YSB cohort: Voices and opportunity for youth of Nepal.
Pradip Rana 21 SEP, 2023
How can youth help? Development of the nation or of oneself is an important dilemma in current times. Youth represent 20.8% (age 16 to 25) and 40.68% (age 16 to 40), or about a fourth and nearly half, of Nepal's population. Despite making up the majority of the population, youths nevertheless frequently struggle in every aspect of their lives. With the assistance of numerous consortium partners, the EU delegation in Nepal provided a platform for 26 youths from the three provinces of Karnali, Sudur Paschim, and Madesh a platform during this challenging time.
I believe that voices are heard, sentiments are shared, and empathy is felt, but we often forget that we need to raise our own voices too. In our geographically small nation, we are all striving to do our best in the face of numerous challenges. What's striking is that the younger demographic has been migrating extensively, leaving many villages populated mostly by senior citizens and a handful of young people. My involvement with the Youth Sounding Board 2023 has given me a limited but insightful opportunity to learn about the specific issues faced by all three provinces.
Being a part of the Youth Sounding Board 2023 allowed me to connect with diverse youth who share my interests and concerns. It's clear that a majority of people need a platform to express their viewpoints and establish a sense of identity. The interests, knowledge, and urgency of our generation are represented by the three subject areas of good governance, gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), and youth involvement in climate change actions. These themes encapsulate the most pressing issues that need to be addressed for us to live harmoniously.
Like many of my fellow delegates, I was initially concerned about how I could represent such a diverse and large population. However, with the support of my cohort members, the coordinator, consortium partners, and program mentors, I quickly felt at ease. Within the last month of engagement, I had the opportunity to participate in three programs conducted by the EU delegation in Nepal, HELVATAS Nepal, and the Youth Innovation Lab. These programs included a validation workshop appraisal mission for Local Adaptation to Climatic Change (LACC), an interaction session at the HELVATAS Nepal country office, and training on email writing and time management strategies.
During these programs, I had the chance to learn from and network with numerous professionals. The knowledge and skills I've gained in such a short time are beyond my imagination. This opportunity has the potential to mold future leaders and development influencers from among the 26 young people who share a yearning for expression.
In summary, we are all faced with significant challenges that demand our serious attention and sustainable solutions. The Youth Sounding Board cohort provides a platform for 26 future leaders equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate these difficulties. We are committed to being the voice of our provinces and driving positive change in the thematic areas of the Youth Sounding Board.