• To celebrate the World Environment Day 2011
• To create awareness and responsibility on environment by various program.
• To develop participatory approach in environment conservation
• To provoke the environmental issues, problem and its effective measure to take in future.

1. 1.   Inter School Art Competition

 On the occasion of World Environment Day 2011, WEPCO has organized Inter School Art Competition in 1^stJune 2011 with theme “Forest: Nature at your service” by support of Ministry of Environment,Kathmandu. The program was held inNagarjunaAcademy, Kupondole with the support of the Nagarjuna Eco club volunteers, teachers and students.

All together 70 students from different 35 schools who are member of Environmental Education Promotion committee under WEPCO participated in this program. The program was held with Chairperson of Mr. Madhav Thapaliya, President (Environment Education Promotion Committee), Chief-guest Mr. Pradip Amatya, Chief Engineer (LSMC), Guest Bishnu Thakali, President (WEPCO) and Mr. Basant B.C, Program Coordinator (WEPCO).

Art Competition was completed with the marking system as following base:

Theme or Subject Matter: 50

Art Work:                            30

Cleanliness:                       20

Objective:

• To enhance students knowledge in environment issues.
• To create awareness by the medium of art.
• To alert World Environment Day 2011 slogan with save planet and its resource.
• To illustrate assignment created by students to mark World Environment Day.

Activities:

The programme started at 11:00am with the registration of all the participants. And formal programme started at 11:30am at Program Hall atNagarjunaAcademy. The Program was announced by the President of Nagarjuna Eco-Club Miss: Manisha Chaudhary. The program started with facilitation with President, WEPCO Bishnu Thakali.

a)   Bishnu Thakali, President (WEPCO)

Mrs. Thakali facilitated students about Women Environment Preservation Committee (WEPCO) and also about the importance about the World Environment Day. And she also insisted everybody to get involved for the environment.

b)   Pradip Amatya, Chief Engineer (Environment Section, Lalitpur)

Mr. Amatya described about the environmental condition of the country. He also told students that wrong traditions are practiced in the name to take over the society. He also insisted that if our future is ruined the so is our children’s. He also asked the students to use the color and art that can change the people’s thought about the planet. And he encouraged students to compete to depict an art that makes people to think about it.

c)  Madhav Thapaliya [(President, EEPC) Eco-Teacher-NagarjunaAcademy]

Mr. Thapaliya facilitated students about World Environment Day 2010, his experience about exhibition and the detail about the programme for World Environment Day 2011.

He also thanked WEPCO for providing platform to learn environmental techniques practically and the Environmental Education Promotion Committee, how it is formed and how does it works.

d)   Basant B.C, (Program Coordinator, WEPCO)

Mr. B.C facilitated the students about the rules and regulations about the competition and thanked everyone involved to make programme successful.

The Judge Committee was formed of three member presence of Mrs. Bishnu Thakali, President (WEPCO) and Mr. Basant B.C Program Coordinator (WEPCO). The committee selected 5 students as winners.

• Junu Maya Tamang, Neelgiri School(1^st prize)
• Manisha Chaudhary, Nagarjuna Academy(2^nd prize)
• Vijay Waibe Tamang, Ideal Eng. School(3^rd prize)

And consolation prize was given to two students as follows:

• Aahawan Shrestha, Everest Eng. School
• Samjhana Limbu, Sudesha High School

1. 2.   Speech and slogan competition:

In 2^nd June WEPCO organized Speech competition onIdealEnglishSchool, Chabahil Kathmandu On the support of Ministry of Environment. The program was based on the theme of this year Environment day slogan. All together 30 students from 15 Different schools were participated in that program. The whole program was supported by the volunteers of Ideal Eco club, Teachers and other students. The program was held with the chair person of Mr. Principal of Ideal English School Mr. Purna Lama, Chief guest Mrs. Sharada vaidya( Former president, WEPCO) and guest Bishnu Thakali( president, WEPCO)

Art Competition was completed with the marking system as following base:

Theme or Subject Matter   :   50

Performance                       :  30

Discipline                             :   20

Objective:

• To enhance students knowledge in environment issues.
• To create awareness by the medium of art.
• To alert World Environment Day 2011 slogan with save planet and its resource.
• To illustrate assignment created by students to mark World Environment Day.

Activities:

The programme started at 11:00am with the registration of all the participants. And formal programme started at 11:30am at Program Hall atIdealEnglishSchool. The Program was announced by the Teacher of Ideal English School. The program started with facilitation with President, WEPCO Bishnu Thakali.

Three Judges were chosen for the legislative of the program and they were Mrs. Sharada Vaidya(Former President, WEPCO), Mr. Upendra Bom(Environment consultant and Lecturer) and Mr. Binod Lal Thakali(Engineer,DWSS,KTM).

The judge committee selected four students as the winners and they are as follows:

• Manisha Chaudhary, Nagarjuna Academy(1^st)
• Prakash Neupane, Ideal Model School(2^nd)
• Nishant Joshi, Ideal Eng. School(3^rd)
• Pranav Ojha, Neelgiri School(3^rd)

On the same day slogan submitting competition was held on which every school have to submit the slogan which resembles the present theme of world environment day. All together 15 slogans were submitted and out  of those one best slogan was chosen by the Judge Mrs. Bishnu Thakali President, WEPCO and Basant B.C program Coordinator, WEPCO. The ultimate winner was Neelgiri School for submitting their best slogan in this program.

1. 3.   Bagmati Bank Plantation Program:

In 3^rd June WEPCO organized Bagmati Bank plantation Program fromBagmatiBridge to Teku road, Thapathali in coordination with,LalitpurSub-MetropolitanCity, UN-Habitat,NagarjunaAcademy and Friend’s Club.

About 50 people were presented in that program.

Objective:

• To create mass awareness among the people about the current condition ofBagmatiRiver.
• To aware people about environmental friendly techniques.
• To make people responsible for the conservation ofBagmatiRiver.

Activities:

The formal programme started at 7:30am atBagmatiBridge, Thapathali. The program was announced by the Program coordinator Basant B.C. The programme was followed by the chairing of the Chairperson, Mrs. Bishnu Thakali President (WEPCO). About, 500 plants were planted on that day with a variety of different species. Mostly the species which can grow in low water area and produce higher level of oxygen were planted at that day.

1. 4.   Environmental Rally:

In 5^th June on the auspicious occasion of the World Environment Day 2011, with the theme “Forest: Nature at your service” the environmental rally was organized by WEPCO in coordination with the member schools under Environment Education Promotion Committee for the national programme organized by Ministry of Environment. About 15 schools with 500 students participated in this rally which started from WEPCO’s office to Nepal Academy Hall. Students displayed the play cards about the conservation of environment and the theme of WED 2011. The inauguration ceremony organized by the Ministry of Environment was chaired by Hon. Minister Mr. Sunil Kumar Manandar, Ministry of Environment. And the chief Guest was Hon. Prime-Minister Mr. Jhalnath Khanal Nepal who awarded different organization as well as people working for the conservation of environment.

1. 5.   Environmental Result Publication and Prize Distribution Programme

This programme started on the 6^th June onIdealModelSchool, Dhobighat Lalitpur. The program was chaired as Chairperson by Bishnu Thakali, President (WEPCO) and Chief Guest was Chief Engineer, Mr. Pradip Amatya (Environment Section, Lalitpur) and Guest Madhav Thapaliya President of EEPC.

a)   Mrs. Bishnu Thakali, Chairperson

President (WEPCO)

Mrs. Thakali welcomed everybody attending the programme and facilitated the programme highlights and detail about the programme organized for auspicious occasion of World Environment Day 2011. And she also insisted the students to join hands for the conservation of the environment which is deteriorating day by day.

b)   Mr. Pradip Amatya, Chief Guest

Chief Engineer (Environment Section, Lalitpur)

Mr. Amatya facilitated the students about the present condition of the environment and also said students are the pillars of nation so they are responsible for the conservation. They should aware everyone about the environment, he said.

c)   Mr. Madhav Thapaliya, Guest President, (EEPC)

Mr. Thapaliya congratulated all the winners and facilitated about the contribution of WEPCO for the conservation of the environment by solid waste management for last two decades and also the WEPCO’s contribution for awaring and educating the students practically. She also congratulates the winners for the prize.

d)   Mr. Basant B.C,Programme Coordinator (WEPCO)

Mr. Basant thanked all the people, students, teachers, and organizations, institutions that joined hands to make the weekly World Environment Day 2011 program successful and fruitful. And he also congratulated the students winning the prize in the very program.

Inter-School Art Competition 2068(2011)

1.                              I.        1^st :Junu Maya Tamang, Neelgiri School
2.                            II.        2^nd : Manisha Chaudhary, Nagarjuna Academy
3.                           III.        3^rd : Vijay Waibe Tamang, Ideal Eng. School
4.                          IV.        Consolaltion: Aahawan Shrestha, Everest School
5.                           V.        Consolation:Samjhana Limbu, Sudesha High  School

Best Rally: - First      : Ideal Model School, Dhobighat

Second: Neelgiri School, Paknajole

Third    : Sudesha High School, Nakkhu

Best Eco- teacher     :  Suman Thapa, Neelgiri School

Best Eco- club           : Nagarjuna Academy,Kopundole

Conclusion:

The World Environment Day 2011 looks very rewarding and encouraging. The objectives of World Environment Day were fulfilled by organizing different programme. Different programme like Inter School Art Competition, Speech competition, Bagmati Bank Plantation Program, Environment Rally and Result Publication and Prize Distribution Program were very fruitful and successful with the huge students and mass mobilization.

Sensitization workshop on Biogas

WEPCO organized second Sensitization Workshop on Biogas in 31^st August 2010 with theme “Solution of Waste Biogas is the Best” supported by Give2Asia, in partnership with the Private and Boarding School Organization Nepal (PABSON) and in Local Development Training Academy Hall, Jawalakhel, Lalitpur.

All together 100 participants from different schools and students, participated in this programme. The programme was held with Chairmanship of Bishnu Thakali, President (WEPCO), Chief-guest Joint Secretary Mr. Reshmi Raj Pandey, Ministry of Local Development, and other distinguished guests from PABSON, Solid Waste Management and Resource Mobilization Center (SWMRMC), Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC).

Activities:

The program started at 11:00am with the registration of all the participants. And formal program started at 11:30am at LDTA Hall. The Program was announced by Yukta Yadav, President, Nagarjuna Eco-Club. The program started with chairing of all the guests and then inauguration by Chief Guest, Mr. Reshmi Raj Pandey and Mrs. Bishnu Thakali, President (WEPCO) gave Welcome Speech and facilitated the participants with the program highlights.

1. Bishnu Thakali, President (WEPCO)

Mrs. Thakali facilitated participants about Women Environment Preservation Committee (WEPCO) and also about the problem of Solid Waste in Kathmandu valley and the solution as Biogas comes before.  She also insisted everybody to get involved for the promotion of Biogas as eco-friendly solution. And she also highlighted about that half day program.

Paper Presentation:

• Topic: An Introduction to AEPC

Mr. Thakur Ram Devkota, Senior Advisor, Rural Energy (AEPC)

The first presentation of the day was about the introduction to Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC) that has been working for the promoting the alternative energy like biogas, solar energy, sudhariyeko chulho etc. Mr. Chaulagain also facilitated all participants about the subsidies provided by AEPC to the people interested to install biogas plants.

• Topic: Solid Waste Management

Mr. Om Bam Malla, Program Coordinator (WEPCO)

The second paper presentation was about basic things about solid waste management. The present condition of waste, how it is managed, and how we can manage it efficiently, were the few contents included in the paper.

• Topic: Solution of Waste Biogas is the Best

Mr. Jeeban Shrestha, Research Officer (WEPCO)

The third and the last presentation of the workshop was on biogas. Mr. Shrestha described the participants about the general introduction of biogas plant and its uses as well as advantage in different aspects like economic, environmental and social. He also showed the photographic representation of the process of biogas construction.

1. Open Discussion Session:

The open discussion session was started right after the paper presentation program. The queries from the participants were answered Mrs. Bishnu Thakali, President (WEPCO) for Organization and organizational contribution, Mr. Jeeban Shrestha (WEPCO) to answer about the technology and Mr. Thakur Ram Devkota (AEPC) and Mr. Toparam Acharya (SWMRMC) to answer about the governmental contribution and its related queries. Few participants who asked the questions about biogas related technology, subsidy for biogas, cost, advantages, demerits, etc.

i. Binod Chudal, Co-Principal (Nexus Int’l Academy)

ii. Geeta Khadka, Teacher (Suryodaya Secondary School)

iii. Laxman Prashad Marasini, Teacher (Mt. Glory School)

iv. Gauri Karmscharya, Principal (Mamata Vidya Sadan)

v. Nabaraj Mahat, Principal (Kanchan Secondary School)

vi. Ganesh Thagunna, Student (Golden Gate Int’l College)

vii. Bijaya Sambahamphey, General Secretary (PABSON)

viii. Prerana KC Kharel, Principal (Sankhadevi English School)

ix. Shree Krishna Neupane, Ranger (NTNC)

Some Questions asked at the workshop program are given below in points:

1. Alternative Energy Resources?
2. What is the subsidy for the hydropower in hilly region?
3. Solid Waste Management?
4. What is slurry?
5. What can we do for slurry?
6. What is the feeding rate of Biogas Plant?
7. What is the subsidy for biogas in hilly and mountain region?
8. What is different between biogas and cow dung gas?
9. What is the plant that can be used for biogas to produce efficiently?
10. What time is consumed to produce gas?

b)   Mr. Reshmi Raj Pandey, Joint Secretary Ministry of Local Development

Mr. Pandey thanked WEPCO to invite him in such program that deals with the urban environment and promised all participants to help them in their projects about the environment friendly technology. He also said that due to the solid waste problem in Kathmandu Metropolitan City he had to attain an important meeting in ministry but thinking this to be an important program he attended it. He also facilitated all the participants to work in hand in hand for the promotion of environment friendly techniques and alternative energy inside the valley. Since the problem of solid waste management is increasing day by day we have to decrease the amount of municipal waste so that we will have no problem in its disposal, he said. Thanking the PABSON for being partners in eco-friendly promotion he wished for the success of the program.

c)   Mr. Rajesh Khadka, President (PABSON)

Mr. Khadka thanked WEPCO for including PABSON in this program as a partner and was happy to join hand for an environment friendly techniques promotion. He wished for the success of the program.

d)   Mr. Vivek Dhar Sharma, National Program Assistant

UNDP GEF/SGP

Mr. Sharma also thanked WEPCO for organizing such an enthusiastic program about the organic waste management. He was grateful that the first program for biogas was started with joining hands between WEPCO and UNDP GEF/SGP. He also wished WEPCO for the success of the program.

e)   Mr. Toparam Acharya, Assistant Manager (SWMRMC)

Mr. Acharya expressed his gratitude to WEPCO for including SWMRMC in this program. He was happy to join hands for the promotion of biogas since it is the best technology to reduce the waste that has been a burning issue in Kathmandu Valley.

f)    Sharada Baidhya, Former President (WEPCO)

Mrs. Baidhya facilitated the participants about WEPCO its achievements and its contribution in solid waste management of Kathmandu Valley and she also thanked everyone involved to make program successful.

Request for Eco-Club and Library Membership Renewal of Students

We would like to inform you that Women Environment Preservation Committee (WEPCO) organizes the Environmental Education Campaign under “Environmental Education Promotion Committee”. During this campaign WEPCO conducts different programs for the students. There are about 47 school’s eco-clubs who are member under the Environmental Education Promotion Committee.

This is to request for the newly formed eco-clubs and the students of the school to renew their membership for school and library respectively and have an opportunity to take part in the different programs organized by this organization as well as visit the library for different environmental education books and literature.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING

Two day long LEADERSHIP TRAINING for the establishment of the Children Club was organized by WEPCO (Women Environment Preservation Committee) on 23^rd and 24^th of July, 2010 at Shree Mahalaxmi Higher Secondary School, Lubhu, Lalitpur. The Training was led by Ms. Bishnu Thakali, the president of WEPCO. All the students involved in the training are already a member of Lubhu village development committee’s Children’s Club formed under the supervision of WEPCO.

The first day training started at 10:45 am with a total of 15 students from 3 different schools and 3 members from WEPCO. Since prior training on “How to form a club” was already held, on the first part of the training students shared their progress on formation of Children Club. Students from Lubhu High School shared that they formed their club with a total of 15 members, they made an announcement in their school assembly about the club formation and they also made plans to publish their wall paper. They updated that they organized a cleaning program for which they collected money from their members. They also informed that their principal was very happy with their effort in the club and has promised to help.  Mahalaxmi Academy is going to form their club soon but they have already conducted school cleaning program and made their school aware on waste management. Mahalaxmi Higher Secondary School also informed that they established their club and have already conducted a cleanliness campaign.

Then the students were placed in 3 different groups (5 students in each group) namely organization, government office and society. Through this the students were made aware about how government offices, organizations and the society work in chain. Then the program started with a game where all the students had to introduce themselves and come up with the name of an animal with the same initial as their first name. They also had to talk a little about the animal they had chosen and why. By the end of the game, the students were given an example of various topics that could be included in their wall papers. This segment of the session was fun and informative.

The students were then asked to write few lines about what they expect from the training. Ms. Bishnu Thakali started a lecture on Leadership. She explained that “Leadership” means the quality to represent. She also talked about the qualities of a good leader like personal ability, the ability to unite people, quick decision making power, the capacity to punish and the skill to reward. The types of leadership were discussed under the following: Single leader; all things done by one, democracy: everyone gives their opinion and respectable leadership; leader lets other do everything.  Then the students were taught the leadership styles; giving instructions, persuasive, co-operative and handing over. It was also discussed that flexibility is one of the most important qualities of a good leader.

Then the second period was taught by Mrs. Rita Thapa about the importance of communication. She explained that the exchange of news, opinion, emotions and message is communication. She also gave an example of miscommunication. It was discussed that source, receiver, message and medium are the elements of communication.  She explained that there can be either one way communication or two way but both are equally important. In the middle of the lecture she made students play a game to show the importance of conveying the right information in communication. Students enjoyed the game and it also gave them a clear idea of how every information should be passed on properly or else it will lose its essence. Then one of the students shared a joke as entertainment which was followed by another game led by Ms. Bishnu Thakali. The motive of the game was to give an example of the importance of leadership qualities. Then the training resumed with the lecture on how to conduct a meeting. The format of the letter to inform about the meeting was discussed and an example was provided to the students. After teaching the students about how to write minutes, Rita maam asked the students to prepare a sample of the invitation letter and the minutes. The students worked in groups for about 45 minutes.  They also got a lunch break during the writing session.

The groups then presented their samples and discussed about their mistakes. Ms. Bishnu Thakali then resumed the class with a lecture on “What is fund?” She explained that Man, Money and Materials are the three pillars of fund. Discussions about how to raise fund and various programs that could be organized were held. Ms. Bishnu informed that the three major sources of fund raising are people, private companies and various organizations. She also emphasized on the eight rules of fund raising. Then the first day leadership training formally ended at 3:25 pm.

The second day of the LEADERSHIP TRAINING for the establishment of the Children Club, started at 10:45 am, with the evaluation of the first day’s training and activities. Only 10 students out of the 20 students were present representing 3 different schools. Ms. Bishnu Thakali started the first class about how to write a proposal. She started teaching with the layout of the front page. She then talked about the introduction which should include the information about the club or organization involved, objectives, previous experience etc. The reader of the proposal should be made aware about the need of the act, objectives of the program, plans to fulfill the objectives, the number of population that are going to benefit, ways to fulfill the set goals and the budget. It should also include the information like when and where will the program be conducted.

On the second period, Ms. Bishnu Thakali taught the students about reporting. She highlighted on the ABC concept of a report; A stands for accuracy, B stands for brevity and C stands for clarity. It was taught that the report can be categorized into four stages. The first stage is all about thinking. The report writer should always think; what am I writing about? What were the objectives? What did I collect? And who will be reading the report? On the second stage, the writer should make sure that the information collected is correct, think about an appropriate title and think about conclusion and the solution. Writing part starts from the third stage then finally on the fourth stage, the writer should cross check for the correctness of the report.

After the lecture on proposal and report writing the students were grouped into 2 groups and each group was asked to write a proposal and then write a report assuming that the program proposed was completed. The students were also provided with lunch during the practical session of the training. Ms. Bishnu Thakali left the training and handed the responsibility to Mr. Om Malla, WEPCO. Both groups took about two hours to come up with their samples and then each group was asked to present. Mr. Om gave then feedbacks and constructive suggestions.

On the final part of the training, the students were asked to go back to what they had written the other day on their expectations from the training and they were asked, to what extend were they satisfied. Most students said that they got what they wanted and they found it really useful. The second day of the two day long training officially ended at around 3:30 pm.

“INTERACTION PROGRAMME ON CLIMATE CHANGE,” organized by Women Environment Preservation Committee (WEPCO) in association with Environment Education Promotion Committee (EEPC), was held on 32^nd Ashad 2067 (16^th July, 2010) at the WEPCO office, Kupandole Lalitpur. There were a total of 16 participants from 6 different schools including two speakers and other members from WEPCO. The whole program was conducted by Mr. Om Bam Malla, Program Coordinator of WEPCO. The program was held under the Chairmanship of Ms. Bishnu Thakali, President of WEPCO.

The program was scheduled for 11.00 am but due to some technical difficulties it started off at around 11: 30 am with the welcome speech by Ms. Bishnu Thakali. Mr. Juddha Bahadur Gurung then gave a presentation on Climate change.  His presentation included topics like what climate change is and the reasons for the change. He used a lot of examples which made his speech entertaining and very informative. He talked a lot about the change in the pattern of the rainfall and the natural imbalance caused. He also emphasized on spread of diseases caused due to the climate change. He elaborated on the fact that Nepal being a country with the Himalayan range will experience more impact due to the climatic change. He also mentioned the incentives taken from Nepal’s side to control one of the most threatening problems in the world today.

The second speaker of the program, Mr. Bibek karki, Eco teacher from the Nagarjuna School, spoke on Global Warming. He mentioned three reasons for global warming; Greenhouse effect, disturbance in the hydrological factor and the anthropogenic causes.  He also talked about the effects of global warming like the rise in the sea level, threat for the countries in the coastal area, spread of the diseases, climate change and the economic problems. He talked especially the effect of global warming in the context of Nepal; the melting of the snow from the Himalayas and the harassment in the beauty of the country. He concluded his speech by mentioning that tree plantation, implementation of Eco friendly life, effort to reduce the level of industrial waste, promotion of alternative source of energy and awareness regarding this topic are the ways to address the world wide problem of global warming.

The last session show was FOCUS group discussion. The teachers as well as the participating students asked questions to the two speakers on their respective topics. The difference between global warming and climate change was discussed. It was also clarified that even as the temperature increases at this ratio, it cannot be said how long will life sustain on the Earth. It was also discussed that mass media is the most effective means of awareness on this sensitive issue. The students were suggested to spread the message through their school wall papers. There was an argument on the fact that developed countries like America and Europe are the biggest contributor of the problem of global warming but are they making an effort to prevent the future of our Earth. It was concluded that the people of the developed countries are not unaware but they are just used to living an extravagant life.

The program ended with a vote of thank by Madhav Thapaliya, Eco-Teacher Nagarjuna Academy and President of EEPC.