3rd National Youth Conference for United States Youth Advisory Council concludes

	REPUBLICA KATHMANDU, May 20: Yuwa hosted the United States Embassy Youth Advisory Council (YAC), Nepal’s Third National Conference 2012 from Saturday, May 19 to Sunday, May 20 at Park Village Resort, Budanilkatha. Youth activists and NGO workers from all over the country participated in the conference sharing their work experiences, aspirations and struggles along with learning communication skills and discussing crucial issues concerning Nepal’s development. Forty two participants arrived from several districts of Nepal and the capital, including LGBT groups. The opening session was graced by HE Scott H. DeLisi, US Ambassador to Nepal; Anil Keshary Shah, CEO, Mega Bank; and Rabindra Mishra, Head, BBC Nepali Service. Shah reflected upon five key sectors in Nepal that have economic growth possibilities such as agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, service, and skills and productivity enhancement. He also pointed out the areas that need youth leadership, namely, politics, social institutions, economy and labor. He opined, “It’s a myth that our country is small and poor. In fact, our thinking is poor. You shouldn’t underestimate yourselves, and take leadership given that the older generation of leaders makes way for the youth.” He also touched upon spirituality and satisfaction that one can drive from serving the country. Yet again he gave tips to the participants on how to be happy, which is, to have family, health, money, power and lastly, knowledge and spirituality. “The question for this generation is what we’ve added to the value of this country along with a reflection of self, he added.” Mishra focused on how youth can move ahead with practical philanthropy. “When one can relate himself with another person’s suffering, only then will he be able to sacrifice and contribute for the lesser fortunate ones.” He well realized the need for youth to come out of merely listening and talking in workshops, concluding, “Don’t just be the catalyst for conversation but be the catalyst of action.” DeLisi, looking at the diversity of the participants, mentioned that the Nepali youth have more in common, and the old stereotypical groups who have been demanding caste-based federal states ought to learn from them and give them opportunities. “The older ones need to retire, and let the youth take on. Of course, they’ll make mistakes but they deserve a chance to overcome from it and learn.” Congratulating the gathered participants, Envoy DeLisi added, “The network built here will help youth in future and this platform is being used to pursue a broader vision.” He pushed the participants to demand for their rights rather than merely expecting it. He summed up with, “Be passionate, be critical, but not just in portraying the problems. Move ahead with the vision of new Nepal and take leadership.” The workshop sessions included panel discussions pointing out loopholes and vision for improvement of several developmental factors of Nepal, such as entrepreneurship possibilities and challenges, understanding the new Constitution of Nepal, development: Lessons learnt, identifying the present and future needs, and education. The chief downside of Nepali education was the theory-based rote-learning regime that has persisted for long – rather than focusing on practical learning – causing lack of curiosity, implying that a teacher is never to be questioned and his teaching is to be blindly accepted. The session also touched on the quality of Nepali teachers in terms of their qualifications, sincerity and methods. Speakers Subash Ghimire and Shishir Khanal shared their positive experiences of working in education sector in rural areas, pointing that even illiterate folks were eager to give their children good education. The session was chaired by Dr. Pramod Bhatta, researcher at Martin Chautari, and moderated by Richa Bhattarai, cofounder and Vice President of Yuwa. The development session focused on drug abuse, trafficking, maternal and child health, women’s issues, and agricultural and economic growth. The discussion was moderated by Khanchan Kharel, student of development studies at Kathmandu University, and chaired by Bihari Krishna Shrestha, social scientist, along with Tom Cress, Director at Program and Project Development Office of USAID, Nepal. Heather Steil, Public Information Officer of the Embassy of the United States to Nepal, informed, “Youth consists of three quarters of the country’s population and they feel unheard. The Embassy wants to establish connection with those outside the Valley as well as reach out to larger mass rather than just politicians. In previous conferences, we did the listening and training but this year we have been funding five civic engagement projects based on criteria such as its equity with our goals, realistic and sustainable ones, with a broad vision.” The chosen projects are ‘Promoting emerging youth icons for positive social change’ by Apar Poudel, journalist, ‘Eco Community’ by Bhuwan K.C, environmentalist, ‘wh-Y-Portal’ by Rukh Gurung, President of Yuwa, ‘Justice through media’ by Sabana Poudel, student of law, and ‘Hamra Katha,’ a documentary based on Subhash Ghimire, co-founder of Saraswoti Foundation. Steil added that she was inspired by the enthusiastic youths of YAC, saying, “Some of them have overwhelming leadership and commitment and who just need the right opportunity to implement their ideas,” she said and added, “The Embassy of the United States also gives training and exchange program to youths.”
Published on 2012-05-20 22:26:59 As Published on GenNext- REPUBLICA on PAGE 5, of Vol. IV 029 Issue ,Monday, Jestha 8, 2069 ( May 21, 2012 )

Unity and Brotherhood Campaign among Nepali on FACEBOOK

Regarding the Bandhas on 10^th & 11^th May 2012, called by Chhetri Samaj, I was totally against those Bandhas. Calling Bandhas aren’t the intellectual way to protest against government. One day has the great impact on the economy of the country as well as on the various sectors. Coincidently for the same date my exam was to be held, hence considering the possible delay on that date, I had been to Bhaktapur one day before on 9^th May 2012. After completing the exam that we with my two friends from Banepa decided to move on. We were misbehaved by the cadres of the Chhetri Samaj at Palache. I spoiled my anger on the Social Network Facebook against them. But later on I just regretted for what I had done.  On the same day I realized that we are creating the distance between us in the name of caste and race. I felt something that we should be proud of being Nepalese whatever the caste be. I immediately appended “Nepalee” in my Facebook name which got attention of some of my friends. I told them the situation and called them to join a campaign to put “Nepalee” on their Facebook Name. We ran this Campaign to develop the unity and brotherhood among us. Later on I found many of the friends put Nepalee, Nepal and Nepali on their name.

Some of the social icons have also supported us appending “Nepal”, “Nepalee”, “Nepalese” or “Nepali” on their Facebook Name. Some of the updates on the Faceboook I found:

Bimal Nepalee: Lecturer at Anglian College London (ACL)

Bishal Dahal Nepali : Founder of SCAN, Nepal

Sagar Dev Lakhe Nepali: Chairman & Founder at Sagar Group of Companies

Bikesh Prakriti Premi Nepali: President at Sanjivan (Revival)

 

Anil Keshary Nepal: CEO Mega Bank

 

Nepali Trilokeswor Malla: Managing Director at Direction Nepal/Direction Exhibition & Convention Center

Menukaa Nepali Thaapaa: Founder and President at Raksha Nepal

Narayan Kayastha Nepalee: President of Leo Club Banepa(L.Y, 2011/012)

Gaurav Kandel Nepali : Youth Advisor at U.S.Embassy Youth Council Nepal/ Initiator-

View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई

Suraj Makai Shrestha Nepalee, youth activist and an engineering student has been raising issues human rights and youth issues. 

Apabad - Beginning to Infinity

Apabad RELEASE DATE POSTPONED for ALL NEPAL.

While, USA, AUSTRALIA and other Countries RELEASE remain the same for 

18th MAY-2012 | 05 Jestha-2069 

On a recent Press Release, APABAD has made a statement that its release date for over all Nepal has been postponed because of the country's situation and the strikes being called by several agitating bodies. Sushan Prajapati, Producer of Apabad said, "The dates for all Nepal release will only be declared after a country's situation is on calm and on a condition where release could be appropriate.While, release of APABAD for outside NEPAL will be same i.e. 18th May /05 Jestha in USA, Australia and other countries as announced."

For well wishers of APABAD, the team has continued with the SHARE YOUR DREAM Project where one can share their dreams out of which one of them will be implemented. Also, for all the well wishers APABAD will have special surprises in between and before the screenings.While, we will also have the responses from around the world on our official website and APABAD You Tube Channel soon.

The Official website and several other announcements will be made from the Official Facebook Page of Apabad. www.facebook.com/apabadthemovie

While, Apabad before it made its statement on postponing the dates had a Charity show from Nepal's Most Desirable (NMD)- Luxury Events at Jai Nepal Cinema Hall, Narayanhiti Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal. The show was held on 9th May 2012, Wednesday. It was NMD's very first charity event; the funds collected will be going to support the NGO "Curry Without Worry" -Food Program for Needy Souls.

At the show, Celebrities, Entrepreneurs, Activists, Actors, Film Makers, Social workers, Fans from Apabad and well wishers had attained the show. Some of celebrities include, Karma Amrak, Raymon Das Shrestha, Sampada Malla, Sumeet Sigdel, Malina Joshi, Avineet Malla, Sushil Raj Pandey and others.

Expectations??? Is it Good

In life we have to go through many challenges and obstacles. We strive to fulfill our expectations, and also other's expectations. The sad part of life is it may not always be fulfilled. A wonderful gift may not be wrapped as you expect.
Expectations brings on pressure, the forceful need to perform. Everyone is good at something, but attempt for perfection is what spoils it. Not everyone can achieve everything, but not everyone is ready to accept that. Life is a struggle, your parents expect things from you, your teachers expects you to perform, your friends expect few things, even the society will expect things from you and on top of that our never satisfying heart. The worst part of expectation is the grief and pain that comes when we don't fulfill it.
Every expectation has a source, and that source pressurizes us to perform else punishments or consequences will overtake the emotional state of a person. A student is expected to score every time they write an exam. Parents and teachers pressurizes them, and if they fail they get emotionally stressed and go on to drinking, smoking, or drugs. They even go on to attempt suicide. That's what expectations and pressure can bring to human being, its not the case only for students, for every human role, there are lots of expectations. Son, father, Daughter, Mother, Staff, Boss, every role a human can have. "Feeling like one has not lived up to his or her high expectations or those of another" is one of the major cause of suicide. Is human life the price to pay for expectations??? You either loose yourself or kill yourself when you fail to live up to expectations.
So, expectation is it just a way to hurt yourself? Well its better to have a hope to live rather than expectations, it certainly makes shoulders lighter. Also I believe a person can perform better if he is allowed space and freedom, rather than pressure and expectations. When we have expecatations, a part of mind is always stuck on thinking the outcome and the need to succeed, where as a free mind can work with out fear and they can think awesome ideas.
So, I guess we've all heard " If you expect nothing from anybody, you’re never disappointed". Well its not realistic in my case, cause we humans will always have expectations in life, thus we can say there were two ways to be happy: improve your reality, or lower your expectations. Expectations will always be part of life, whether we like it or not, its essential we use it as a strength rather than weakness. When you don't meet your expectations, don't be a whiner, just accept the reality and just remember how awesome you are.
Life is beautiful, if you just let it run. Work smart, never back down, keep trying, keep challanging, keep working, lower the expecatations, accept reality and try to live for the moment.

Here are few cases:
Academic pressure makes kids suicidal - Times Of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-14/parenting/30447282_1_vtu-visvesvaraya-technological-university-engineering-colleges

A suicide case in Sait
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/49764/mba-student-commits-suicide.html

Why People Suicide
http://www.suicide.org/suicide-causes.html