KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 15

A four-day capacity-building programme is underway in Thame, bringing together 30 local stakeholders, community leaders, women's groups and Indigenous youth to document and protect the village's intangible cultural heritage following the devastating Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) that struck the region in August 2024.

The training, running from 13–16 November, marks the first phase of a wider UNESCO-supported initiative titled 'Assessment of living heritage of Indigenous community in Thame, Nepal, affected by GLOF.' The programme is funded by the Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF).

Local officials say the workshop is essential for understanding the cultural and emotional toll of the disaster.

'This training is very important for us to understand the impact of GLOF and its relevance for other at-risk areas,' said Pasang Gyaljen Sherpa, Chairperson of VDC-5.

Community members have shared first-hand accounts of the destruction of heritage sites, religious monuments, and traditional spaces. A field visit to affected locations enabled experts to assess the extent of damage and identify at-risk elements needing urgent documentation.

UNESCO Representative to Nepal Jaco du Toit emphasized the critical role of Indigenous leadership:

'Safeguarding intangible heritage begins with empowering local voices-especially Indigenous communities-to lead the process,' he said.

The programme focuses heavily on community-based inventorying and integrating Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into heritage safeguarding. It also prioritizes ethical protocols, including Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).

The broader initiative aims to feed documented findings into a national inventory of intangible cultural heritage, ensuring long-term protection of Thame's living traditions.