KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 6 A youth-led community recovery initiative that began in disaster-affected Bethanchok of Kavrepalanchok in 2024 has expanded to flood-affected communities in Belkotgadhi Municipality of Nuwakot, with a focus on psychosocial wellbeing, education, livelihoods and community participation. Project Resilient Minds and CESCA Nepal, working with volunteers and community-based organisations, are currently conducting community visits, needs assessments, educational activities, child engagement, relief support and other recovery initiatives in Nuwakot. A key component of the programme is Milan Aagan, a child-centred space for children affected by disasters and disruption. It provides opportunities for children to learn, play and express themselves through games, storytelling, reading, music, art, creative activities and recreational sessions. According to the organisers, the initiative is intended to provide children with a supportive environment to spend time together and cope with difficult experiences, rather than functioning solely as a classroom or training programme. The approach was developed from lessons learned during community work in Bethanchok in 2024. The team said its experience there showed that recovery involved more than physical reconstruction and relief, as communities were also dealing with emotional distress, uncertainty, disrupted livelihoods and changing social conditions. The programme subsequently placed greater emphasis on climate anxiety, psychosocial wellbeing and community voices alongside practical recovery efforts. Its activities have included livelihood support, mushroom cultivation, agricultural training, professional and skills-based activities, community engagement and efforts to connect local concerns with relevant institutions. In Nuwakot, volunteers are visiting flood-affected communities to document experiences and identify challenges faced by families. The team is also supporting school students and students at local vocational and welding training centres through educational activities, contributing to school libraries, organising cleaning campaigns in schools and community spaces, and distributing relief materials. The organisers said they are also assessing livelihood concerns of affected families and exploring possible solutions based on local needs and capacities. 'Since our work in 2024, we have learned that recovery is not only about rebuilding physical spaces. Seeing people living in partially damaged homes made us realise how important mental health and community voices are. We want to listen to people, raise their concerns and work with them to find practical solutions,' said Amit Budathoki, lead of Project Resilient Minds. The ongoing community visits and surveys in Nuwakot are aimed at identifying immediate needs as well as documenting people's experiences and communicating their concerns to relevant local and district-level stakeholders. The initiative's organisers said the experience from Bethanchok continues to inform their work in Nuwakot, with the current approach combining child-focused activities with education, psychosocial support, livelihood opportunities, relief and community-led recovery.