Glocal 20 Under 20
Kathmandu, August 13, 2017: 16-years-old Bhabish Shrestha is a child right activist, radio presenter, and social campaigner working to promote and enforce child-friendly environment in the nation. He is an activist actively working against child marriage, child labor and other child issues and strongly advocating for child rights.
His journey into social activism had started almost four years ago with ‘Hamro Aawaj Child Club’, and it continued with various other child clubs and local organizations in different capacities. He believes, “Youths are considered the backbone in the development of the country. Childhood is the most important learning phase in life so if every individual’s base is bettered from childhood, they will develop as responsible citizens in the future and will contribute to the community.”
Bhabish completed his early education in the Chhathar Jorpati rural municipality of Dhankuta district, before moving to Itahari in 2068 BS. He completed his SEE this year from Koshi Saint James School, Itahari.
While in Itahari, he ran a program ‘Children to Youth’ on a local Itahari FM. The program provided a platform for hidden talents in children and youths. Bhabish represented the voices of children and talked about social issues through the radio program. He has also conducted training activities for children from various areas to enhance their leadership skills and to develop their personality.
Two years ago, his father passed away leading him and his mom to a handful of struggles in life, yet that didn’t shake his will to contribute in the society. “I am very much inspired by my dad to continue my social work,” he shares pointing out his desire to pass his knowledge and learning to future generations too.
Currently residing in Kathmandu for his higher education, he is planning to run a radio as well as a television program based on children and youths through District Child Club Network (DCCN) Kathmandu.
However, he still remembers his father’s last words: ‘You cannot be limited to a small area in small capacities like me. You have miles to go. You need to go much ahead to become a changemaker’, and is pushing himself with full efforts. At such a young age, he has initiated many impactful works in the society, and is devoted towards making the society free of superstitions and other existing social problems. He has become an influential teenager.
