Shaping Sustainable Green Agriculture project is a response to the urgent challenge of climate change confronting Nepal’s Sudurpaschim and Karnali districts, where the agricultural sector and youth education are particularly susceptible to its impacts. By targeting children and youths aged 12-25, we aim to equip them with the knowledge and tools necessary to confront climate change and promote sustainable practices. Through a multifaceted approach comprising climate change education workshops and dialogue sessions with global leaders on adaptation strategies, we seek not only to raise awareness but also to build capacity and foster collaboration among stakeholders.
As a part of the first activity of the project, we published our “जलवायु रक्षकको हते पुस्तिका” (“Climate Protector Handbook”) along with a complementary teacher’s guidebook with an aim to raise awareness about climate change among students of rural Nepal and to guide them towards climate friendly actions using locally available resources while empowering them with knowledge and responsibility to become accountable towards the environment and our community. In May 2024, we distributed 965 copies of the handbook to 10 public and private schools in Surkhet (Karnali Province) and Dhangadhi (Sudurpaschim Province) and facilitated a total of approximately 27 hour sessions to effectively deliver climate change education.
For the second activity, we will conduct two hands-on Climate Resilient Agriculture Workshops designed to empower youths with practical skills and knowledge in climate-smart agriculture and sustainable practices. Since January 2024, we have designed a Climate Resilient Agriculture Curriculum collaboratively with educators, agricultural experts, GRAPE field colleagues and curriculum developers for youth in the field between ages of 18 to 25 years from Sudurpaschim and Karnali regions.
Complementing these efforts is the third activity, four sessions of the Global Talk Series featuring influential global leaders, where speakers delve into adaptation strategies and resilience-building measures. In March and May 2024, we completed two sessions on two intersecting themes with sustainable agriculture: technological solutions and water management. The sessions brought together 165 participants from diverse sectors and professional levels.
The goals of the project extend beyond mere awareness-raising; the hub aspires to cultivate a culture of climate resilience and empower youth to actively engage in shaping their communities’ responses to climate change. Collaborating closely with partners such as the GRAPE (Green Resilient Agriculture Productive Ecosystems) project, with financial support from GIZ of NPR 77,37,300.00, we are committed to making a meaningful difference in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development in the region.
