Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 22:

Five project concepts presented by Nepali youths to bring positive changes in the society were awarded the Youth Initiative Award (YIA)-2004 here today. The Youth Initiative (YI) — a non-profit organisation — had asked for proposals on innovative and creative ideas to bring positive social changes on the International Youth Day on August 22, 2004. Tara Nath Dahal, president of Federation of Nepalese Journalists, gave away the Rs 10,000 award to each of the five winners who demonstrated innovative and leadership skills in their respective project proposals. Dahal said collective commitment from every sector is required to bring out the talents and develop entreprenuer skills among the youths. “Management skills are important to materialise the proposed ideas.”

Surya Prakash Gurung, winner of the award for his project concept — Youth for Change — expressed the need for youths’ participation in policy making. In his proposal, he has focused on awareness programmes and dissemination of information, knowledge and skills to develop and empower youths. Samrat Katwal and Sailesh Pandit were awarded jointly for their project ‘Youth Micro Entrepreneurship Development Project’ — a project that proposed collateral-less micro-credit for the school dropouts of Sankhu. Bhuban R Acharya was awarded for his proposal — National Village Information Centre — that proposed development of e-commerce in Rasuwa district to promote education, e-governance, health services, tourism and Tamang culture through the centre.

Similarly, Ram and Laxman P Rimal’s proposal on Pollution Control Device and Gayatri Amatya’s project proposal — Abhiyan — were also awarded. Gayatri has proposed to launch an Abhiyan (a movement) to motivate and utilise youths’ energy and talent for social service.

The award recipients explained about their proposals at the programme. According to Robin Situala, general secretary of the Youth Initiative, the five proposals that focused on youth leadership development, youth entrepreneurship and employment, youth activism, information communication technology and digital opportunities, and community and social development were selected from among the 40 applicants by a panel of judges. Various other speakers expressed their views on development and youths’ role in development on the occasion.