The event, which started on February 7, held auditions in six districts of Chitwan Annapurna Landscape (Kaski, Tanahu, Lamjung, Gorkha, Palpa and Mustang) and nine districts of Terai Arc Landscape (Dhading, Makawanpur, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Dang, Banke, Bardia, Kailali and Kanchanpur).[break]
Focusing on raising voices from the local to the national level through women’s inspiring stories via songs and poetry, the winners of the auditions from the districts sang and recited their poems based on conservation and nature, at the finale. Ritu Lama from Hetauda, Makwanpur won the song category while Basanta Subedi from Hemja, Kaski bagged the poetry category at national level. The finalist’s songs and poems are also to be recorded and played on national radio and FM stations, to create awareness on women’s roles in conservation and climate change.
Photos courtesy: WWF Nepal
Participants of the campaign “Amplifying unheard voices of women’s leadership in conservation and climate change” stand with Sheila Lutjens and John Stamm, Deputy Mission Director and General Development Office (GDO) Director of USAID, Nepal respectively at Hotel Yak & Yeti, Durbar Marg on Friday.
During the program, Chief Guest Anuradha Koirala, CNN Hero 2010 and Chairperson of Maiti Nepal, said that women are at the frontline of climate change, both as suffers and also as the ones creating alternative strategies and solutions. “Climate change has a big gender dimension and hence it is important that women’s voices and interests are heard and amplified through meaningful representation,” she added. Hailing the effort of the Hariyo Ban Program, Koirala imparted that events like these will provide further momentum to promote women’s leadership roles in conservation and climate change.
During the program, two women and man change agents who have worked to promote women´s leadership in conservation and climate change, were also recognized. In addition, Durga Gole form Makwanpur and Ek Bahadur Budhathoki Magar from Gorkha were also recognized for their exceptional work in promoting women´s engagement in conservation and increasing women´s participation in decision making as change agents. In addition to this Nanda Kunwar from Kailali was given special recognition to honor her bravery, leadership and high level of commitment in conservation and climate change.
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