If one still does recognize Baral as an NSU student cadre, then the person is mistaken. He has created his new identity as a youth activist. It is not only in Pokhara, but he is also popular as a youth leader in far-flung villages.
A local from Bajhpatan of Pokhara-13, Baral, 26, had an instinct for social activities from his childhood. He chose to shift to social sectors from political activities as he felt that political groups wanted to exploit the initiatives independently taken by him.
“Had I continued with the political organization, I would be in a higher political position at present,” he said, adding, “But I chose to quit politics, discouraged by the behavior of our political leaders.”
After some years of involvement in the youth sector, he established Youth Forum (YF) in 2003 with an objective to promote entrepreneurship and awareness in youths. Its objective was to mainstreaming youths in the development activities in the country. He worked with the forum for three years.
He joined Ashoka Forum for Young Social Entrepreneurs (AFYSE) in 2006. While working with AFYSE, he bagged an award carrying a purse of Rs. 10,000.
It was in 2005 when the Maoist insurgency was in its peak. He was with YF. He happened to meet a 14-year-old Maoist combatant in a village while he was on his way to Kalika village to attend a program on youth entrepreneurship.
The Maoist combatant and Baral held a long conversation. Baral was touched by the arguments given by the eighth-grade Maoist fighter. The teenager argued that he dropped his school and joined the Maoist insurgency as he found the education given in the school as hollow lessons without uses in practical life.
“After a long conversation with the boy, I realized that a large number of such teenagers have joined armed insurgency as the society has failed to guide them to constructive works,” Baral said, adding, “The Maoist combatant is the one who first triggered my mind to the concerns of youths.”
Baral remained busy in working out a plan on youth entrepreneurship while he was working with the Ashoka Foundation. It took about six months to finalize the name of the new organization- Alternative – which he established in 2006. Currently, this organization is working on four sectors – youth entrepreneurship, rural development, environment, and education. He thinks that the existing education policy of the country needs to be more oriented to entrepreneurship.
“About 400,000 youths are added to Nepal’s labor market each year. But they don’t find employment in the country and are compelled to choose foreign employment. The government should ensure employment for the youths,” he said.
He said that Alternative has started “After College” programs to stop students from leaving the country for employment.
The Alternative also established the Center for Entrepreneurship Development for Rural Youths at the Maharudra Secondary School at Sildjure in the district. The organization aims at establishing similar centers in all 43 VDCs of Kaski district. This is a part of “Entrepreneurship in Every Village Campaign” initiated by the organization.
The organization distributes communication devices, books, furniture and other useful goods in villages through the centers. Besides that, the Alternative is also supporting villagers in introducing modern concepts in agricultural activities.
Alternative gives priority to those who are jobless after dropping from their schools, or to those having returned home after working in foreign countries, and other youths active in social works under its programs.
The US-based Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) awarded Baral for his contributions to the sector of poverty eradication.
Former US President Bil Clinton launched the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) in 2007 to engage the next generation of leaders on college campuses around the world.
Baral is the first Nepali to bag the award, which comes with US$2,000. He was selected from about 800 youths in 60 countries. The foundation awards youths from across the world working in the sectors of poverty eradication, education, health, human rights, peace, and climate change. He is one of the 13 youths to bag the award on poverty eradication.
He will leave for the US to receive the award in 2010. A bachelor-level student, Jiban Baral is pursuing his study at Prithivi Narayan Campus of Pokhara in his district, Kaski.
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