‘Green Hope’ conducts programmes to benefit child homes in Kathmandu

Kathmandu, July 10, 2016: Green Hope, a youth sustainability organization based in UAE, has successfully conducted programmes to engage and empower the children in various children’s homes in Kathmandu making them aware about the sustainable future.

Inspired by the words of Nelson Mandela, who said “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” the organization had launched a campaign called “Gift of Education” to benefit the children in two child homes in Kathmandu viz. ‘Nayabazar Home’ and ‘Sankhu Home’. As Poverty Eradication is the greatest challenge facing humanity and affects young people and women the most, the organization believes that education provides a long term solution to this issue and hence launched a campaign to work on this direction.

The members in the organization had collected books, pencils and other stationery products, totaling over 100 Kgs, painstakingly saving their pocket money or raising funds within their circle of friends.

The members in the organization had collected books, pencils and other stationery products, totaling over 100 Kgs, painstakingly saving their pocket money or raising funds within their circle of friends. In the meantime, they also established contact with ‘Prisoners Assistance Nepal’ an NGO which runs several homes for the children of prisoners, languishing in various local jails. After this, a team of three members, comprising Emile Anand (15), Aryan Orpe (13) and its Founder President Kehkashan Basu (17), who is also the Youth Ambassador of World Future Council, flew to Kathmandu with several cartons of books, clothes, LED bulbs and stationery.

Over the next few days, the team visited several child homes and underprivileged areas, interacting with the hapless children and distributed the books and stationery. Their action campaign commenced with visits to two establishments of Prisoners Assistance Nepal viz. ‘Nayabazar Home’ and ‘Sankhu Home’ where they conducted workshops and enlightened the children there about various sustainability issues including stopping food wastage, the 5R’s of conservation and saving water.

They also conducted activities like paint a slogan, quiz and other environmental games where the children took eco-pledges on the handprint cutouts. The children were very enthusiastic to learn as to how they could help in achieving a sustainable future.

The team also sang and danced with them, showering them with the much needed affection that they were unable to get from their parents who were languishing in various prisons.

The children were ecstatic about receiving the books. As part of the bonding, the Green Hope team also sang and danced with them, showering them with the much needed affection that they were unable to get from their parents who were languishing in various prisons.

The other day, they conducted a workshop at a local school, spoke to them about the Sustainable Development Goals, their projects and made them take eco-pledges on the handprint.

Their plight was really sad to behold and we left with a promise to bring in more support on our return to Dubai.-Green Hope

The Green Hope team then visited ‘Babylife HIV Home’, a child care home housing children of HIV positive parents, many of whom had already succumbed to the deadly disease. As the place appeared to be in dire need of assistance, they donated the children there with clothes, notebooks and other stationery items which lit up the faces of the children there. Their paintings depicted wonderful messages about protecting the environment. “Their plight was really sad to behold and we left with a promise to bring in more support on our return to Dubai,” said the team-members after engaging with the children.

During the visit, the team spread awareness of the basics of sustainability, the climate change crisis and the undeniable importance of education in eradicating poverty. They also planted 100 saplings with the students of a local school as a symbolic green gesture and conducted a workshop and spoke about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

This visit made us realize that no matter where we live, we all speak the same language and are equally passionate about protecting our planet. We, the youth are the future and our future is what we make of it. - Kehkashan Basu

“This visit made us realize that no matter where we live, we all speak the same language and are equally passionate about protecting our planet. We, the youth are the future and our future is what we make of it,” said Kehkashan Basu after the visit. “Hence, it is imperative that we assume the responsibility of making a difference and take actions within our own circles of influence. Time is not on our side. It is for us to make that choice – now! This Green Hope campaign is a manifestation of this spirit.”