The Gen Nep-Nation First was formally set up by the youths on October 1, 2012. 125 Gen Nep-Nation First volunteers have put in 13,446 hours of volunteering service working on their self designed projects which is set to begin outside the capital soon. The online volunteering facility set up by the initiative allows networking between volunteers and agencies seeking services of volunteers. [break]
Binod Chaudhary, president of Chaudhary Group, and Damodar Lamichhane, mentor of Chaudhary, handing over certificates to the volunteers at an event at the Chandbagh School in Bansbari on Tuesday.
Binod Chaudhary, President of Chaudhary Group; Nirvana Chaudhary, Managing Director of Chaudhary Group; Anil Chitrakar, Chairperson of Himalayan Climate Initiative and Prashant Singh, Founder and CEO of Himalayan Climate Initiative were present during the event to congratulate the Gen Nep volunteers on their achievements and wished them well for their future endeavors. Several celebrities like Nirnaya Shrestha, Raymon Das Shrestha, Shreya Sotang, and Prachanda Shrestha joined in the ceremony.
Binod Chaudhary, President of Chaudhary Group, said, “Nation-First, the word is so powerful in itself. If we had put these words into practice, our nation would have a different fate today.”
The Gen Nep-Nation First volunteers have, so far, worked in helping disadvantaged young women and reducing use of polythene shopping bags in the supermarkets of Kathmandu, raising funds, forging partnerships with corporate houses, development agencies and setting up a social enterprise.
The advocacy of The Gen Nep-Nation First volunteers led to the reduction of polythene bag consumption in Kathmandu by 25% to 40% at five different stores of Nepal’s largest supermarket chain. If annualized, this accomplishment would lead to lessening the consumption of polythene shopping bags in Kathmandu up to 4 million pieces a year.
With the help of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and several leading private sector organizations of Nepal, the idea for ‘Hamri Bahini Green Shopping’ took shape which has provided livelihoods opportunities to 68 women, mostly from disadvantaged background.
Anil Chitrakar, Chairperson of HCI, said, “The Gen Nep is more than just a volunteering platform. It teaches the youth to collaborate, critically think and help communicate creative ideas.”
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