KATHMANDU, August 1

National Volunteering Programme (NVP) has launched Districts Reconstruction Network of 14 earthquake affected districts to create a local sustainable youth force which will be ready to work for the nation in any kind of economic, social and environmental contingencies.

NVP is jointly run by Government of Nepal, National Planning Commission (NPC), National Development Volunteer Service (NDVS) and Himalayan Climate Initiative. At a programme organised in Kathmandu on Saturday, the reconstruction network of 14 districts was formally launched by Govind Raj Pokhrel, Vice-chairperson of NPC, where district coordinators from all the 14 districts were formally introduced and welcomed to the NVP team.

The District Coordinators, Ganesh Dhungana from Dhading,  Sagar Karki from Chitwan, Sangam Babu Shrestha from Gorkha,  Raj Kumar Bhattarai from Nuwakot, Chandra Kala Chhetri from Sindhupalchowk,  Suraj Shrestha from Kaverpalanchowk, Jeetu Khadka from Ramechhap,  Deep Narayan Shrestha from Sindhuli, Lakpa Sherpa from Dolakha,  Rasmi Silpakar from Bhaktapur,  Prateema Upreti from Kathmandu,  Ananta Kumar Baniya from Makawanpur and  Santosh Ghale from Rasuwa are responsible for taking forward all the works of NVP to their respective districts to expedite the process of working on the local level.

The programme  was held in the presence of all of NVP’s co-implementing partners Yuwa, Youth Initiative, Kathmandu Living Lab, Sano Paila and Climate Alliance of Himalayan Communities.

Pokhrel appreciated the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts made by National Volunteers under NVP in the aftermath of the earthquake. Addressing the program, he said, “If we can mobilise our youth force in various socio-economic activities along with rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, Nepal can go on the path of progressive development.”

Prashant Singh, Founder and CEO of Himalayan Climate Initiative, said “Patriotism is not only about singing national anthem. Love for nation is people working honestly to help society”.  He stressed the need to promote and encourage volunteerism in Nepal.

Giving an overview of the National Volunteering Programme, Pradip Khatiwada, National Coordinator declared that NVP will be creating and maintaining a pool of at least 20,000 committed volunteers to provide help to the government, its development partners, and other philanthropic initiatives to address social, environmental and economic contingencies emanating from the recent earthquake and beyond.”

The launch programme was followed by a discussion session wherein all NVP district coordinators, co-implementing partners and national volunteers discussed NVP’s action plan, ways to move forward, and strengthening NVP’s role.