catch up on, so it hasn&rsquo;t been much of a challenge. If it were math, then it would be slightly more difficult. On the bright side, we are learning so many new things, so I feel good about engaging in these activities.&rdquo;
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When I asked if there was anything the club needed further support with, Ashila highlighted the issue of not being able to utilize the e-library as much as she&rsquo;d like.
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&ldquo;It would be great to use the e-library more, but we haven't had many opportunities. We don&rsquo;t get to go to the computer lab often due to our tight schedule, where the e-library is located. It would really help if there was a designated time to use the e-library.&rdquo;
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Understanding her concerns, I suggested that it might be beneficial to bring the e-library features to the classrooms using sub-routers.&nbsp; She seemed excited about the idea.
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My conversation with Ashila revealed the meaningful impact of Project CAP on students' environmental awareness and personal development. She and her peers are not only gaining knowledge about plastic waste management but also cultivating essential leadership skills, building their confidence, and nurturing a deeper sense of responsibility towards the environment. Their initiatives reflect a growing awareness that extends beyond school, as students apply their knowledge at home and in their communities.
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It was affirming to see how these young leaders are transforming their newfound knowledge into actionable steps, creating a ripple effect that has the potential to influence others. With regular check-ins and targeted support to address any gaps, these impacts can be amplified, ultimately paving the way for a more sustainable future in Nepal.
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*This conversation has been carefully translated from Nepali to English.*
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A New Generation of Environmental Leaders: Ashila’s Story

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In the heart of Golanjor, a quiet yet powerful story unfolds through the life of Ms. Pamfa Ramtel, a determined waste picker who has turned her struggles into a source of strength. On August 22, 2024, Pamfa attended a Capacity Building Training and Workshop organized by Project CAP, a moment that marked a turning point in her life&mdash;a moment filled with hope and possibility.<span class="EOP SCXW91885478 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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Pamfa&rsquo;s journey began out of love and necessity. To support her husband, Mr. Dil Bahadur Ramtel, she took on the difficult role of collecting discarded PET bottles from her community. Each day, she walks the streets, her hands working tirelessly to gather what many consider trash. For Pamfa, these bottles are not just waste; they are a lifeline. With every bottle she collects, she imagines a better future for her family&mdash;a future built on her hard work and determination.<span class="EOP SCXW91885478 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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But this path is not easy. Pamfa faces the harsh reality of earning only 15-20 rupees per kilogram for her collection. As she walks the familiar routes, the weight of her labor often feels heavier than the bottles she carries. The long hours and low pay can be disheartening, but Pamfa&rsquo;s spirit remains unbroken. She finds joy in the small victories, knowing that each bottle is a step toward supporting her loved ones.<span class="EOP SCXW91885478 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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Hope shines brightly on the horizon with the establishment of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) by Project CAP. This facility promises to change everything for Pamfa. Currently, she travels long distances to sell her bottles, often sacrificing time and energy that could be spent gathering more. With the MRF, she envisions a future where she can work more efficiently, allowing her to collect even more and, hopefully, earn a fairer wage. The MRF will not only streamline Pamfa's recycling process but also provide her with a stable income, empowering her to improve her family's quality of life. Pamfa's resilience and determination serve as an inspiration to others facing similar challenges in their communities.&nbsp;<span class="EOP SCXW91885478 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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The Capacity Building Training and Workshop she attended was a revelation for Pamfa. Surrounded by others who understand her struggles, she felt a sense of belonging and solidarity. The training equipped her with new skills and inspired her to dream bigger. For Pamfa, this was more than just a workshop; it was a reminder that her work matters and that she is part of a community striving for dignity and empowerment. Pamfa's newfound confidence and skills have allowed her to take on leadership roles within her community, advocating for change and progress. She continues to be a beacon of hope for those around her, showing that with determination and support, anything is possible.&nbsp;<span class="EOP SCXW91885478 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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Pamfa&rsquo;s story is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of hope. She embodies the strength of those who refuse to be defined by their circumstances. Through her hard work, she not only provides for her family but also contributes to the well-being of her community. She reminds us all that dignity can be found in even the most challenging situations, and that every small effort can lead to meaningful change.<span class="EOP SCXW91885478 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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As she continues her journey, Pamfa is a shining example of what it means to turn discarded items into treasures, both literally and metaphorically. She teaches us to see the value in the overlooked and to recognize the potential for hope and renewal in our lives. In her hands, every bottle represents a story&mdash;a story of perseverance, love, and the unwavering belief that a brighter future is possible. Through her work, Pamfa not only transforms waste into art but also inspires others to see the beauty and potential in everything around them. Her dedication to creating positive change serves as a powerful reminder that we all have the ability to make a difference, no matter how small our actions may seem.<span class="EOP SCXW91885478 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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Every Bottle Tells a Story: Pamfa's Journey of Hope

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&ldquo;Youth&rsquo;s involvement at a young age is critical, as it fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility for the environment. By advocating for sustainable practices and making their voices heard, these young leaders are shaping the future of waste management in their communities.&rdquo;<span class="EOP SCXW138186214 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;
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&mdash;&nbsp;Palistha Manandhar&nbsp; Training and Capacity Building Officer, Project CAP<span class="EOP SCXW138186214 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;
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Youth engagement not only addresses immediate environmental challenges but also inspires a collective movement towards a cleaner and healthier planet. When empowered, young people can lead transformative change in their communities.&nbsp;Therefore,&nbsp;it is crucial for organizations and governments to support and amplify the voices of young leaders in waste management to ensure a sustainable future. By investing in youth engagement and providing opportunities for leadership development, we can create a more inclusive and effective approach to environmental stewardship.<span class="EOP SCXW138186214 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;
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Globally, youth are increasingly recognized as crucial change agents across various sectors, with a notable impact on environmental management and sustainability. In today&rsquo;s world, young people play a vital role in combating climate change, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the forefront. Representing 16 percent of the global population, they are emerging as key advocates for a low-carbon and climate-resilient future. Their increasing engagement in climate initiatives underscores their transformative impact through advocacy and action. Youth leverage their technological expertise to drive grassroots changes, manage environmental campaigns, and monitor local ecosystems. Additionally, they are instrumental in engaging communities and fostering a collective sense of responsibility for nature conservation.<span class="EOP SCXW138186214 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;
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One urgent topic we tackle while talking about environmental concerns is plastic pollution. Thus,&nbsp;to achieve our broader goal&nbsp;of preventing plastic leakage in rivers of Nepal, we are actively involving young individuals through Project CAP. Youth&nbsp;have emerged as&nbsp;essential change agents in the fight against plastic pollution, inspiring meaningful action in their communities. Twelve young cohorts are further involving eighty-four youth in the project's working sites&mdash;Gajuri, Ichchhakamana, Bharatpur, Bardibas, Hetauda, Golanjor, and Lalitpur&mdash;as part of the youth engagement component. Out of the 186 young people that applied for the position, these talented individuals&nbsp;were shortlisted. This also clearly shows the youth's concern with and devotion to finding solutions to the world's environmental problems, such as the management of plastic waste. <span class="EOP SCXW138186214 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;
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As part of the project, the selected youth were trained in understanding plastic pollution, developing activity plans, and organizing effective awareness campaigns. Through capacity-building training, these young individuals have been equipped with the knowledge and skills to understand the plastic waste management scenario in the context of rivers and explore its solutions. Through Project CAP, they were provided financial resources to conduct their planned activities to mitigate plastic pollution in their municipalities. The 12 selected youths have gained deep insights into plastic mitigation, the various types of plastics, and the power of advocacy and education. They have been empowered to return to their municipalities and take the lead in initiating positive change.<span class="EOP SCXW138186214 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;
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After completing their training, the youth cohorts have taken proactive steps within their municipalities to combat plastic pollution. They have organized various initiatives, including river cleanup drives targeting significant hotspot areas where plastic pollution was highly evident. These efforts have not only addressed immediate environmental concerns but also drawn attention to the importance of proper plastic segregation and disposal practices. The youths have organized multiple awareness and advocacy programs across communities and schools, educating students from an early age and engaging individuals across all age groups in the cause. To date, they have successfully conducted eight youth group training sessions, twelve river cleanups, and fifteen awareness and advocacy events within their respective municipalities through Project CAP.<span class="EOP SCXW138186214 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;
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By training other people in the community, including youth in their municipalities, they are expanding the movement, ensuring that more voices join the cause. This platform has allowed them to showcase their abilities, confront waste management issues directly, and become catalysts for change.&nbsp;Their early involvement&nbsp;is critical, as it fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility for the environment. By advocating for sustainable practices and making their voices heard, these young leaders are shaping the future of waste management in their communities. The success of their initiatives underscores the importance of involving youth in environmental action. By capacitating them to lead and bringing community members together, we are witnessing the emergence of a new generation committed to creating a cleaner, more sustainable future.<span class="EOP SCXW138186214 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;
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I urge everyone to recognize and support the remarkable contributions of our youth. Their commitment to creating a cleaner, more sustainable future is inspiring, and together, we can help amplify their voices in the global movement for environmental change.&nbsp;Let&rsquo;s empower our youth to be leaders in conservation efforts&nbsp;and provide them with the resources and support they need to make a difference. By investing in their potential, we are investing in a brighter future for all. Together, we can work towards a world where the next generation can thrive in a healthier environment. Let's listen to their ideas, amplify their voices, and take action to ensure a sustainable future for all.
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Creating Change: Youth Leadership in the Battle Against Plastic Waste

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This is the story of once-vibrant roads and riverbanks, filled with colorful flowers, now sadly transformed into a patchwork of multicolored plastics. The recent floods have taken lives and property, turning these natural landscapes into powerful symbols of our environmental crises. The rivers where we carelessly tossed our waste, thinking the water would wash it away, now highlight our negligence. The floods devastated our homes, leaving behind a disheartening scene of plastics strewn along the banks and roads wherever the water could flow.
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The devastating floods and landslides in Nepal have resulted in at least 200 deaths and over 100 injuries, according to police reports. As of Sunday, more than 50 individuals remain missing following two days of heavy rainfall that flooded the area surrounding the capital, Kathmandu. So far, approximately 3,600 people have been rescued (BBC Nepal <a class="Hyperlink SCXW60548786 BCX0" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0qz82e7d1jo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BBC Nepal</a> ). As the water went down, it showed a troubling sight: plastic waste scattered across riverbanks and parks. This sad scene is similar to what you can see along other big rivers like the Sunkoshi, Trishuli, Narayani and Gandaki, where plastic bottles and trash are everywhere. The images of rivers and roads filled with plastic highlight not just the immediate destruction, but also the ongoing environmental issues we face. It's a reminder of how interconnected everything is&mdash;natural disasters can exacerbate existing problems like pollution. How are people responding to the situation?&nbsp;
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This tragic loss serves as a stark reminder of the potential repercussions of environmental negligence highligting a broader issue affecting all of Nepal's rivers. Furthermore, it's crucial to understand the long-term consequences of plastic pollution on water quality, aquatic life, and the overall health of river ecosystems. This pollution can disrupt food chains, harm wildlife, and diminish resources that local communities depend on for fishing, agriculture, and tourism. Addressing these issues is vital for both environmental sustainability and the well-being of those who rely on these rivers. In the wake of the flooding, we are compelled to reconsider our treatment of these vital waterways and the ecosystems they support. Effective waste management should be the priority and investment in sustainable practices is the need to safeguard our rivers. This involves raising community awareness, enforcing stricter waste disposal regulations, and actively participating in river clean-up efforts.&nbsp;
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CREASION Nepal, through its impactful Project CAP (Collaborative Approach for Preventing Plastic Leakages in Rivers of Nepal), is committed to creating plastic-free rivers in Nepal working in 7 project locatioons Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality, Bardibas Municipality, Kathmandu Valley, Hetauda Sub Metropolitan City, Golanjor Rural Municipality, Gajuri Rural Municipality and Kathmandu Valley making a complete Green Circuit. Project CAP is funded by the PLEASE (<a class="Hyperlink SCXW60548786 BCX0" href="https://www.facebook.com/plasticfreeriversandseasforsouthasia?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZWhnRKUBIChFcYjSpZQPFZKdEtOz_YIKrUgXVweMke9IA-oc7TI1zidHgp1llqW4wuiJQDyPfQWKeh3oDRzmtK1utJVH2UV6FM-2eUljVyQG8uJ9PmJJhmqlAtEJJ-U7_r6K6iRBoHdZgsPjjsr70vKWLXJgyXmyNTme9_U0Eg3wLt7wUDBDs9V1R7LKtVM8-2EKi5SFcUH6w9VADimB99udMJQrteUU9L-fhorN99ZLA&amp;__tn__=-%5dK-R" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia</a>) Project, implemented by the <a class="Hyperlink SCXW60548786 BCX0" href="https://www.facebook.com/sacep.org?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZWhnRKUBIChFcYjSpZQPFZKdEtOz_YIKrUgXVweMke9IA-oc7TI1zidHgp1llqW4wuiJQDyPfQWKeh3oDRzmtK1utJVH2UV6FM-2eUljVyQG8uJ9PmJJhmqlAtEJJ-U7_r6K6iRBoHdZgsPjjsr70vKWLXJgyXmyNTme9_U0Eg3wLt7wUDBDs9V1R7LKtVM8-2EKi5SFcUH6w9VADimB99udMJQrteUU9L-fhorN99ZLA&amp;__tn__=-%5dK-R" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme</a>, supported by the <a class="Hyperlink SCXW60548786 BCX0" href="https://www.facebook.com/worldbank?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZWhnRKUBIChFcYjSpZQPFZKdEtOz_YIKrUgXVweMke9IA-oc7TI1zidHgp1llqW4wuiJQDyPfQWKeh3oDRzmtK1utJVH2UV6FM-2eUljVyQG8uJ9PmJJhmqlAtEJJ-U7_r6K6iRBoHdZgsPjjsr70vKWLXJgyXmyNTme9_U0Eg3wLt7wUDBDs9V1R7LKtVM8-2EKi5SFcUH6w9VADimB99udMJQrteUU9L-fhorN99ZLA&amp;__tn__=-%5dK-R" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Bank</a> and with implementing support from <a class="Hyperlink SCXW60548786 BCX0" href="https://www.facebook.com/unops.official?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZWhnRKUBIChFcYjSpZQPFZKdEtOz_YIKrUgXVweMke9IA-oc7TI1zidHgp1llqW4wuiJQDyPfQWKeh3oDRzmtK1utJVH2UV6FM-2eUljVyQG8uJ9PmJJhmqlAtEJJ-U7_r6K6iRBoHdZgsPjjsr70vKWLXJgyXmyNTme9_U0Eg3wLt7wUDBDs9V1R7LKtVM8-2EKi5SFcUH6w9VADimB99udMJQrteUU9L-fhorN99ZLA&amp;__tn__=-%5dK-R" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNOPS</a>. &nbsp;
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The project activities go beyond cleanup efforts to include a diverse range of initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability and community engagement. We collaborate with vulnerable communities, such as the Majhi and Bote, as well as Waste Workers, to provide education and raise awareness about the impacts of plastic pollution and their essential role in achieving our shared goal of plastic-free rivers. Our partnerships with local civil society organizations (CSOs) enhance their capacity for effective waste management and encourage environmentally friendly practices.&nbsp;
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Additionally, we are establishing and sensitizing two Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and a PET Recovery Facility (PRF) to improve waste management and recycling. These facilities will not only help reduce plastic waste in our rivers but also create job opportunities and foster a circular economy. To date, we have conducted numerous cleanup events, engaging hundreds of volunteers and community members.&nbsp;
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Our vision is a world free from plastic pollution, where rivers can flow freely and ecosystems can thrive. By integrating cleanup efforts with community education, local partnerships, and infrastructure development, we believe we can make a meaningful impact in protecting our waterways for future generations. So far, the project has organized 12 cleanups. Just before the flood, we held a round of the Green Circuit Marathon with the Volunteer for Change Youth Cohort. Ironically, the recent floods have simply moved waste from one area to another. This situation highlights that our efforts extend beyond isolated events; it requires a massive collaboration to address this challenge effectively, beyond CAP, beyond CREASION.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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The recent floods serve as a gentle reminder that we need to fast pace our efforts and think innovatively. We must embrace our roles as responsible stewards of the environment. By working together, we can create cleaner, healthier rivers that not only serve our communities but also nurture the natural world.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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Nature’s Tragedy: The Flood of Plastics in Our Rivers

As September unfolds, we are reminded of our vital connection to the ecosystems that sustain us. This month, also considered as Clean-Up Month, features two significant events—World Cleanup Day and World Rivers Day—inviting us to reflect on our environmental responsibilities and take action to honor and preserve our rivers. 

Celebrating Rivers: Making Room for Life

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Palistha Manandhar&nbsp; Training and Capacity Building Officer, Project CAP<span class="EOP SCXW22114062 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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As we celebrate World Clean Up Day, we reflect on the essential role that education and youth engagement play in tackling environmental challenges, particularly plastic pollution. Through the collaborative efforts of Project CAP, we are witnessing how young leaders and school initiatives are uniting to create cleaner, more sustainable communities.<span class="EOP SCXW22114062 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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At the core of Project CAP is the belief that youth involvement is also crucial for fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility towards the environment. By advocating for sustainable practices and actively participating in their communities, these young leaders are shaping the future of waste management.<span class="EOP SCXW22114062 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:281,&quot;335559739&quot;:281,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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Our initiative has selected a cohort of 12 passionate youth, trained to understand plastic pollution and develop impactful awareness campaigns. These young leaders have taken proactive steps in their municipalities, organizing river cleanups and community awareness events that highlight the importance of proper plastic segregation and disposal. Their efforts exemplify the transformative power of youth, as they mobilize their peers and inspire collective action.<span class="EOP SCXW22114062 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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Complementing our youth engagement efforts is the Waste Smart School Initiative, implemented in 12 community schools across 7 municipalities in the Bagmati and Madhesh Provinces. This initiative focuses on reducing waste and promoting recycling while educating students about sustainable practices.<span class="EOP SCXW22114062 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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A vital component of this initiative is the formation of Waste Smart Clubs&mdash;student-led groups dedicated to environmental stewardship. Through these clubs, students learn to organize events and engage their peers in activities aimed at minimizing waste. This hands-on approach fosters leadership skills and instills a sense of responsibility for their environment, nurturing a generation of eco-conscious citizens.<span class="EOP SCXW22114062 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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Enhancing the educational experience is the Waste Smart Museum, which provides students with interactive learning opportunities related to waste management and recycling. By engaging directly with demonstrations that illustrate the lifecycle of materials, students not only retain information better but also develop positive habits that contribute to a sustainable future.<span class="EOP SCXW22114062 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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In addition, CREASION has established e-libraries in 10 schools across various districts, providing access to a wealth of digital resources&mdash;including e-books, journals, and videos. Launched on July 1, 2024, these e-libraries have directly reached 1,875 children and indirectly impacted 4,641 others, making learning more engaging and accessible.<span class="EOP SCXW22114062 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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The collaboration between Project CAP, young leaders, and school initiatives demonstrates the power of grassroots movements in addressing environmental issues. As we reflect on these efforts this World Clean Up Day, let us acknowledge the remarkable contributions of our youth and the initiatives that empower them.<span class="EOP SCXW22114062 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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Their commitment to creating a cleaner, more sustainable future is inspiring. By fostering a generation dedicated to protecting our planet, we amplify their voices and encourage collective action for environmental change.<span class="EOP SCXW22114062 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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Together, we can ensure a plastic-free future for our communities. Let&rsquo;s unite in our efforts to create lasting change and celebrate the collaborative spirit of youth and education in shaping a sustainable world and making room for life!<span class="EOP SCXW22114062 BCX4" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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Together We Thrive: Youth and Education in the Fight to Make Room for Life

Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) implementation has been creating a safer and more secure environment for employees of PRF Site, Bharatpur.
&nbsp;As the construction of the PET Recycling Facility (PRF) site in Bharatpur gains momentum, it is crucial to recognize the potential impact on both the local community and the workers on-site. Whether the grievance stems from a minor issue or a severe concern, its repercussions on the site workers, the surrounding community, and the environment can be far-reaching.
&nbsp;To address these concerns proactively, Infra Coordinator Mr. Bipan Timalsina, in collaboration with Site Engineer Sulov Shah, provided a comprehensive overview of the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) to the construction workers on 1 September 2024.&nbsp;
They emphasized the importance of the GRM and described its components, including who to report to and where to submit the form. The GRM addresses a wide range of issues, including complaints about the construction company, construction activities, and occupational health and safety concerns at the PRF site.
&nbsp;Now, construction workers have a clear and accessible channel to raise issues related to various aspects of the construction process. Concerns include fair wages, occupational health and safety issues, the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), basic hygiene facilities, first aid supplies, and conflicts with coworkers or the construction company.
&nbsp;The implementation of the GRM has created a safer and more secure environment for employees, ensuring that their concerns are heard and addressed by the responsible and relevant office bearers.
&nbsp;

गुनासो निवारण संयन्त्र GRM को कार्यान्वयनले एच्ँ साइट भरतपुरका कर्मचारीहरूका लागि अझ सुरक्षित र सुरक्षित वातावरण सिर्जना गरिरहेको छ । भरतपुरमा PET रिसाइक्लिङ्ग सुविधा PRF साइटको निर्माणले गति लिँदै गर्दा स्थानीय समुदाय र साइटमा रहेका कामदारहरू दुवैमा पर्न सक्ने सम्भावित प्रभाव पहिचान गर्न जरुरी छ । गुनासो सानातिना बिषय वा गम्भीर चिन्ताबाट उत्पन्न भए पनि साइटका कर्मचारीहरू, वरपरका समुदाय र वातावरणमा यसको दूरगामी असर पर्न सक्छ । यी सरोकारका बिषयहरुलाई सक्रिय रूपमा सम्बोधन गर्न इन्फ्रा संयोजक श्री विपन तिमिल्सिनाले साइट इन्जिनियर सुलोभ शाहसँग सहकार्य गरी निर्माण कार्यकर्ताहरूलाई १ सेप्टेम्बर २०२४ मा गुनासो निवारण संयन्त्र GRM को एक वृहत सिंहावलोकन गरेका छन्&nbsp; । तिनीहरूले GRM को महत्वलाई जोड दिदैं यसका कम्पोनेन्टहरूको बारेमा वर्णन गरे, जसमा कसलाई रिपोर्ट गर्ने र कहाँ फारम पेश गर्ने, GRM ले PRF साइटमा निर्माण कम्पनी, निर्माण गतिविधिहरू, र पेशागत स्वास्थ्य र सुरक्षा सरोकारहरू लगायतका बिषयहरुलाई कसरी सम्बोधन गर्न सकिने बारेमा छलफल गरेका थिए । अब, निर्माण श्रमिकहरूलाई निर्माण प्रक्रियाका विभिन्न पक्षहरूसँग सम्बन्धित मुद्दाहरू उठाउनको लागि स्पष्ट र पहुँच योग्य च्यानल बनेको छ । यसमा उचित पारिश्रमिकको बिषय, व्यावसायिक स्वास्थ्य र सुरक्षाका मुद्दाहरू, व्यक्तिगत सुरक्षा उपकरण -पीपीई_ को उपलब्धता, आधारभूत स्वच्छता सुविधाहरू, प्राथमिक उपचार आपूर्तिहरू, र सहकर्मी वा निर्माण कम्पनीसँग द्वन्द्वहरू समाधान लगायतका बिषयहरु समावेश छन्। GRM को कार्यान्वयनले कर्मचारीहरूका लागि सुरक्षा र सुरक्षित वातावरण सिर्जना गरेको छ, उनीहरूका सरोकारहरूलाई जिम्मेवार र सम्बन्धित पदाधिकारीहरूले सुनेर गुनासोलाई&nbsp; सम्बोधन गर्ने सुनिश्चित पद्धती निर्माण भएको छ ।
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Ensuring safer and secure environment for employees through GRM Implementation

GRM कार्यान्वयन मार्फत कर्मचारीहरूको लागि आवश्यक सुरक्षा र सुरक्षित वातावरण सुनिश्चित गर्दै

"With determination, innovation, and collaboration, we can turn the tide against plastic pollution and pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future."&nbsp;
By Lila Paudel
Environment Safeguarding Officer, Project CAP
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing and challenging environmental crisis of our time, affecting every corner of our planet, from the deepest oceans to our freshwater sources. The growing use of plastic, particularly single-use items like bottles, has led to severe environmental impacts. But in the light of this crisis, there is hope in reducing plastic production, reusing plastic products, and recycling what we can. Yet, as I have come to learn, recycling plastic is far more challenging than producing it.&nbsp;
As an environmental professional, I was always concerned about protecting our environment. However, it wasn&rsquo;t until I became an Environmental Safeguarding Officer for Project CAP at CREASION that I truly understood the complexities of tackling plastic pollution.
&nbsp;Prior to joining CREASION, I was aware of the plastic waste problem in rivers and landfills, but I hadn't fully realized the magnitude of the issue. My perspective shifted when I learned about the seven types of plastic, their composition and the challenges of recycling them in a country like Nepal. I discovered that while some companies recycle clear PET bottles, colored PET bottles are often rejected due to their complex composition. Moreover, the release of microplastics during recycling poses another significant challenge, affecting both the environment and aquatic life.&nbsp;
One of the key components of Project CAP is the establishment of a PET Recycling Facility (PRF) in Bharatpur Metropolitan, Chitwan, Nepal. Although the idea of recycling seems straightforward, the reality is much more complex. Recycling plastic is significantly more expensive than producing new plastic, and the process itself is riddled with challenges. Despite these difficulties, I felt a surge of motivation and purpose during my visit to the proposed PRF site in Bharatpur, just two weeks after joining the team.&nbsp;&nbsp;
This visit was more than just an introduction to the project. It was a lesson in teamwork, dedication, and the power of collaboration. Surrounded by experts acing their roles, I felt valued and supported. The team's guidance and warmth have been a source of inspiration, motivating me to approach my responsibilities with honesty and dedication.&nbsp;
Establishing a facility to manage and add value to plastic waste is no easy task. My involvement in the CAP Project has opened my eyes to the realities of plastic recycling: the high costs, environmental risks, and the intricate legal and administrative work required.&nbsp;
However, what stands out most about this project is its innovative approach to overcoming these challenges. The CAP Project has implemented fantastic and forward-thinking ideas to mitigate potential risks. From selecting advanced machinery designed to minimize air and noise pollution to integrating an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) that treats wastewater from the PET Recycling Facility (PRF), every aspect of the project is carefully planned and accountable. The inclusion of the ETP is particularly noteworthy, as it plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of microplastic contamination in the environment.&nbsp;
As the Environmental Safeguarding Officer, my responsibility is to ensure that every step of the PRF construction and operation aligns with national regulations and environmental standards. To this end, I prepared the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), which serves as a guiding document for the project. My recent field visit to the PRF site in Bharatpur provided valuable insights into the importance of safeguarding both the workers and the surrounding community. Even a small oversight on the worksite can lead to significant risks and injuries, which is why careful monitoring and strict adherence to safety protocols are essential.&nbsp;
Understanding the baseline environment of the project site and committing to restoring it as closely as possible after the project is completed is both a challenge and a driving motivation for me. Our efforts range from managing construction waste and controlling pollution to ensuring the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and providing Occupational Health and Safety training to workers have already led to significant improvements in the PRF construction process. Of course, challenges remain. External factors, such as weather, can affect the project's progress. The monsoon season, for example, delayed some construction activities, but it also brought unexpected benefits, such as reducing dust emissions from construction materials&mdash;a reminder that even challenges can present opportunities.&nbsp;
One of the most important lessons I&rsquo;ve learned is the crucial role of behavioral change. While workers may understand the rules and regulations, their willingness to adopt and take responsibility for these changes is what truly makes a difference. My goal is to inspire this change, to empower workers to take ownership of their safety and health, and to ensure that the PRF site meets the highest environmental and social standards. I am fully committed to this mission, and I eagerly anticipate my next visit to the PRF site at Bharatpur. I hope to see continued progress in both environmental and social safeguarding. With determination, innovation, and collaboration, we can turn the tide against plastic pollution and pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Photo: Lila Paudel,&nbsp;Environment Safeguarding Officer, Project CAP.
&nbsp;

चेतना भन्दा बाहिर: पर्यावरण संरक्षणमा मेरो भूमिका
"दृढता,&nbsp;नवप्रवर्तन,&nbsp;र&nbsp;सहकार्यको&nbsp;साथ,&nbsp;हामी&nbsp;प्लास्टिक&nbsp;प्रदूषणको&nbsp;लहरलाई&nbsp;हरित मार्गमा लैजान&nbsp;र,&nbsp;थप&nbsp;दिगो&nbsp;भविष्यको&nbsp;बाटो तयार&nbsp;गर्न&nbsp;सक्छौं।"
लिलापौडेल&nbsp;
पर्यावरणसुरक्षा अधिकारी, क्याप परियोजना
प्लास्टिकप्रदूषण हाम्रो समयको एकदमैगम्भीर र चुनौतीपूर्णवातावरणीय संकट मध्ये एकहो, जसले हाम्रो पृथ्वीकासबै कुनामा, सबैभन्दा गहिरोमहासागरदेखि लिएर हाम्रो ताजापानीका स्रोतहरू सम्म प्रभावपारेको छ । प्लास्टिकको बृद्धि, विशेषगरी एकपटक प्रयोग गर्नमिल्ने वस्तुहरू जस्तै बोतलहरूकोप्रयोगले गम्भीर वातावरणीय प्रभावनिम्त्याएको छ । तर, योसंकटको प्रकाशमा, प्लास्टिक उत्पादनलाई घटाउने, प्लास्टिक उत्पादनहरूकोपुनः प्रयोग गर्ने, रके गर्न सकिन्छत्यो पुनः चक्रण गर्नेआशा छ। तर, मैलेजति बुझ्न प्रयास गरेँ, प्लास्टिकको पुनःचक्रण गर्नु नयाँ प्लास्टिकउत्पादन गर्न भन्दा धेरैजटिल छ।
एकवातावरणीय पेशेवरको रूपमा, मसधैं हाम्रो वातावरणलाई बचाउनकोलागि चिन्तित थिएँ। तरजब म क्रिएसनमाक्याप परियोजनाको वातावरण सुरक्षा अधिकारीकोरूपमा समावेश भएँ, तबमैले प्लास्टिक प्रदूषणको सामना गर्ने जटिलताहरूलाईसाँच्चै बुझें।
क्रिएसनमासामेल हुनुअघि, म नदीर डम्पमा प्लास्टिकफोहोरको समस्याबारे अवगत थिएँ, तरमैले समस्याको गम्भीरता पूर्णरूपमा बुझ्न सकेको थिइनँ।मैले सात प्रकारको प्लास्टिक, तिनीहरूको संघटन र नेपालजस्तो देशमा तिनीहरूलाई पुनःचक्रण गर्ने चुनौतीहरूको बारेमाजान्न पाएँ। मैले थाहापाएँ कि केहि कम्पनीहरूलेस्पष्ट PET बोतलहरूको पुनः चक्रण गरेपनि, रंगीन PET बोतलहरू प्रायः अस्वीकारगरिन्छन् किनकि तिनीहरूको जटिलसंरचनाले समस्याहरू निम्त्याउँछ। थप रूपमा, पुनःचक्रण गर्दा माइक्रोप्लास्टिकहरूको निष्कासन अर्को महत्वपूर्णचुनौती हो, जसले वातावरणर जलीय जीवनलाईप्रभावित पार्दछ।
क्यापपरियोजनाको एक प्रमुख घटकभनेको भरतपुर महानगरपालिका, चितवन, नेपालमा PET पुनः चक्रण सुविधा (PRF) स्थापना गर्नु हो। पुनःचक्रणको विचार सीधा देखिन्छ, तर वास्तविकता धेरैजटिल छ । प्लास्टिक पुनःचक्रण नयाँ प्लास्टिक उत्पादनगर्नको तुलनामा धेरै महँगोछ, र योप्रक्रिया आफैमा चुनौतीपूर्ण छ।यी कठिनाइहरूका बाबजुद, मलाई भरतपुरमा प्रस्तावित PRF स्थलकोभ्रमण गर्दा प्रेरणा रउद्देश्यको एक लहर महसुसभएको थियो, जुन टोलीमासामेल भएको दुई हप्तापछि भयो ।
योभ्रमण केवल परियोजनासँगको परिचयमात्र थिएन । यो एकटीमवर्क, समर्पण, र सहकार्यशक्तिको पाठ थियो। विशेषज्ञहरूचारैतिर घेरिएको हुँदा, मैलेमूल्यवान र समर्थितमहसुस गरेँ। टोलीको मार्गदर्शनर न्यानोपनले मलाईप्रेरित गर्यो, जसले मलाईमेरो जिम्मेवारीलाई ईमानदारी र समर्पणकासाथ अघि बढाउन प्रेरितगर्यो ।
फोहोरप्लास्टिकको व्यवस्थापन र त्यसमामूल्य थप्ने सुविधा स्थापनाकोकार्य सजिलो छैन। क्यापपरियोजनामा मेरो संलग्नताले प्लास्टिकपुनः चक्रणको वास्तविकताहरू &nbsp;उच्चलागत, वातावरणीय जोखिम, र कानूनीर प्रशासनिक कामकोजटिलता बारेमा आँखा खोल्यो ।
तर, यस परियोजनाको सबैभन्दाउल्लेखनीय कुरा भनेको यीचुनौतीहरूलाई पार गर्नको लागियसको नवप्रवर्तन दृष्टिकोण हो । क्याप परियोजनालेसंभावित जोखिमहरूलाई कम गर्नको लागिशानदार र दीर्घकालिनविचारहरू कार्यान्वयन गरेको छ। वायुप्रदूषणर ध्वनि प्रदूषणलाईकम गर्न डिजाइनगरिएका उन्नत मेसिनहरूको चयनबाटलिएर, PET पुनः चक्रण सुविधा (PRF) बाट बहरिएको पानीको उपचारगर्ने फोहोर प्रशोधन प्लान्ट (Effluent Treatment Plant-ETP) समावेशगर्ने सम्म, परियोजनाको प्रत्येकपक्ष ध्यानपूर्वक योजनाबद्ध गरिएको र उत्तरदायीछ। ETP को समावेश विशेषगरी ध्यान दिन लायकछ, किनकि योवातावरणमा माइक्रोप्लास्टिकहरूको प्रदूषण कम गर्नमहत्वपूर्ण भूमिका खेल्दछ ।
पर्यावरणसुरक्षा अधिकारीको रूपमा, मेरो जिम्मेवारीभनेको PRF निर्माण र सञ्चालनकोप्रत्येक कदम राष्ट्रिय नियमावलीर वातावरणीय मानकहरूसँगमेल खाने सुनिश्चित गर्नुहो। यस उद्देश्यका लागि, मैले पर्यावरण र सामाजिक व्यवस्थापन योजना (Environmental and Social Management Plan-ESMP) तयारगरेको छु, जुन परियोजनाकोमार्गदर्शक कागजातको रूपमा कार्यगर्दछ। भरतपुरमा PRF स्थल मेरो हालकोक्षेत्र भ्रमणले कामदार रवरपरको समुदायको सुरक्षा महत्त्वपूर्णछ भन्ने कुराबुझ्नमा मद्दत पुर्यायो। कार्यस्थलमासानो लापरवाहीले महत्वपूर्ण जोखिम र घाइतेहुन सक्छ, त्यसैले सावधानीपूर्वकनिगरानी र सुरक्षाप्रोटोकल कडाइका साथ पालनाआवश्यक छ।
परियोजनास्थलको आधारभूत वातावरण बुझ्नर परियोजना सम्पन्नभएपछि त्यसलाई सकेसम्म नजिकैपुनः स्थापनामा प्रतिबद्ध हुनु चुनौतीपूर्ण रप्रेरणादायक दुवै हो। निर्माणफोहोर व्यवस्थापन गर्न र प्रदूषणनियन्त्रण गर्नदेखि लिएर व्यक्तिगतसुरक्षा उपकरण (PPE) को सही प्रयोगसुनिश्चित गर्न र कामदारहरूलाईव्यवसायिक स्वास्थ्य र सुरक्षा (Occupational Health and Safety) तालिमप्रदान गर्नसम्म, हामीले PRF निर्माण प्रक्रियामा महत्वपूर्णसुधारहरू ल्याएका छौं। अवश्यपनि, चुनौतीहरू बाँकी नै छन्।मौसम जस्ता बाह्य कारकहरूलेपरियोजनाको प्रगतिको प्रभाव पार्नसक्छ। मोनसुनको मौसमले केहीनिर्माण गतिविधिहरूलाई ढिलाइ गर्यो, तरयसले निर्माण सामग्रीहरूबाट धूलोउत्सर्जन घटाउने जस्तो अप्रत्याशितलाभ पनि ल्यायो&mdash;यसलेचुनौतीहरू पनि अवसरहरू प्रदानगर्न सक्छ भन्ने कुरासम्झाइरहेको छ।
मैलेसिकेको एक महत्वपूर्ण पाठभनेको व्यवहार परिवर्तनको अत्यावश्यकभूमिका हो। कामदारहरू नियमर निर्देशिका बुझ्नसक्छन्, तर ती परिवर्तनहरूलाईअपनाउने र जिम्मेवारीलिने इच्छा भने ठूलोमहत्व राख्छ। मेरो लक्ष्यभनेको यो परिवर्तनलाई प्रेरितगर्नु, कामदारहरूलाई उनीहरूको सुरक्षा रस्वास्थ्यको स्वामित्व लिने शक्ति दिनु, र PRF स्थलले उच्चतम वातावरणीयर सामाजिक मानकहरूपूरा गर्छ भन्ने सुनिश्चितगर्नु हो। म योमिशनमा पूर्ण रूपमा प्रतिबद्धछु र भरतपुरमा PRF स्थलको मेरो अर्को भ्रमणलाईउत्सुकता पूर्वक पर्खिरहेको छु।मलाई आशा छ किवातावरणीय र सामाजिकसुरक्षामा निरन्तर प्रगति देख्नपाइनेछ । दृढता, नवप्रवर्तन, र सहकार्यको साथ, हामी प्लास्टिक प्रदूषणको लहरलाई हरित मार्गमा लैजान र, थप दिगो भविष्यको बाटो तयार गर्न सक्छौं।
तस्वीर: लिला&nbsp;पौडेल,&nbsp;वातावरण&nbsp;सुरक्षा&nbsp;अधिकारी,&nbsp;क्याप&nbsp;परियोजना

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing and challenging environmental crisis of our time

Beyond Awareness: My Role in Environmental Safeguarding

चेतना भन्दा बाहिर: पर्यावरण संरक्षणमा मेरो भूमिका

"The presence of dolphins here is an important indicator of the river's ecological health, emphasizing the need for ongoing conservation initiatives."
By Ujjwal Upadhyay -Team Lead, Project CAP
The recent sighting of an Asian River Dolphin in the Rapti River near Chitwan National Park has captivated conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts alike.&nbsp;
This remarkable species, part of the genus Platanista, inhabits the waterways of the Indian subcontinent and was historically considered a single species with the Ganges and Indus river dolphins as subspecies. However, recent genetic and morphological research has identified them as distinct species. The Ganges and Indus river dolphins are now recognized as distinct, diverging approximately 550,000 years ago. These dolphins are the only living members of the family Platanistidae and the superfamily Platanistoidea, with fossils of their ancient relatives dating back to the late Oligocene.
Unfortunately, Ganges River dolphins have become increasingly scarce in Nepal. In 2016, the Department of Wildlife Conservation and National Parks estimated that only 52 remained in the country, with 43 in the Karnali River and its tributaries and nine in the Kosi River.&nbsp;
In 2022, however, the situation appeared to change when a dolphin was discovered in the Narayani River near Bharatpur Metropolitan City after being thought to be extinct for years. This species was previously abundant on the site, but this rare sighting highlighted the severe impact of pollution&mdash;chemical, plastic, and acoustic&mdash;on their populations. The Gandak Barrage, built along the Indo-Nepal border, has also served as a barrier, preventing dolphins from crossing between rivers, exacerbating their decline.
Dolphin sightings in the Rapti River from August 22 to 24 have provided a glimmer of hope. This area, located more than 20 kilometers upstream from the confluence with the Narayani River, continues to be an ecological hotspot with a high biodiversity. The presence of dolphins here is an important indicator of the river's ecological health, emphasizing the need for ongoing conservation initiatives.
Dolphins are often considered the epitome of a clean river environment. However, their populations have plummeted over the last few decades due to a variety of threats such as dam construction, entanglement in fishing nets, boat traffic, and pollution. Among these, plastic waste has emerged as a critical issue. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), immediate action is required to prevent the extinction of these charismatic animals, about which we know little.
Project CAP has taken significant steps to address these concerns, including initiatives aimed at river cleanup and plastic waste management. The project aims to restore the health of rivers such as the Rapti by addressing plastic pollution.&nbsp;
Key initiatives include river clean-up campaigns involving local youths and stakeholders, the establishment of waste-smart clubs in schools to educate children about plastic use and disposal, and technological advances in plastic recycling. These efforts not only seek to reduce plastic waste but also to create job opportunities in marginalized communities by hiring people to collect and recycle plastics.
The survival of dolphins and other aquatic species is dependent on our ability to keep rivers clean and healthy. Project CAP aims to preserve rivers as vibrant ecosystems for wildlife by addressing plastic pollution through targeted initiatives and community involvement.&nbsp;
Collaborative efforts are required to combat the threats to these species and protect their habitats for future generations. The recent dolphin sightings in the Rapti River highlight the importance of these efforts and emphasize the need for ongoing vigilance and action in our conservation efforts.&nbsp;
The recent dolphin sighting has energized the Project CAP team, emphasizing the importance of our ongoing efforts to keep the Rapti River clean and ecologically healthy. Project CAP remains committed to expanding their river cleanup efforts and improving ecosystem restoration. Our commitment is to ensure that the Rapti River continues to support a diverse range of species and provide a thriving natural habitat for many years to come.

डल्फिन संरक्षणका लागि नदी सरसफाई अभियान र प्लास्टिक फोहोर व्यवस्थापन कति महत्वपूर्ण छ ?
यहाँ डल्फिन हुनु हाम्रो नदीको पारिस्थितिक स्वास्थ्यको महत्वपूर्ण संकेत हो, यसलाई निरन्तर संरक्षण गर्नुपर्ने आवश्यकतालाई जोड दिन्छ ।&nbsp; उज्वल उपाध्याय, टीम लीड, क्याप परियोजना&nbsp; चितवन राष्ट्रिय निकुञ्ज नजिकको च्बउतष् नदीमा हालैको एशियाली नदी डल्फिनको अवलोकनले संरक्षणकर्ताहरू र वन्यजन्तु उत्साहीहरूलाई मोहित पार्दै आएको छ। यो प्रजाति जीनस प्लाटानिस्टाको अंश हो, जो भारतीय उपमहाद्वीपका पानीवाटाहरूसँग सम्बन्धित छ र ऐतिहासिक रूपमा यसलाई गंगा र सिन्धु नदी डल्फिनहरूको उपप्रजातिका रूपमा पहिचान गरिएको थियो । हालको आनुवंशिक र रूपात्मक अनुसन्धानले तिनीहरूलाई अलग अलग प्रजातिहरूको रूपमा पहिचान गरेको छ । गंगा र सिन्धु नदीका डल्फिनहरू अहिले स्पष्ट रूपमा अलग प्रजातिहरूको रूपमा मानिएका छन, जसको विभाजन लगभग ५५०००० वर्ष पहिले भएको थियो । यी डल्फिनहरू Platanistidae परिवार र Platanistoidea सुपरफ्यामिलीका मात्र जीवित सदस्यहरू हुन् र तिनीहरूको प्राचीन पूर्वजहरूको फासिलहरू लेट ओलिगोसीनको समयका हुन । दुर्भाग्यवश, नेपालमा गंगा नदीका डल्फिनहरू निकै दुर्लभ रुपमा पाइन्छ । सन् २०१६ मा वन्यजन्तु संरक्षण र राष्ट्रिय निकुञ्ज विभागले देशभरि केवल ५२ डल्फिनरु मात्र बाँकी रहेको अनुमान गरेको थियो, जसमा ४३ वटा कर्णाली नदी र यसको उपनदीहरूमा र ९ वटा कोसी नदीमा भेटिएको थियो । तर, सन् २०२२ मा स्थिति परिवर्तन हुन सक्ने संकेत देखार्पयो, जब भरतपुर महानगरपालिकाको नजिकै नारायणी नदीमा एक डल्फिन फेला परेको थियो । जुन बर्षाैंदेखि विलुप्त हुदैं गएको अनुमान गरिएको थियो । यो प्रजाति पहिले यस स्थानमा प्रचुर मात्रामा पाइन्थ्यो, तर यो दुर्लभ अवलोकनले प्रदूषण&mdash;रासायनिक, प्लास्टिक, र ध्वनिको कारणले तिनीहरूको जनसंख्यामा गम्भीर प्रभाव पारेको संकेत दिएको छ । इन्डो नेपाल सीमा वरिपरि बनाइएको गण्डक ब्यारेजले पनि डल्फिनहरु नदीहरूको बीचमा पार गर्न नपाउने अवरोध सृजना गरेको छ, जसले डल्फिनहरुको संख्या घट्ने क्रमलाई अझै बढी तिव्रता प्रदान गरेको छ ।&nbsp; यही, २०२४, अगस्त २२ देखि २४ सम्म राप्ती नदीमा देखिएका डल्फिनहरुले आशाको एक दियो बालेको छ । यो क्षेत्र, नारायणी नदीसँगको संगमबाट २० किलोमिटर भन्दा बढी माथि अवस्थित छ, उच्च जैविक विविधता भएको पारिस्थितिकीय हटस्पट बनेको छ । यहाँ डल्फिनहरुको उपस्थितिले नदीको पारिस्थितिक स्वास्थ्यको महत्वपूर्ण संकेत दिएको छ । जुन निरन्तर संरक्षण र संर्वद्धन गर्न अति जरुरी रहेको आवश्यकताको माग गर्दछ ।&nbsp; डल्फिनहरुहरू प्रायः सफा नदी वातावरणको आदर्श मानिन्छ । तर, तिनीहरूको जनसंख्या विगत केही दशकमा विभिन्न खतराहरू जस्तै बाँध निर्माण, माछा मार्ने नेटमा अड्कन, बोट यातायात, र प्रदूषणका कारण तिब्ररुपमा घटेको छ । यीमध्ये, प्लास्टिकको फोहोर एक प्रमुख समस्या हो । विश्व वन्यजन्तु कोष (wwf) का अनुसार, यी आकर्षक चमत्कारी जन्तुहरु विलुप्त हुन रोक्न तात्कालिक आवश्यक कदमहरू चाल्न आवश्यक छ, जसको बारेमा हामी थोरै मात्र जानकार छौं । क्याप परियोजनाले यी चिन्ताहरूलाई सम्बोधन गर्न महत्वपूर्ण कदमहरू चालेको छ, जसमा नदी सफा गर्ने र प्लास्टिकको फोहोर व्यवस्थापन गर्ने पहलहरू समावेश छ । यो परियोजनाले राप्ती जस्ता नदीहरूको स्वास्थ्यलाई पुनस्र्थापित गर्न प्लास्टिक प्रदूषणलाई सम्बोधन गर्न महत्वपूर्ण लक्ष्य निर्धारण गरेको छ ।&nbsp; परियोजना अन्र्तगत स्थानीय युवाहरू र सरोकारवालासँग नदी सफा गर्ने अभियान, विद्यालयहरूमा प्लास्टिक प्रयोग र निपटानका बारेमा शिक्षित गर्ने वेस्ट स्मार्ट क्लबहरूको स्थापना, र प्लास्टिक रिसाइक्लिङमा प्रविधिगत प्रगति जस्ता मुख्य पहलहरु समावेश छ । यी प्रयासहरूले प्लास्टिक फोहोर घटाउने मात्र होइन, सिमान्तकृत समुदायका लागि कामको अवसर सिर्जना गर्न पनि मद्दत पुरयाउँछनेछ उनीहरु प्लास्टिकजन्य फोहोर संकलन र रिसाइक्लिङमा संलग्न हुनेछन ।&nbsp; डल्फिन र अन्य जलजन्तु प्रजातिहरूको बचाउ गर्नु हाम्रो नदीहरूलाई सफा र स्वस्थ राख्ने क्षमता माथि निर्भर छ । क्याप परियोजना प्लास्टिक प्रदूषण केन्द्रित लक्षित पहल र समुदायको संलग्नता मार्फत नदीहरूलाई जीवित पारिस्थितिक तन्त्रको रूपमा संरक्षण गर्ने लक्ष्य राखेको छ ।&nbsp; यी प्रजातिहरूको अवरोध र खतरासँग लड्न र तिनीहरूको बासको रक्षा गर्न साझा दृष्टिकोण सहितको सहयोगात्मक प्रयासहरू आवश्यक छ । राप्ती नदीमा हालको डल्फिनको अवलोकनले यी प्रयासहरूको महत्वलाई अझै बढी झल्काउँछ । हाम्रो संरक्षण प्रयासमा निरन्तर सतर्क र क्रियाशील रहनु जरुरी छ ।&nbsp; हालको डल्फिनको अवलोकनले क्याप परियोजना टोलीलाई ऊर्जा प्रदान गरेको छ, जसले राप्ती नदीलाई सफा र पारिस्थितिक रूपमा स्वस्थ राख्नु पर्ने महत्वलाई अझै जोड दिएको छ । क्याप परियोजनाले नदी सफा गर्ने प्रयासहरूलाई विस्तार गर्ने र पारिस्थितिकी पुनस्र्थापनामा सुधार गर्ने प्रतिबद्धता लिएको छ । हाम्रो प्रतिबद्धता भनेको राप्ती नदीलाई विविध प्रजातिहरूको जनजन्तुहरुको विचरणलाई सहयोग गर्न र धेरै वर्षहरूका लागि समृद्ध प्राकृतिक आवास प्रदान गर्न सुनिश्चित गर्नु हो ।

The presence of dolphins here is an important indicator of the river's ecological health, emphasizing the need for ongoing conservation initiatives.

Why is dolphin conservation critical through clean river initiatives and plastic waste management

डल्फिन संरक्षणका लागि नदी सरसफाई अभियान र प्लास्टिक फोहोर व्यवस्थापन कति महत्वपूर्ण छ

Ms. Larisha serves as a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Specialist at CREASION, spearheading efforts to establish an efficient MERL system for projects led by CREASION.&nbsp;
She was a vital part of the Green Circuit Marathon, organised by CREASION from June 29 to July 4, evaluating and monitoring each activity of the marathon critical to its effective execution. She shared her experience briefly with our publication team.
Excerpts from the conversation:
&nbsp;
1. What exactly does GCM (Green Circuit Marathon) mean to you?
An arduous effort to shift from planning to actionable execution by encouraging active participation of local community members on ground. A power-packed experience that exhibited the remarkable outcomes possible when the community works in unison.
2. How did you find the experience of participating?
The experience was incredibly insightful. Engaging with local communities, youth cohort members, students, principals, and focal teachers provided valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities within the community. It offered a clearer understanding of the areas requiring regular monitoring and further support to achieve effective outcomes. Additionally, it was gratifying to witness the active participation of local communities.
3. What are the outcomes?
The Green Circuit Marathon successfully laid the foundation for the Waste Smart School Activities, which are pivotal in bringing behavioural changes among students. One of the project's core objectives is to engage key stakeholders to create an enabling environment for effective plastic waste management through education. Students are central to this effort, as Project CAP aims to not only address the immediate challenge of plastic waste but also to establish a framework for a future where environmental responsibility is a daily practice. By nurturing a generation of environmentally conscious individuals, the project aspires to inspire enduring change that extends from the classroom to the broader community.&nbsp; Similarly, the marathon successfully facilitated the hands-on activities led by the Youth Cohort, which united local community members and authorities. These activities were crucial in advancing the project&rsquo;s goals of raising awareness and promoting advocacy at the local level.&nbsp;
4. What could have been better?
It would have been beneficial if the marathon had been extended slightly to allow more time for gathering community insights, holding additional stakeholder discussions, and conducting reflection sessions with the VFC youth cohort. It would also have been useful to have more time with focal teachers to discuss their experiences thus far.
5. Was your component adequately addressed throughout the activities? If so, please explain why. If not, what are the reasons?
In my role as a MERL specialist, my primary aim was to collect comprehensive baseline data from Waste Smart Club (WSC) members to measure student behavioural changes towards the end of the project intervention. We achieved this by collecting data from club members across all six&nbsp; (municipalities) during the trip. Another objective was to oversee the Waste Smart School and river clean-up activities, pinpointing areas for improvement and further monitoring, which have been effectively identified and documented.

सुश्री लरीशा क्रिएसनमा अनुगमन, मूल्यांकन, अनुसन्धान, र अध्ययन (MERL) विशेषज्ञको रूपमा कार्य गर्दैछिन् । क्रिएसनको नेतृत्वमा सञ्चालित परियोजनाहरु लागि उनी एक कुशल MERL प्रणाली स्थापना गर्ने प्रयासमा अघि बढ्दैछिन् ।
उनी क्रिएसनद्वारा २९ जूनदेखि ४ जुलाईसम्म आयोजित ग्रीन सर्किट म्याराथनको एक महत्वपूर्ण हिस्सा थिइन्, जसले म्याराथनको प्रत्येक गतिविधिको मूल्यांकन र अनुगमन गरिन्, जुन यसको प्रभावकारी कार्यान्वयनका लागि महत्वपूर्ण थियो। उनले हाम्रो प्रकाशन टोलीसँग संक्षिप्त रूपमा आफ्नो अनुभव साझा गरिन् ।
सम्वादका अंशहरू:
तपाईको&nbsp;लागि&nbsp;ग्रीन&nbsp;सर्किट&nbsp;म्याराथन&nbsp;(GCM)&nbsp;ले&nbsp;वास्तवमा&nbsp;के&nbsp;अर्थ&nbsp;राख्छ?
स्थानीय&nbsp;समुदायका&nbsp;सदस्यहरूको&nbsp;सक्रिय&nbsp;सहभागितालाई&nbsp;प्रोत्साहन&nbsp;गरेर&nbsp;योजनादेखि&nbsp;कार्यान्वयनमा&nbsp;ल्याउने&nbsp;एक&nbsp; प्रयास ।&nbsp;एउटा&nbsp;शसक्त&nbsp;अनुभव&nbsp;जसले&nbsp;सामुदायिक&nbsp;एकतामा&nbsp;काम&nbsp;गर्दा&nbsp;सम्भव&nbsp;उल्लेखनीय&nbsp;परिणामहरू&nbsp;देखाउन&nbsp;सकिन्छ&nbsp;।
तपाईंले यसमा भाग लिदाँको अनुभव कस्तो पाउनुभयो ?
अनुभव अविश्वसनीय र अर्थपूर्ण थियो। स्थानीय समुदायहरू, युवा समूहका सदस्यहरू, विद्यार्थीहरू, प्रिन्सिपलहरू, र फोकल शिक्षकहरूसँग संलग्न भएर समुदाय भित्रका चुनौतीहरू र अवसरहरूमा बहुमूल्य दृष्टिकोण प्रदान गरे। यसले प्रभावकारी नतिजाहरू प्राप्त गर्न नियमित अनुगमन र थप सहयोग चाहिने क्षेत्रहरूको स्पष्ट बुझाइ प्रदान गर्&zwj;यो। थप रूपमा, स्थानीय समुदायहरूको सक्रिय सहभागिता देख्न पाउँदा खुसी लाग्यो ।
परिणामहरू के &nbsp;के हुन् ?
ग्रीन&nbsp;सर्किट&nbsp;म्याराथनले&nbsp;वेस्ट&nbsp;स्मार्ट&nbsp;स्कुलका&nbsp;गतिविधिका&nbsp;लागि&nbsp;आधार&nbsp;तयार&nbsp;गर्न&nbsp;सफल&nbsp;भयो,&nbsp;जुन&nbsp;विद्यार्थीहरू&nbsp;बीच&nbsp;व्यवहारिक&nbsp;परिवर्तन&nbsp;ल्याउन&nbsp;महत्वपूर्ण&nbsp;छन्।&nbsp;परियोजनाको&nbsp;एक&nbsp;मुख्य&nbsp;उद्देश्य&nbsp;भनेको&nbsp;शिक्षा&nbsp;मार्फत&nbsp;प्रभावकारी&nbsp;प्लास्टिक&nbsp;फोहोर&nbsp;व्यवस्थापनको&nbsp;लागि&nbsp;एक&nbsp;सक्षम&nbsp;वातावरण&nbsp;सिर्जना&nbsp;गर्न&nbsp;प्रमुख&nbsp;सरोकारवालासँग&nbsp;संलग्न&nbsp;हुनु&nbsp;हो ।&nbsp;विद्यार्थीहरू&nbsp;यस&nbsp;प्रयासको&nbsp;केन्द्रीय&nbsp;हिस्सा&nbsp;हुन्&nbsp;।&nbsp;किनकि,&nbsp;क्याप&nbsp;परियोजनाले&nbsp;केवल&nbsp;प्लास्टिक&nbsp;फोहोरको&nbsp;तात्कालिक&nbsp;चुनौतीलाई&nbsp;सम्बोधन&nbsp;गर्नु&nbsp;मात्र&nbsp;होइन,&nbsp;भविष्यमा&nbsp;वातावरणीय&nbsp;जिम्मेवारी&nbsp;दैनिक&nbsp;अभ्यासको&nbsp;रूपमा&nbsp;स्थापना&nbsp;गर्ने&nbsp;फ्रेमवर्क&nbsp;सिर्जना&nbsp;गर्ने&nbsp;लक्ष्य&nbsp;राख्छ ।&nbsp;वातावरणीय&nbsp;सचेत&nbsp;व्यक्तिहरूको&nbsp;एक&nbsp;पुस्ता&nbsp;तयार&nbsp;गर्दै&nbsp;परियोजनाले&nbsp;कक्षाकोठाबाट&nbsp;लिएर&nbsp;व्यापक&nbsp;समुदायसम्म&nbsp;दिगो&nbsp;परिवर्तनलाई&nbsp;प्रेरित&nbsp;गर्ने&nbsp;आशा&nbsp;राख्छ ।&nbsp;यसैगरी,&nbsp;म्याराथनले&nbsp;Youth Cohort&nbsp;द्वारा&nbsp;नेतृत्व&nbsp;गरिएका&nbsp;व्यावहारिक&nbsp;गतिविधिहरूलाई&nbsp;सफलतापूर्वक&nbsp;सहज&nbsp;बनायो,&nbsp;जसले&nbsp;स्थानीय&nbsp;समुदायका&nbsp;सदस्यहरू&nbsp;र&nbsp;अधिकारीहरूलाई&nbsp;एकताबद्ध&nbsp;गर्यो।&nbsp;यी&nbsp;गतिविधिहरू&nbsp;परियोजनाका&nbsp;उद्देश्यहरूलाई&nbsp;बढावा&nbsp;दिन&nbsp;र&nbsp;स्थानीय&nbsp;स्तरमा&nbsp;प्रवर्धन&nbsp;गर्न&nbsp;महत्त्वपूर्ण&nbsp;थिए ।
के&nbsp;कुरा&nbsp;अझ&nbsp;राम्रो&nbsp;हुनसक्ने&nbsp;थियो?
यदि&nbsp;म्याराथनलाई&nbsp;थोरै&nbsp;विस्तार&nbsp;गरिएको&nbsp;भए&nbsp;यसले&nbsp;समुदायका&nbsp;दृष्टिकोणहरू&nbsp;सङ्कलन&nbsp;गर्न,&nbsp;थप&nbsp;सरोकारवालासँग&nbsp;छलफल&nbsp;गर्न,&nbsp;र&nbsp;VFC&nbsp;युवा&nbsp;समूहसँग&nbsp;विचार&nbsp;विमर्श&nbsp;सत्रहरू&nbsp;सञ्चालन&nbsp;गर्न&nbsp;थप&nbsp;समय&nbsp;प्रदान&nbsp;गर्ने&nbsp;थियो ।&nbsp;फोकल&nbsp;शिक्षकहरूसँग&nbsp;अझ&nbsp;धेरै&nbsp;समय&nbsp;बिताएर&nbsp;उनीहरूको&nbsp;अनुभवहरू&nbsp;छलफल&nbsp;गर्न&nbsp;पनि&nbsp;उपयोगी&nbsp;हुने&nbsp;थियो ।
तपाईंको&nbsp;बिषयवस्तुहरु सञ्चालित&nbsp;गतिविधिहरूमा&nbsp;पर्याप्त&nbsp;रूपमा&nbsp;समेटिएको&nbsp;थियो?&nbsp;यदि&nbsp;हो&nbsp;भने,&nbsp;किन?&nbsp;यदि&nbsp;होइन&nbsp;भने,&nbsp;के&nbsp;कारण&nbsp;हो?
MERL&nbsp;विशेषज्ञको&nbsp;रूपमा&nbsp;मेरो&nbsp;प्रमुख&nbsp;उद्देश्य&nbsp;वेस्ट&nbsp;स्मार्ट&nbsp;क्लव&nbsp;(WSC)&nbsp;का&nbsp;सदस्यहरूबाट&nbsp;संपूर्ण&nbsp;आधारभूत&nbsp;डेटा&nbsp;सङ्कलन&nbsp;गर्नु&nbsp;थियो&nbsp;ताकि&nbsp;परियोजना&nbsp;अन्त्यतिर&nbsp;विद्यार्थीहरूको&nbsp;व्यवहारिक&nbsp;परिवर्तनको&nbsp;मापन&nbsp;गर्न&nbsp;सकियोस्।&nbsp;यो&nbsp;यात्रा&nbsp;दौरान&nbsp;क्लब&nbsp;सदस्यहरूबाट&nbsp;डेटा&nbsp;सङ्कलन&nbsp;गरेर&nbsp;हामीले&nbsp;यो&nbsp;प्राप्त&nbsp;गर्यौँ।&nbsp;अर्को&nbsp;उद्देश्य&nbsp;भनेको&nbsp;वेस्ट&nbsp;स्मार्ट&nbsp;स्कुल&nbsp;र&nbsp;नदी&nbsp;सफाइ&nbsp;गतिविधिहरूको&nbsp;अनुगमन&nbsp;गर्नु,&nbsp;सुधारका&nbsp;क्षेत्रहरूको&nbsp;पहिचान&nbsp;गर्नु&nbsp;र&nbsp;थप&nbsp;अनुगमन&nbsp;गर्नका&nbsp;लागि&nbsp;प्रभावकारी&nbsp;रूपमा&nbsp;पहिचान&nbsp;र&nbsp;दस्तावेजीकरण&nbsp;गरिएको&nbsp;छ ।

GCM: A power-packed experience with the remarkable outcomes possible when the community works in unison

In conversation with MERL Specialist

अनुगमन, मूल्यांकन, अनुसन्धान र अध्ययन (MERL) विशेषज्ञसंग गरिएको सम्वाद

Manisha Bhattarai is our in-house expert on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&amp;E). She was a part of the Green Circuit Marathon, organized by CREASION from June 29 to July 4, playing a pivotal role in addressing the safeguarding issue. Our publication team sat down with her for a small interview.
Excerpts from the conversation:
1. Tell us about Green Circuit Marathon (GCM)?
The Green Circuit Marathon (GCM), organized by the CREASION and led by CAP team, completed a diverse set of crucial project activities within just five days, including river cleanup, Waste Smart School Kit handover, e-Library setup, monitoring of PRF (Pet Recycling Facility) at Bharatpur , scoping of vulnerable (Majhi and Dhobi) communities from Golanjor and Bharatpur, baseline survey of Waste Smart School &nbsp;members, official formalization of waste smart club across six different municipalities.
It was an ambitious and productive event that helped us achieve some of the major project goals in a short period.
&nbsp;
2. How was your experience as a participant?
The GCM was exciting and wholesome&mdash;an experience I will probably remember all my life. However, I have to admit that it was a time-bound experience. It was exciting because we completed 7 activities back to back, which wouldn't have been possible without the team's outstanding support system.
We visited all six project sites within the 'Green Circuit' loop in the given period.
However, it was challenging to work without a break, moving from Kathmandu on the weekend without a break, and participating in river cleanup early every morning, followed by school activities and travel to new project sites, which left little time for proper rest. Fortunately, no one faced any health issues, and the weather was favorable despite the monsoon season, thanks to the team lead and weather expert Mr. Ujjwal Upadhyay and armed police force and Nepal army who actively participated in river cleanup campaign and ensured safety of the river clean up participants.
3. What are its outcomes?
The key outcomes of the GCM include:
The completion of river cleanup campaigns at 6 different locations from 7 different municipalities involving 425 participants (160 females, 38%, and 265 males, 62%) was achieved with diverse ethnic representation.
Meeting with Focal teachers and Waste Smart School principals, e-library set up, Waste Smart kit handover, base line survey among waste smart club members, official formalization of waste smart club with badges distribution to 121 Waste Smart School members. All these activities were done &nbsp; at ten government schools from six different municipalities.
4. What could have been improved?
Although the GCM was a huge success in executing the project activities, the planning could have been slightly improved by allocating sufficient time for each location. Proper planning between stakeholders and team members, travel time on the first day, and implementation of the activities on the next day could have made the schedule more convenient.
5. Was your component adequately addressed during the activities? If yes, please explain why. If not, what are the reasons?
My core responsibility was to ensure participant-safety during the river cleanup activity and conduct scoping of Majhi from Golanjor, Ichhakamana, and Dhobi from Bharatpur. Scoping with the Majhi community from Golanjor was an amazing experience, as I could spend a good three hours with the Majhi vulnerable community. Although we spent less time with vulnerable Dhobi community in Bharatpur, we still managed to get the job done. 
6. What could be done to address the lapses?
There is a room to reflect on time-management. But other than that, I would say we were quite efficient and productive. I personally am extremely satisfied with the success of the Green Circuit Marathon because to achieve seven major outputs in five days' time is no small feat.
&nbsp;

मनिषा भट्टराई क्रिएसन नेपालद्धारा सञ्चालित क्याप परियोजना अन्तर्गत लैंगिक समानता तथा समाजिक समावेशी -जेसी_ तथा अनुगमन र मुल्याङ्कन विशेषज्ञको रुपमा कार्यरत रहेकी छिन । उनी क्रिएसनद्धारा जुन २९ देखि जुलाई ४ सम्म आयोजित ग्रीन सर्किट म्याराथनमा सहभागि भई सुरक्षाका महत्वपूर्ण बिषयमा सराहनीय भूमिका खेलेकी थिइन । हाम्रो प्रकाशन टिमका सदस्यले यसै सन्दर्भमा गरेको संक्षिप्त कुराकानीको अंशः
१.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ग्रीन सर्किट म्याराथन -जीसीएम_ बारेमा बताउनुहोस ?
उत्तरः&nbsp; क्याप&nbsp;परियोजनाको&nbsp;अगुवाईमा&nbsp;क्रिएसनद्वारा&nbsp;आयोजित&nbsp;ग्रीन&nbsp;सर्किट&nbsp;म्याराथन -जीसीएम_,&nbsp;केवल&nbsp;पाँच&nbsp;दिनमा&nbsp;परियोजना&nbsp;अन्तर्गतका&nbsp;विभिन्न&nbsp;महत्वपूर्ण&nbsp;गतिविधिहरू&nbsp;सफलता&nbsp;पूर्वक&nbsp;सम्पन्न&nbsp;गरेको&nbsp;थियो&nbsp;।&nbsp;जसमा&nbsp;नदी&nbsp;सरसफाई,&nbsp;वेस्ट&nbsp;स्मार्ट&nbsp;स्कूल&nbsp;किट&nbsp;प्रदान,&nbsp;ई&ndash;लाइब्रेरी&nbsp;स्थापना,&nbsp;भरतपुरमा&nbsp;बन्दै&nbsp;गरेको&nbsp;पेट&nbsp;रिसाइकलिङ&nbsp;सुविधाको&nbsp;अनुगम&nbsp;र&nbsp;पर्यवेक्षण,&nbsp;त्यस्तै&nbsp;गोलाञ्जोर&nbsp;र&nbsp;भरतपुरको&nbsp;माँझी&nbsp;र&nbsp;धोवी&nbsp;समुदायको&nbsp;दयनिय&nbsp;अवस्थाको&nbsp;स्कोपिंग,&nbsp;वेस्ट&nbsp;स्मार्ट&nbsp;स्कूल&nbsp;सदस्यहरूको&nbsp;बेसलाईन&nbsp;सर्भे,&nbsp;वेस्ट&nbsp;स्मार्ट&nbsp;क्लबको&nbsp;आधिकारिक&nbsp;स्थापना&nbsp;र&nbsp;पाँच&nbsp;विभिन्न&nbsp;नगरपालिकामा&nbsp;स्थानान्तरण&nbsp;गरिएको&nbsp;थियो&nbsp;।&nbsp;क्याप&nbsp;परियोजनाको&nbsp;उदेश्य&nbsp;प्राप्तीका&nbsp;लागि&nbsp;छोटो&nbsp;समयमा&nbsp;गरिएको&nbsp;यो&nbsp;एक&nbsp;महत्वाकांक्षी&nbsp;उपलब्धीमुलक&nbsp;पहल&nbsp;थियो&nbsp;।
२.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; एक सहभागीको रूपमा तपाईंको अनुभव कस्तो रहयो ?
उत्तरः&nbsp;ग्रीन&nbsp;सर्किट&nbsp;म्याराथन&nbsp;रोमाञ्चककारी&nbsp;एक&nbsp;नौलो&nbsp;अनुभव&nbsp;थियो&nbsp;जुन&nbsp;मैले&nbsp;सायद&nbsp;मेरो&nbsp;जीवनभर&nbsp;सम्झिरहने&nbsp;छु&nbsp;।&nbsp;यद्यपि,&nbsp;मैले&nbsp;स्वीकार&nbsp;गर्नुपर्छ&nbsp;कि&nbsp;यो&nbsp;एक&nbsp;समयसीमा&nbsp;तोकिएको&nbsp;रोमाञ्चक&nbsp;पहल&nbsp;थियो&nbsp;।&nbsp;किनभने&nbsp;हामीले&nbsp;७&nbsp;वटा&nbsp;गतिविधिहरू&nbsp;एकपछि&nbsp;अर्को&nbsp;गर्दै&nbsp;सफलता&nbsp;पूर्वक&nbsp;पुरा&nbsp;गरेका&nbsp;थियौं,&nbsp;जुन&nbsp;टोलीका&nbsp;सबै&nbsp;सदस्यहरुको&nbsp;पूर्ण&nbsp;सहयोग&nbsp;बिना&nbsp;सम्भव&nbsp;थिएन&nbsp;।
तोकिएको&nbsp;समयसिमाभित्र&nbsp;हामीले&nbsp;ग्रीन&nbsp;सर्किट&nbsp;लुप&nbsp;भित्रका&nbsp;सबै&nbsp;परियोजनाका&nbsp;साइटहरु&nbsp;भ्रमण&nbsp;गरेका&nbsp;थियौं&nbsp;।&nbsp;बीचमा&nbsp;कुनै&nbsp;पनी&nbsp;दिन&nbsp;आराम&nbsp;नगरी&nbsp;काम&nbsp;गर्नु&nbsp;चुनौतीपूर्ण&nbsp;कार्य&nbsp;थियो&nbsp;।&nbsp;काठमाण्डौबाट&nbsp;प्रस्थान&nbsp;गरी&nbsp;लगातार&nbsp;एकपछि&nbsp;अर्काे&nbsp;परियोजना&nbsp;साइटमा&nbsp;भ्रमण&nbsp;र&nbsp;हरेक&nbsp;दिन&nbsp;बिहान&nbsp;नदी&nbsp;सरसफाईमा&nbsp;भाग&nbsp;लिनु,&nbsp;विद्यालयका&nbsp;गतिविधिहरू&nbsp;र&nbsp;नयाँ&nbsp;परियोजना&nbsp;स्थलहरूमा&nbsp;यात्रा&nbsp;गर्नु,&nbsp;जसले&nbsp;गर्दा&nbsp;आरामको&nbsp;लागि&nbsp;केवल&nbsp;थोरै&nbsp;समय&nbsp;बाँकी&nbsp;हुन्थ्यो&nbsp;।&nbsp;सौभाग्यवश,&nbsp;कसैलाई&nbsp;कुनै&nbsp;पनि&nbsp;स्वास्थ्यमा&nbsp;समस्याको&nbsp;सामना&nbsp;गर्नु&nbsp;परेन,&nbsp;मनसुनको&nbsp;मौसम&nbsp;भए&nbsp;पनि&nbsp;मौसम&nbsp;अनुकूल&nbsp;नै&nbsp;थियो&nbsp;।&nbsp;नदी&nbsp;सरसफाई&nbsp;अभियानमा&nbsp;सक्रिय&nbsp;सहभागिता&nbsp;र&nbsp;सबैको&nbsp;सुरक्षा&nbsp;प्रबन्ध&nbsp;सुनिश्चित&nbsp;गर्ने&nbsp;कार्यका&nbsp;लागि&nbsp;परियोजना&nbsp;टोलीका&nbsp;प्रमुख&nbsp;तथा&nbsp;मौसमविद्&nbsp;श्री&nbsp;उज्ज्वल&nbsp;उपाध्याय,&nbsp;सशस्त्र&nbsp;प्रहरी&nbsp;बल&nbsp;र&nbsp;नेपाली&nbsp;सेना&nbsp;धन्यवादका&nbsp;पात्र&nbsp;हुनुहुन्छ&nbsp;।
३.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ग्रीन सर्किट म्याराथनको उपलब्धीहरु के के हुन ?
उत्तरः &nbsp; ग्रीन&nbsp;सर्किट&nbsp;म्याराथनको&nbsp;मुख्य&nbsp;उपलब्धीहरु&nbsp;यसरी&nbsp;उल्लेख&nbsp;गर्न&nbsp;सक्छौं&nbsp;।&nbsp;७&nbsp;स्थानीय&nbsp;पालिकामा&nbsp;रहेका&nbsp;६&nbsp;विभिन्न&nbsp;स्थानमा&nbsp;करिब&nbsp;४&nbsp;सय&nbsp;२५&nbsp;जनाको&nbsp;वृहत&nbsp;सहभागिताले&nbsp;नदी&nbsp;सरसफाई&nbsp;अभियान&nbsp;सफलता&nbsp;पूर्वक&nbsp;सम्पन्न&nbsp;भयो&nbsp;।&nbsp;जसमा&nbsp;१६०&nbsp;महिला -३८%_&nbsp;र&nbsp;२६५&nbsp;पुरुष -६२%_&nbsp;सहित&nbsp;विभिन्न&nbsp;जातजातिको&nbsp;सहभागिता&nbsp;रहेको&nbsp;थियो&nbsp;।
श्रोत&nbsp;शिक्षकहरू&nbsp;र&nbsp;वेस्ट&nbsp;स्मार्ट&nbsp;स्कूलका&nbsp;प्रधानाध्यापकहरूसँग&nbsp;भेटघाट,&nbsp;ई&ndash;लाइब्रेरी&nbsp;स्थापना,&nbsp;वेस्ट&nbsp;स्मार्ट&nbsp;किट&nbsp;हस्तान्तरण,&nbsp;वेस्ट&nbsp;स्मार्ट&nbsp;क्लबका&nbsp;सदस्यहरू&nbsp;बीच&nbsp;बेसलाइन&nbsp;सर्वेक्षण,&nbsp;१&nbsp;सय&nbsp;२१&nbsp;वेस्ट&nbsp;स्मार्ट&nbsp;स्कूलका&nbsp;सदस्यहरूलाई&nbsp;ब्याज&nbsp;वितरण&nbsp;सहित&nbsp;वेस्ट&nbsp;स्मार्ट&nbsp;क्लबको&nbsp;औपचारिकता&nbsp;प्रदान&nbsp;।&nbsp;यी&nbsp;सबै&nbsp;गतिविधिहरू&nbsp;विभिन्न&nbsp;छवटा&nbsp;नगरपालिकाका&nbsp;दशवटा&nbsp;सरकारी&nbsp;विद्यालयमा&nbsp;सम्पन्न&nbsp;भएको&nbsp;थियो&nbsp;।
४.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; तपाईंलाई अझै के के सुधार गर्न सकिन्थ्यो जस्तो लाग्छ ?
उत्तरः&nbsp;&nbsp; ग्रीन&nbsp;सर्किट&nbsp;म्याराथनकौ&nbsp;दौरान&nbsp;परियोजनाका&nbsp;गतिविधिहरु&nbsp;कार्यान्वयन&nbsp;गर्नु&nbsp;ठूलो&nbsp;सफलता&nbsp;थियो,&nbsp;तर&nbsp;प्रत्येक&nbsp;स्थानको&nbsp;लागि&nbsp;पर्याप्त&nbsp;समय&nbsp;छुट्याएर&nbsp;योजनालाई&nbsp;थोरै&nbsp;सुधार&nbsp;गर्न&nbsp;सकिन्थ्यो,&nbsp;सरोकारवाला&nbsp;र&nbsp;टोलीका&nbsp;सदस्यहरू&nbsp;बीचको&nbsp;उचित&nbsp;योजना,&nbsp;पहिलो&nbsp;दिन&nbsp;यात्राको&nbsp;समय&nbsp;र&nbsp;भोलिपल्टका&nbsp;गतिविधिहरू&nbsp;कार्यान्वयन&nbsp;गर्दा&nbsp;समयतालिकाले&nbsp;थप&nbsp;सहज&nbsp;बनाउन&nbsp;सकिन्थ्यो&nbsp;।
५.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; तपाईंको सम्बन्धित बिषयवस्तु गतिविधिहरूमा पर्याप्त रूपमा सम्बोधन गरिएको थियो? यदि थियो भने, कसरी व्याख्या गर्नुहोस्, यदि थिएन भने, कारणहरू के हुन ?
उत्तरः &nbsp; मेरो&nbsp;मुख्य&nbsp;जिम्मेवारी&nbsp;नदी&nbsp;सरसफाई&nbsp;कार्यमा&nbsp;सहभागीहरुको&nbsp;सुरक्षा&nbsp;सुनिश्चित&nbsp;गर्नु&nbsp;र&nbsp;भरतपुरबाट&nbsp;गोलन्जोर,&nbsp;इच्छाकामना&nbsp;र&nbsp;धोबीको&nbsp;माझीको&nbsp;स्कोपिङ&nbsp;गर्नु&nbsp;थियो&nbsp;।&nbsp; गोलन्जोरबाट&nbsp;माझी&nbsp;समुदायसँग&nbsp;स्कोपिङ&nbsp;गर्नु&nbsp;एउटा&nbsp;अचम्मको&nbsp;अनुभव&nbsp;थियो&nbsp;।&nbsp;मैले&nbsp;जोखिममा&nbsp;रहेका&nbsp;माझी&nbsp;समुदायसँग&nbsp;करिब&nbsp;तीन&nbsp;घण्टा&nbsp;समय&nbsp;बिताए,&nbsp;त्यस्तै&nbsp;हामीले&nbsp;भरतपुरको&nbsp;जोखिममा&nbsp;परेका&nbsp;धोबी&nbsp;समुदायसँग&nbsp;कम&nbsp;समय&nbsp;बिताए&nbsp;पनि&nbsp;अपेक्षित&nbsp;रुपमा&nbsp;काम&nbsp;गर्न&nbsp;सफल&nbsp;भएका&nbsp;थियौं&nbsp;।
६.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; तपाईको विचारमा देखिएका त्रुटि र कमजोरीहरुलाई कसरी सम्बोधन गर्न के गर्न सकिन्छ ?
उत्तरः &nbsp; समय&nbsp;व्यवस्थापनमा&nbsp;सुधार&nbsp;गर्नुपर्ने&nbsp;प्रयाप्त&nbsp;ठाँउ&nbsp;छ&nbsp;।&nbsp; तर&nbsp;त्यस&nbsp;बाहेक,&nbsp;म&nbsp;भन्न&nbsp;चाहन्छु&nbsp;कि&nbsp;हामी&nbsp;कुशलतापुर्वक&nbsp;उपलब्धी&nbsp;मुलक&nbsp;काम&nbsp;गर्यौं&nbsp;।&nbsp;म&nbsp;व्यक्तिगत&nbsp;रूपमा&nbsp;ग्रीन&nbsp;सर्किट&nbsp;म्याराथनको&nbsp;सफलताबाट&nbsp;अत्यन्तै&nbsp;सन्तुष्ट&nbsp;छु&nbsp;किनभने&nbsp;पाँच&nbsp;दिनको&nbsp;अवधिमा&nbsp;सातवटा&nbsp;प्रमुख&nbsp;परिणाम -आउटपुटहरू_&nbsp;हासिल&nbsp;गर्नु&nbsp;कुनै&nbsp;सानो&nbsp;उपलब्धि&nbsp;होइन&nbsp;।

Manisha Bhattarai is our in-house expert on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E). She was a part of the Green Circuit Marathon, organized by CREASION from June 29 to July 4, playing a pivotal role in addressing the safeguarding issue. Our publication team sat down with her for a small interview.

In conversation with GESI Specialist

लैंगिक समानता तथा समाजिक समावेशी -जेसी विशेषज्ञ सँग गरिएको सम्वा

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW258025632 BCX4">Gajuri Rural Municipality, in collaboration with CREASION, has officially embarked on the journey of Project CAP (Collaborative Approach for Preventing Plastic Leakages in Rivers), a major initiative in the fight against plastic pollution.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>
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It also marked our first activity regarding CAP, which began with conducting outreach programmes and inking a MoU with Gajuri Rural Municipality. Our team signed a year long MoU with Gajuri municipality on 28 March 2024, Thursday for the CAP project with key representatives and officials Raju Adhikari, Chief Administrative Officer and Ward Chairperson Gangalal Shrestha.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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The agreement officially marked the start of a collaborative effort to carry out project activities aimed at reducing plastic leakages in the Gajuri Municipality rivers, with the collaborative participation of municipalities, schools, youths, and community members all working together.&nbsp;
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CREASION Team with eight principals from Gajuri Municipality at Gajuri Rural Municipality Office during discussion on the Waste Smart School implementation in respective schools One of the key components of Project CAP is the Waste Smart School program, which aims to raise environmental awareness among students and spread it to their families and the wider community. We also conducted outreach activities in school and with youth. Through our outreach efforts, we reached out to eight higher secondary school principals out of the total 10 government medium schools in Gajuri municipality about establishing and launching the Waste Smart School initiative.&nbsp; Principals were also briefed on the importance of Waste Smart School Clubs and how they involve students at the grassroots level in improving waste management concepts through Waste Smart Clubs.&nbsp;
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&nbsp;Similarly, through our youth outreach activity in Gajuri Municipality, our team reached 45 youths. Youth Outreach took place in Gajuri-rural municipality Adarsha Multiple Campus. A total of 45 youths were oriented on Volunteer for Change (VFC) and Youth Cohort objectives. Youths were clarified and informed through our interactive session on the pivotal role of youths in forwarding the collaborative approach to battling against plastic pollution in our waterways. They were informed about the possible positive outcomes, the Youth Cohort application process, tips and tricks for application, and the responsibilities of Youth Cohort moving forward.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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As a part of CAP&nbsp;(Collaborative Approach for Preventing Plastic Leakages in Rivers), CREASION held outreach programmes for youth cohorts, waste smart schools and signed Memorandums of Understanding with six municipalities.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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In a collaborative fight to protect our precious rivers from plastic leakages and pollution, seven municipalities across Nepal have embarked on a year long journey under the CAP (Collaborative Approach to Preventing Plastic Leakages in Rivers) project led by CREASION Nepal.&nbsp;
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Through CAP initiatives, CREASION has reached MoUs with seven municipalities, including Bardibas Municipality, Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Gajuri Rural Municipality, Golanjor Rural Municipality, Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, Ichhakamana Rural Municipality, and Lalitpur Metropolitan City. Through MoUs with CREASION, local governments have agreed to assist in the participation of schools, youths, and community members in order to reduce plastic leakages in Nepal's waterways. With support from UNOPS Sri Lanka, the World Bank, and the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme, this initiative takes a holistic approach to tackling the urgent problem of plastic pollution.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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क्याप (CAP) परियोजना क्षेत्रीयडायरीहरू:&nbsp;गजुरी&nbsp;अध्याय
गजुरीगाउँपालिका, क्रिएसनसँगको सहकार्यमा &nbsp;क्याप (CAP) परियोजना&nbsp;(नदीमा प्लास्टिक रिसावरोक्नको लागि सहयोगी दृष्टिकोण) कोयात्रा औपचारिक रूपमा सुरुभएको छ, जुन प्लास्टिकप्रदूषणविरुद्धको लडाईमा एक प्रमुखपहल हो। यो CAP सँगसम्बन्धित हाम्रो पहिलो गतिविधिथियो, जसले आउटरीच कार्यक्रमहरूसञ्चालन गर्न र गजुरीगाउँपालिकासँग एक सम्झौतामा हस्ताक्षरगर्ने कार्यसँगै प्रारम्भ भयो । हाम्रोटोलीले २८ मार्च २०२४, बिहीवारलाई गजुरी नगरपालिका प्रतिनिधिहरूसँगर प्रमुख प्रतिनिधिहरूराजु अधिकारी, मुख्य प्रशासनिकअधिकृत र वडाअध्यक्षगंगलाल श्रेष्ठसँग CAP परियोजनाको लागि एक वर्षलामो सम्झौतामा हस्ताक्षर गर्यो ।
सम्झौताले गजुरी नगरपालिका नदीहरूमाप्लास्टिक चुहावट घटाउने उद्देश्यलेपरियोजना गतिविधिहरू सञ्चालन गर्नको लागिएक साझा प्रयासको औपचारिकशुरुआत भयो । जहाँ नगरपालिका, विद्यालय, युवा, र समुदायकासदस्यहरू सबै मिलेर एकसाथकाम गर्दैछन् ।
क्रिएसन टोलीगजुरी&nbsp;गाउँपालिका&nbsp;कार्यालयमा&nbsp;गाउँपालिकाका&nbsp;आठ&nbsp;प्रधानाध्यापकहरूसँग वेस्ट स्मार्ट स्कुल &nbsp;(WSS)&nbsp;कार्यान्वयनको&nbsp;बारेमा&nbsp;छलफल&nbsp;गर्दै
क्याप (CAP) परियोजनाको एक प्रमुख घटकभनेको वेस्ट स्मार्ट स्कुल&nbsp;&nbsp;(WSS)&nbsp;कार्यक्रम हो, जसले विद्यार्थीहरूमावातावरणीय जागरूकता बढाउने रयसलाई उनीहरूको परिवार रव्यापक समुदायमा फैलाउने लक्ष्यराख्दछ। हामीले विद्यालय रयुवाहरूका साथ आउटरीच गतिविधिहरूपनि सञ्चालन गर्यौँ। हाम्रोआउटरीच प्रयासमार्फत, हामीले गजुरी नगरपालिकाअन्तर्गत १० सरकारी माध्यमिकविद्यालयहरूमा आठ उच्च माध्यमिकविद्यालयका प्रधानाध्यापकहरूसँग वेस्ट स्मार्ट स्कुल&nbsp;&nbsp;(WSS)&nbsp;पहल स्थापनाका बारेमाकुरा गर्यौँ। प्रधानाध्यापकहरूलाई Waste Smart School Clubs&nbsp;कोमहत्त्व र यसलेकसरी विद्यार्थीहरूलाई आधारभूत स्तरमा फोहोरव्यवस्थापन अवधारणामा सुधार ल्याउन संलग्नगर्दछ भन्ने कुरा पनिसंक्षिप्त जानकारी दिइएको थियो।
त्यस्तैगरी, गजुरी गाउँपालिकामा हाम्रोयुवा आउटरीच गतिविधिमार्फत हाम्रोटोलीले ४५ युवासँग सम्पर्कसाधेको छ । युवा आउटरीचगजुरी-गाउँपालिका आदर्श बहुउद्देशीय क्याम्पसमाभएको थियो। कुल ४५युवाहरूलाई Volunteer for Change (VFC)&nbsp;र Youth Cohort&nbsp;का उद्देश्यहरू बारेमा ओरिएन्ट गरिएकोथियो । युवाहरूलाई प्लास्टिक प्रदूषणविरुद्धको सहयोगी दृष्टिकोणलाई अगाडि बढाउनमा युवाहरूकोमहत्वपूर्ण भूमिकाबारे अन्तरक्रियात्मक सत्रमार्फत स्पष्ट गरिएको थियो।उनीहरूलाई सम्भावित सकारात्मक परिणामहरू, Youth Cohort आवेदन प्रक्रिया, आवेदनका टिप्स रट्रिक्स, र Youth Cohort का जिम्मेवारीहरू बारेमाजानकारी दिइएको थियो।
क्याप (CAP) परियोजनाको&nbsp;भागको&nbsp;रूपमा,&nbsp;क्रिएसनले&nbsp;युवाहरूकोसमूह,&nbsp;वेस्ट स्मार्ट स्कुल&nbsp;&nbsp;(WSS)&nbsp;को&nbsp;लागिआउटरीच&nbsp;कार्यक्रमहरू&nbsp;सञ्चालन&nbsp;गर्यो&nbsp;र&nbsp;छ&nbsp;नगरपालिका&nbsp;सँग&nbsp;सम्झौतामा&nbsp;हस्ताक्षर&nbsp;गर्यो ।
प्लास्टिक चुहावट (लिकेज) र प्रदूषणबाटहाम्रो अमूल्य नदिहरूलाई बचाउनकोलागि साझा लडाइँमा, नेपालकासात नगरपालिका क्रिएसन नेपालद्वारा नेतृत्व गरिएको क्याप (CAP) परियोजना&nbsp;अन्तर्गत एक वर्षको यात्रासुरू गरेका छन् ।
क्याप&nbsp;(CAP) परियोजनापहलमार्फत&nbsp;क्रिएसनले&nbsp;सात&nbsp;नगरपालिका&nbsp;सँग MoU&nbsp;प्राप्त&nbsp;गरेको&nbsp;छ,&nbsp;जसमा&nbsp;बर्दिवास&nbsp;नगरपालिका,&nbsp;भरतपुर&nbsp;महानगरपालिका,&nbsp;गजुरी&nbsp;गाउँपालिका,&nbsp;गोलन्जोर&nbsp;गाउँपालिका,&nbsp;हेटौंडा&nbsp;उप-महानगरपालिका,&nbsp;इच्छाकामना&nbsp;गाउँपालिका,&nbsp;र&nbsp;ललितपुर&nbsp;महानगरपालिका&nbsp;समावेश&nbsp;छन् ।&nbsp;क्रिएसन&nbsp;सँगको MoU&nbsp;मार्फत&nbsp;स्थानीय&nbsp;सरकारहरूले&nbsp;विद्यालय,&nbsp;युवाहरू&nbsp;र&nbsp;समुदायका&nbsp;सदस्यहरूको&nbsp;सहभागिता&nbsp;बढाउनको&nbsp;लागि&nbsp;प्लास्टिक&nbsp;चुहावट (लिकेज) घटाउन&nbsp;सहमत&nbsp;भएका&nbsp;छन् ।&nbsp;UNOPS&nbsp;श्रीलङ्का,&nbsp;विश्व&nbsp;बैंक&nbsp;र&nbsp;दक्षिण&nbsp;एशिया&nbsp;सहकारी&nbsp;वातावरण&nbsp;कार्यक्रमको&nbsp;समर्थनसँग&nbsp;यो&nbsp;पहलले&nbsp;प्लास्टिक&nbsp;प्रदूषणको&nbsp;तात्कालिक&nbsp;समस्यालाई&nbsp;समग्र सहयोगी दृष्टिकोणबाट&nbsp;समाधान&nbsp;गर्न&nbsp;लक्षित&nbsp;गरेको&nbsp;छ ।

Project CAP Field Diaries: Gajuri Chapter

क्याप  परियोजना फिल्ड डायरीहरू: गजुरी

Today marked a significant milestone for CREASION and Project CAP as team members gathered for a pivotal 'Know Your Plastic' session, led by Sujata Koirala, the General Secretary of CREASION and Deeji Manandhar, the program associate of CREASION. Against the backdrop of the 7th Global Recycling Day, this session shed light on the path to a more sustainable future.
In an era where the battle against plastic pollution rages on, understanding the intricacies of plastic composition is not just an option but an imperative. With meticulous detail, the session delved into the classification of plastics, unraveling the complexities of PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, and MLP. Beyond mere identification, the discourse ventured into the essence of plastic &ndash; its durability, dispensability, and most importantly, its recyclability.
Project CAP, the Collaborative Approach for Prevention Against Plastic Leakages in Rivers of Nepal, stands at the forefront of environmental stewardship. Its mission transcends borders, aiming to curb the insidious flow of plastic waste into our precious waterways. In this journey, knowledge becomes our most potent weapon. By arming ourselves with the ability to discern the nuances of plastic, we pave the way for effective intervention strategies.
Each team member emerged from the session not just equipped with knowledge but imbued with a sense of purpose. As we embark on this noble quest, let us remember that the path towards sustainability is not a solitary one. It is a collective endeavor, fueled by the passion and commitment of individuals united by a common cause. Together, let us forge ahead, for our rivers, our planet, and the generations yet to come.

आज क्रिएसन र क्याप (CAP) परियोजनाका लागि एक महत्वपूर्ण उपलब्धि पूर्ण दिन थियो । जब टोलीका सदस्यहरूले 'Know Your Plastic' सत्रको लागि भेला भएका थिए । जसको नेतृत्व क्रिएसन की महासचिव सुजाता कोइराला र क्रिएसन की कार्यक्रम सहायक दीजी मनन्धरले गरेका थिए । &nbsp;७ औं ग्लोबल रीसाइकलिङ डे को अवसरमा यस सत्रले थप दिगो भविष्यको मार्गलाई उजागर गरेको थियो ।
यस्तो युगमा जहाँ प्लास्टिक प्रदूषण विरुद्धको लडाइँ चलिरहेको छ, प्लास्टिकको संरचनाका जटिलताहरू बुझ्नु विकल्प मात्र होइन, अत्यावश्यक पनि हो। सूक्ष्म विवरणका साथ सत्रले प्लास्टिकको वर्गीकरण, PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, र MLP को जटिलताहरू उजागर गर्दै प्रवचनले प्लास्टिकको सार - यसको स्थायित्व, डिस्पेन्सेबिलिटी, र सबैभन्दा महत्त्वपूर्ण कुरा, यसको पुन: प्रयोगयोग्यतामा प्रवेश गर्दै जानकारी साझा गरेका थिए ।
नेपालका नदीहरूमा प्लास्टिक चुहावट (लिकेज) विरुद्ध रोकथामको लागि सहयोगी दृष्टिकोण क्याप (CAP) परियोजना वातावरणीय संरक्षणमा अग्रणी भूमिका खेलिरहेको छ। यसको मिशनले हाम्रो बहुमूल्य जलमार्गहरूमा प्लास्टिकजन्य फोहोरको चुहावट प्रवाहलाई कम गर्न लक्षित गरेको छ । यसका लागि ज्ञान हाम्रो सबैभन्दा शक्तिशाली हतियार हो । प्लास्टिकका सूक्ष्मताहरू बुझ्ने क्षमताले आफूलाई सशक्त बनाएर प्रभावकारी हस्तक्षेप रणनीतिहरूको लागि मार्ग प्रशस्त गर्नेछ ।
प्रत्येक टोली सदस्यले प्रदान गरिएको सत्र ज्ञानले मात्र सुसज्जित नभई परियोजनाको मुख्य उद्देश्यको भावनाले प्रेरित थियो । हामी यो याद गरौं कि दिगोपनतर्फको यात्रामा एक्लो छैनौं। यो एक सामूहिक प्रयास हो, जुन साझा कारणले एकजुट भएका व्यक्तिहरूको जोश र प्रतिबद्धताबाट उत्प्रेरित हुन्छ। सँगै, हामी हाम्रा नदीहरू, हाम्रो ग्रह र अझै आउने पुस्ताहरूका लागि योगदान दिएर सृरक्षित गर्न चाहन्छौं&nbsp; ।

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