Kathmandu; Aug 11: Celebrating youth and marking the occasion of the International Youth Day, a three-day residential orientation of European Union (EU) funded Youth Sounding Board members was organized in Park Village, Budanilkantha in coordination with Youth Innovation Lab, Oxfam in Nepal, Helvetas Nepal, Restless Development, and Yuwalaya from 8-10 August 2022. The EU-Nepal Youth Sounding Board’s first cohort is composed of 25 youths aged 18-28, from Madhesh, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim provinces.

Youth Sounding Board (YSB) is a consultative space for Nepalese youth to have an influence on the EU’s actions by making it more participatory, relevant, and effective for them. It is an all-inclusive multi-sectorial platform of engagement designed to bring together youth voices to guide the EU’s development cooperation in Nepal. The formation of the Youth Sounding Board started in Brussels and similar boards have been formed in Nigeria and Tanzania. In Nepal, Youth Sounding Board is being piloted by the EU's three grants on youth that were awarded to Youth Innovation Lab, Oxfam, and Helvetas and consortium members respectively.

21 YSB members participated in the orientation event and each day of the orientation was planned to be interactive, informative, engaging, and participatory. The first day was all about learning to trust each other, listen to each other and lead the way with exercise and physical activities.

The second was all about orienting the European Union and discussing the issues of climate change, inclusion, and governance. A session on communication and storytelling by Bhrikuti Rai and Sabrina Dangol ignited the conversation on whose stories should be told and how. YSB members also had an interactive networking session with 10 professionals working in the field of Climate Change, Disaster, GESI, Media and Communication, Journalism, Governance, Research, and more. The second day was wrapped with a reception in EU ambassador, Her Excellency Nona Deprez’s residence where YSB members got to interact with EU representatives and partner organizations while enjoying raithaane food.

On the third and the final day of the orientation, YSB members prepared their respective action plans in Climate Change, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion, and Governance and these action plans will lead the action of YSB members. The cohort also elected two members (Ashmita Rawat and Lokesh Giri) for the steering committee; three members (Sonali Singh Patel, Prem Bahadur BK, and Shostika Khatri) as communication focal persons; and three (Veer Chandra Kamati, Abinandan Basnet, and Namuna Giri) for social media handling. YSB members had a very interesting meeting with Rekha Joshi who sang deuda songs and talked about her involvement as a menstrual hygiene Ambassador in Sudurpashchim; with Prashanta Khanal who explained how his passion for food interlinks with his activism fighting climate change, and with Surya Shahi, who brought his childhood experiences in Humla into relief and how they have inspired him to make a difference with storytelling.

Giving closing remarks, the EU Ambassador H.E Nona Deprez shared voices of the youth should be stronger and better heard. Connecting with YSB members, Ambassador shared that being a YSB member is a commitment to work with the EU and with other cohort members. Their inputs and recommendations will help to guide the future actions of the EU to make them relevant to the need of youth.

Additional Details about three EU-funded projects in 2021

Youth Innovation Lab with its consortium partners Restless Development, CREASION, and CDMS is leading the project titled “Nepali Yuwa in Climate Action and Green Growth” that promotes Nepali youth inclusion in climate action and green economy in the post-COVID recovery of Nepal through their engagement in disaster and climate governance, entrepreneurship, and advocacy.

Oxfam in Nepal with its consortium partners Yuwalaya and Women Association of Marginalized Women is leading the project titled “Youth-led GESI initiatives for COVID recovery strategies and action in Nepal” (Youth Led GESI initiatives). The project aims to increase the socioeconomic and political participation of Nepali youth in the Karnali and Sudhurpaschim provinces of Nepal.

Helvetas in Nepal with its consortium partners Women Empowerment Action Forum and Sahayogi Samaj Nepal is leading the project titled “Promotion of Youth Engagement in Local Government Process” to promote the engagement of youth in democratic and governance processes and the protection, promotion, and fulfillment of human rights.

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