International Volunteer’s Day Celebration

Event: International Volunteer’s Day

Date: 5th December 2008

Reporter: Mona Aditya

Venue: Patan Museum

Time Duration:

Objectives: volunteers for difference

Organizers: NYS, YI

Organizing Committee:

Total Number of Participants: 200

Description:
This International Volunteer Day, National Youth Service of Youth Initiative joined UNV, RUNVAN, SPW, VSO and other national and international volunteer organizations in the clean-up campaign from Padmakanya Campus, Bagbazar to Ratnapark conducted to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism. The campaign started at 7 in the morning and concluded with a speech program and drama at 12 noon. 17 NYS volunteers participated in the program.
The same day, NYS also organized a fundraising concert with the theme 'Volunteer for a Difference' to celebrate IVD in the evening at Patan Museum. Continuing the partnership between Kutumba and YI, this time again, Kutumba generously performed for the cause voluntarily. The concert began with a note by Mr. Christian Simmelkiaer, the Program Officer of UNV. Around 200 people were present at the concert.The concert ended up being much liked and enjoyed by the audience in the celebration of the day for volunteers. For the volunteer program of Youth Initiative, this event can be counted as first of its kind in the outreach it enabled.

Overview until February 2009

Highlights

• 8 trained volunteers serve at 8 different districts other than Kathmandu for 1.5 months
• 3 teambuilding hikes
• 2 major orientations
• 1 celebration: 100 days
• Weekend simple service projects start
• Environment Documentar and Discussion Series started
• Survey done amongst 1359 students (grades10-12), useful data on volunteerism extracted
• Small fund-raisings
• 6 Volunteers sent to Tanahu's community school
• “Youth Survey” and “Sexual and Reproductive Health Survey” conducted
• “International Volunteer Day” celebration
• NYS T-shirts printed
• “Youth Against Violence” concert organized
• Leadership transformation

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NYS TIMELINE
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UNTIL APRIL: 8 volunteers serve at strategic locations after trainings

Dec 2007: Preparations and trainings for 8 NYS volunteers
January 2-3, 2008: 8 NYS volunteers leave for strategic locations
Mid-February 2008: Volunteers return
April 26, 2008: Garima, Bhaarat and Sunayna talk at Smart club about their experience as NYS volunteers
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MAY: Core team informally formed. Regular meetings: 5 a week in average. Card sale at speed. Networks expand.

May 2: Decision to work as to ‘promote volunteerism amongst other young people’ and to start by working as ‘matchmakers’.
May 4: Brief talk with some senior members of YI
May 8-9: Possibility hunt at 5 places: Agreement on sending volunteers at a school, 3 children welfare centres and one old-age home
May 10: Survey at Smart Club & sale of first batch of card for fund collection
May 13: Core meets with some YI Ex. Com members officially for the first time
May 20: A flower-shop agrees to sell greeting cards made for NYS fund-raising
May 17: First Orientation to 9 new people. 7 go for Env. week volunteers
May 24: Hike for support team Hattiban: 20 people plus core team
May 28: Survey on volunteerism starts at schools
May 30: Discussion on volunteerism organized with Smart Club at YDS
May 31: First big and formal orientation attended by over 30 people
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JUNE: Survey continues, volunteers start at several places, anti-plastic campaign preparations

June 7: National Youth Volunteers’ Conference (NYVC) with Youth Action Nepal
June10: Volunteers leave for Tanahu: Rina, Madhavi, Melissa, Tarun, Ganesh and Raghu
June 13: Meeting on the concept paper of NYS
June 15: 2 volunteers start at a community development centre (HW support): Ashish and Manoj
June 17: 3 girls start at a school (HW support)
June 20: First meeting for anti-plastic campaign
June 25: Meeting at a supermarket for anti-plastic campaign
June 30: Volunteers from Tanahu return
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JULY: Concept paper finalized, visioning meeting done, survey with 1359 students at 38 schools and colleges

July6: Meeting with a social research organization about training assistance volunteers
July 7: Training for survey volunteers
July 8: Survey by volunteers starts at a full speed
July 12: Presentation about YI and NYS at a leadership club of a school
July 14: NYS visioning meeting with YI Ex. Com
July 17: 2 volunteers sent to a child welfare organization
July 23: Meeting with 2 environmental organizations for anti-plastic campaign
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AUGUST: 100 days celebration, Small service projects take place, EDDS concept proposed and sessions start, survey analysis starts

August 2: '100th day of NYS Team' celebration at Sallaghari
August 4: Core celebrates 100 days of team internally, core members’ review
August 2nd week: Volunteers help with International Youth Day preparations
August 12: IYD: Volunteers participate and facilitate promotion of NYS and YI
August 15: Greeting-card making session with a leadership club
August 16: Grass-cutting session at a public school
August 19: Review of survey on volunteerism with survey volunteers: High recommendation to continue such survey projects
August 20: Capacity building – letter/email/application writing session for core members and volunteers
August 22: Craft session: students done with making cards and agree to sell at the school
August 26: First Environmental Documentary & Discussion Session (EDDS) at East-West B. School
August 31: Kutumba concert for Koshi victims. Volunteeers help with clothes management
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SEPT: Survey data extracted, EDDS in speed, small one day projects being designed, NYS structure formation

September 3: EDDS at one school
September 5: EDDS at an A level institution
September 6: Volunteers' bonding hike to Gokarna Sept 8: EDDS review and program structure formation
Sept 12: Garima goes as a volunteer to Koshi
Sept 13: EDDS at a plus 2 college
Sept: 18: Sharing session of volunteers about their expectations
Sept. 23: Elections for the new Core Team, formation of NYS structure and policies

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OCT: Capacity Building Session, N.Y.S. T-shirts printed for fund raising, Talent show organized at Learning Center,Pulchowk

October 1:Capacity Building Session on Application Writing

October 22: NYS T-shirts printed for fund raising

October 25: Talent show organized at Learning center of Naga tole,Pulchowk

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NOV: “Youth Survey”and “Sexual and Reproductive Health Survey” carried out at schools and colleges of Jhapa district, hike to Kritipur

November (5 to 10):NYS volunteers ,Amrit and Anjana, carried out “Youth Survey” and “Sexual and Reproductive Health Survey” at schools and colleges of Jhapa district. Beside survey, the two volunteers gave informations about Youth Initiative and National Youth Service in those schools.

November 15: NYS organized hike to Kritipur .There were around 25 participants in the hike.

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DEC: IVD celebration, Run for Climate

December 5: NYS celebrated “International Volunteer Day” by organizing a concert by “KUTUMBA” at Patan Museum. This concert was also a part of fund raising for NYS.

December 6: NYS volunteers participated in “Run For Climate”. The Run started from Jawalakhel and ended at Basantapur.

2009

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JAN: “Youth Against Violence” Concert .

January 3: NYS volunteers helped in making the “Youth Against Violence” concert successful one by their active participation. The concert was organized by The Muse, Youth Inititative and NYS.

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FEB: Capacity building session,

February 5: NYS organized a capacity building session on topic “Blogging” at YI’s resource room. The resource persons of the session were Mr. Rukh Gurung and Mr. Surath Giri. There were around 15 participants for the session.

Celebration of the International Volunteer Day

Kathmandu: 5th December 2008

This International Volunteer Day, National Youth Service of Youth Initiative joined UNV, RUNVAN, SPW, VSO and other national and international volunteer organizations in the clean-up campaign from Padmakanya Campus, Bagbazar to Ratnapark conducted to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism. The campaign started at 7 in the morning and concluded with a speech program and drama at 12 noon. 17 NYS volunteers participated in the program.
The same day, NYS also organized a fundraising concert with the theme 'Volunteer for a Difference' to celebrate IVD in the evening at Patan Museum. Continuing the partnership between Kutumba and YI, this time again, Kutumba generously performed for the cause voluntarily. The concert began with a note by Mr. Christian Simmelkiaer, the Program Officer of UNV. Around 200 people were present at the concert.The concert ended up being much liked and enjoyed by the audience in the celebration of the day for volunteers. For the volunteer program of Youth Initiative, this event can be counted as first of its kind in the outreach it enabled.

Talent Show: Learning Center, Naga Tole, Pulchowk.

EVENT: Talent Show at the Learning Center, Naga Tole, Pulchowk.

Date: 25^th October 2008

Reporter: Ashish Bhandari

Venue: Community Learning Center, Naga Tole Sudhar Samiti, Naga Tole, Pulchowk, Lalitpur.

Time duration: Around 3 hours

Objective: To encourage the students of the learning center.

Organizer: NYS, YI

Organizing committee: Ashish Bhandari, Kreeti Shrestha, Mila Shrestha, Richa Bhattarai, Mona Aditya, Sunayna Nepal.

Total number of participants: Around 27

Names of Participants: Ashish Shahi, Rina Shahi, Sabin Shahi, Rama Shahi, Puja Shahi Kabita Shahi, Anjali Shahi, Sanjeev Shahi, Sushma Jirel, Subash Shrestha, Santosh Thapa, Ujwal Koirala, Sailesh Shahi, Bibek Shahi, Bimal Shahi, Nikki Shahi, Abhishek Shahi, Sujan Thapa, Sabita Shahi, Reena Shahi, Siddhanta, Bikul, Isha Shahi, Siddhartha, Bishal, Jenish, Rupen.

DESCRIPTION

25^th October 2008, Saturday, National Youth Service (NYS), YI organized a ‘Talent Show’ at the Community Learning Center, Pulchowk.

The program was scheduled to start from 4 p.m. but due to some problems the program formally started from 4:30 p.m. All the organizers were present and and waited for the participants. First was an open drawing competition in which everyone participated with great enthusiasm. Everyone was provided with an A4 sheet and asked to draw something or anything they could. Few even went for some greeting cards. It concluded in about 50 minutes sooner followed by a spelling contest. The words were chosen from the English books of grade 7 and 8. It lasted for about 20-30 minutes.

After that everyone enjoyed a song by Ashish, followed by a beautiful song sung by his brother Abhisek. As the singing session was going on, the organizers were busy judging the drawings. Finally, it was time for the most awaited moment. From the junior level, two winners were chosen and so from the senior level too. The greeting cards were judged separately. The spellings were checked and two winners were chosen.

Finally came the prize distribution moment. The winners were called forward and awarded accordingly. But there was a surprise waiting. Two of the most regular and two of the most helpful students were also rewarded. This way, the program ended with a round of an applause and distribution of some chocolates to everyone.

Volunteers in 'Involvement to Ideas and to Initiatives'

EVENT: RATNAPARK CLEAN-UP PROGRAM

Date: 13^th September 2008

Reporter: Ashish Bhandarai

Venue: Ratnapark, Kathmadu

Time duration: Around 4 hours

Objective: To enhance a feeling of ownership, volunteerism, group work and mutualism. Public Service.

Organizer: NYS, YI

Organizing committee: Ganesh Gautam

Total number of participants: 10

Names of Participants: Ashish Bhandari, Hemanta Katwal, Saroj Dhakal, Bidhya Joshi, Bikina Chhetri, Sunita Thapa, Ganesh Gautam, Saurav Koirala, Bikram Kunwar, Ratnesh Sashi

DESCRIPTION:

13^th September 2008, Saturday, National Youth Service (NYS) organized a ‘Ratnapark Clean-up Program’ at Ratnapark.

Although the program was scheduled to start from 11:45 am it started at about 12 noon. Firstly, the participants were divided in a group of two and were scattered around the park. The volunteers actively and mutually began cleaning the park starting by collecting plastic wastes like chocolate wrappers, bottle caps and so on and dumping them in the dustbins nearby. Few people came and inquired abut the program asking questions like;

What are you people doing?

Who are you all? From which institute have you come from?

But the reply was all simple and same;

‘ We are cleaning this park and we are students but not the representatives of any institute or firm.’

The volunteers even tried to aware the people and suggested them to keep a dustbin at least to reduce the scattering of waste and dirt. After cleaning few sites inside the park the volunteers decided to clean up a pool which was all green and filled with plastics. The volunteers cleaned the pool with such and enthusiasm and even few local kids participated in the clean up. About four sacks of waste was taken out of the pool and dumped again in a nearby dustbin.

After doing such a hard job of cleaning the area, the volunteers were tired and exhausted. It was time to conclude the program. So, the program was ended in sort of a formal manner introducing each other and expressing their views about the program. One complain was universal that the program became sort of random and sudden so that was to be eliminated. After that, all the participants left for Trichandra College, washed up and drank some water. From there everyone went their own way.

Although, the program was successful, it didn’t go as planned and it was sort of ill managed. The participants were also less as compared to the area to be cleaned and the number of people polluting it. Much awareness couldn’t be generated but a sense of ownership, volunteerism, engagement, group work and mutualism was generated amongst the volunteers.

Another Hike for Team-Building

EVENT: NYS HIKE TO GOKARNA

Date: 6^th September 2008

Reporter: Ashish Bhandarai

Venue: Gokarna, Kathmandu

Time duration: Around 5 hours

Objective: Information, fun and orientation

Organizer: NYS, YI

Organizing committee: Ganesh Gautam, Saurav Sharma, Mona Aditya

Total number of participants: 14

Names of Participants Ashish Bhandari, Ganesh Gautam, Ishwor Khanal, Kreeti Shrestha, Manish Singh, Mila Shrestha , Mona Aditya, Rakesh Singh, Saroj Dhakal, Saurav Koirala, Saurav Sharma, Sunita Thapa, Tek Bdr. Kunwar, Tilak Lamshal (Dhruba)

DESCRIPTION:

National Youth Service (NYS) organized a volunteering orientation program including a hike to Gokarna. The participants were called to Heritage Plaza, Kamaladi.

As soon as the participants arrived, first of all everyone was randomly teamed up and a bus ride was taken from the old bus park to Gokarna. The ride was long and everybody seemed to be enjoying.

The group reached Gokarna at about 12:30 pm. As soon as they reached there, a long walk began. Everyone was in group i.e. everyone was walking with his/her allocated partner. Then a long walk was taken towards the higher part of the area.

After a long way up, at about 1:40 pm it was time to rest and talk something. Exactly, sort of an interaction program was started. Every teamed up group were to introduce each other to whatever extent they could. After that, everyone individually introduced themselves and expressed their views on volunteerism and their experience as a volunteer as well as their expectations as a volunteer. After the session was over a passing game was played. Everyone was to catch each other’s hand and make a big circle. Then one would just hit the others right hand and he/she had to pass it as fast as he/she could. First it was slow but Mona insisted and encouraged them that it be done faster. First it took 7 seconds, in the second try it took 6 seconds and then in the final try it was just 4 seconds.

After that the group enjoyed with one more game; a handshaking game. Everyone was to shake hands with each other saying the name of the person they were facing. They were confused at first but they enjoyed it.

The walk then continued. After some time it was again time to rest and have some cucumber. All went a little higher to a place somewhat like a plateau and then the cucumbers were taken out. Ganesh and Mona served the cucumbers. After that, Ganesh and Tek were sent to inform the shopkeeper below not to cook the noodles before 4:30 pm and the rest of the group proceeded further.

Now it was time to talk about NYS. Everyone sat down making a big circle. And the talk initiated with a short and a brief account of NYS and what it does. Mona gave all the information including the formation and goal of NYS. Then all were asked about their particular interests in volunteerism. Finally the session ended and it was lunch time. Everyone returned back below to the shop to have some noodles. After the lunch, it was clean-up time. Following the trend of NYS, the forest area was cleaned by the participants as much as they could. Along with the cleanness they had some sort of photo sessions too.

Finally the wastes were properly dumped and the group visited the Gokarneshwor temple. From there they returned to Chabahil in a micro bus.

From Chabahil some went to their house directly and some got into a bus. Although everyone departed at last, all of them had a lot of fun.

Beginning of small simple community projects

EVENT: NYS ‘GHAAS KAATNE’ SESSION

Date: 16^th August 2008

Reporter: Mona Aditya

Venue: Siddheshwor School

Time duration: Around 2 hours

Objective: Public Service

Organizer: NYS, YI

Organizing committee: Mona Aditya, Ganesh Gautam, Saurav Sharma

Total number of participants: 6

Names of Participants: Ashish Bhandari, Ganesh Gautam, Mona Aditya, Saurav Sharma, Tek B. Kunwar, Yogesh Kunwar

DESCRIPTION:

The ‘ghaas kaatne session’ or the ‘grass cutting session’ has its roots in Rebati R. Poudel’s suggestion to NYS about helping a public school at Shantinagar by the name of Sidheshwor High School in the brick-laying happening in front of the school building. The idea came on a regular afternoon at Youth Initiative’s office. A couple of NYS volunteers went to the school immediately to inquire about the possibility of NYS helping the school. Since it was figured out that the brick-laying was happening under a contract with a construction company, the volunteers were recommended that they would be more helpful if they could do a session of clearing the grass that had covered half of the school-playground. NYS decided to take the job up and arrangements for tools and timing were made.

At around 1:30 pm on the 16^th August, Saturday the volunteers set out to this school. The event was supported by the cool weather that afternoon. In about 2 hours the tall grass was cleared off. The experience ended up becoming interesting as some of the volunteers discovered new ways of cutting grass while the others discovered pine trees amongst the grass which had not been taken care of since their plantation. It was quite a session – different from the regular talks and paper and pen work happening in the daily lives of volunteers.

The responsibility of removing the cut grass was left on the school administration. A letter was typed out to the administration so as to remind the concerned people of their responsibility of maintaining infrastructures so that proper learning, playing and growing environment is available for the students. The letter was dropped a few days after the event. A follow-up visit by NYS volunteers would make the intentions behind the letter effective.

The session ended with the feeling amongst the volunteers that more of similar community service sessions should be conducted in future.