Kathmandu

When the catastrophic Gorkha Earthquake of 2015 hit the country, Nepali youths did an exemplary job of helping the quake survivors. Despite the continuous aftershocks post quake, many youths left their comfort zone and volunteered to help those in need. Among these young volunteers was Binita Buddhacharya.

The MFA IInd Year student at Department of Fine Arts, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur considered herself “lucky to survive the quake”. A realisation struck her then that “I must help those in need in any way I can”.

Cleaning the debris — created due to the collapse of buildings, temples and other structures during the quake — was the first thing that came to her mind. Together with her friends, she took an initiative to clean the areas around Basantapur and Swoyambhu among others.

But after visiting different quake-affected places to clean those areas, she realised that her work had not made much impact. “I felt neither any community or me would be benefited by just cleaning different areas. Being an art student, I realised the need to get involved with the community to help them uplift their lifestyle, and also learn from them,” Buddhacharya explained.

So, together with her four classmates, Buddhacharya decided to focus all her skill and energy in one community — Harisiddhi village of Lalitpur.

A student of law, Gyawali these days is helping locals of Bhakundebesi, Kavrepalnchowk to remake their legal documents, which they lost during the earthquake.

But Khanal has been using his management skills in various organisations as a volunteer. Alongside helping to raise funds for school, he has worked as a co-ordinator to donate relief materials at places like Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading.

Though these youths were focused on Capital in the initial days post quake, these days they have mobilised themselves in places outside the Valley and in remote areas inside the Valley.

The enthusiasm of these youngsters to help people in need has made Deepak Thapa, BBA Faculty Member at Ace Institute of Management hopeful for better future.

“Those who volunteered during the time of crisis have become aware of people’s difficulties in such time. They understand the consequences of wrong decision at the time of crisis. These young students are the future of Nepal. Later on, if they reach the policy making levels, they can definitely work better than existing system of our government,” he expressed.