Goodbye 2021, Welcome 2022.
CREASION's October to December 2021 Newsletter
2021 was a roller coaster year; it began optimistically, was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic but got better halfway through. We were able to achieve our targets this year and also start exciting new projects.
Even the last winter quarter was something new for CREASION. We started new chapters strengthening our bond with the community, realizing our vision, and creating new opportunities. The activities carried out this winter quarter was exciting and full of joy and a perfect way to end the year.
Tree of the Year Nepal 2021
CREASION Team continued to march forward with its event Tree of the Year Nepal 2021, a national-level photography and storytelling competition aiming to promote trees with special values, beliefs, and significance to the indigenous communities for their identification and protection.
This year, we received a total of 200 entries from all around the country. Three winners were selected for their marvelous stories and photography. The event held physically at Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu with the correct safety protocols. Out of the 200 entries submitted, the top 21 entries were displayed to the judges for their evaluations.
We were honored with the presence of our dignified judges Dr. Chudamani Joshi (Landscape Ecologist, Special Advisor to the Embassy of Finland, Kathmandu) Mr Ranjit Acharya (CEO of Prisma Advertising, Motivational Speaker, Writer, Poet and Lyricist) Bikash Karki (President, Photo Journalist Club and Photo Editor, Annapurna Post), Bisam Gyawali (United Nations Volunteers Nepal (UNV) Country Coordinator) and Nisha Adhikari Malla ( Goodwill Ambassador—Tree of the Year Nepal, Actress, Model and Mountaineer) along with our special guests Mr. Ghana Shyam Gurung ( Country Representative of WWF Nepal) and Mr. Indu Kumar Joshi (Deputy DG, Department of Environment).
Out of the top 21, the top three winners were selected for their exceptional photography and heart-touching stories.
The winner of Tree of the Year Nepal 2021, Bibek Shrestha, shared with us how he discovered this prize-winning Peepal tree while biking from Dhanushadham temple to Janakpurdham. He noticed how this tree gave shade and refuge to humans and animals alike and found it to be endearing. He mentioned how this region was once a dense subtropical forest within the Charkose Jhadi, but now it has the lowest forest coverage in Nepal.
Similarly, our 1st Runner up, Tripty Pakhrin’s tree, standing alone in the vast landscape of a barren cold desert, almost seems like an oasis of offerings. This Shukpa tree in Manang is just that—a tree that has cultural, religious, medicinal, and geographical significance to the people.
And finally, our 2nd runner-up, Biplav Regmi’s tree, is the only tree there, in the middle of the fields, often used as a place to rest after a long day of work. It is an oasis in itself in the hot days of Terai.
We are grateful for the support of United Nations Volunteer (UNV) Nepal, as well as the guidance of Carbon Consulting Company (CCC) and Environmental Partnership Association, the international organizers of Tree of the Year, who were the instrumental agents for the success of the event. Now, the top three winning photographs of Tree of the Year Nepal 2021 will be competing at the Asian level.
International Volunteers Day (IVD) 2021
Every year on December 5, the world celebrates and appreciates volunteers for their selfless work towards their communities. This year, CREASION Team celebrated IVD with an event at Hotel Himalaya organized by United Nations Nepal (UNV) on the occasion of IVD 2021, where various organizations joined and showcased their achievements. The event comprised of the country award- Swayamsevak Award 2021, and the inauguration of Volunteer Catalogue in the presence of Hon’ble minister Maheswar Gahatraj Athak, Ministry of Youth and Sports.
On the same day, CREASION’s youth groups organized various events in Chitwan. The youth group VFC Bharatpur, in collaboration with the Club of Environment Science Saptagandaki, held an awareness program regarding the importance of volunteerism for local community impact at Saptagandaki Multiple Campus. It was a message put forward for the engagement of youth in the community through volunteerism.
Similarly, the volunteer youth group of VFC Kasara held an open interactive session on the Importance of Endangered Wild Animals for 28 students of Laxmi Ma.Vi. on the occasion of International Volunteer Day. It was impressive that young students had taken forward this local issue as they reside by the Chitwan National Park. VFC Sauraha later participated in tree plantations dedicating their efforts on the same occasion.
Waste Smart Schools and VFC Meetup in Chitwan
The CREASION team assembled 8 waste smart schools and VFC Chitwan (VFC Sauraha, VFC Kasara, and VFC Bharatpur) to reflect on the year that was. Interacting with the children and youths, the different groups learned the activities conducted by each school or group, reviewed their undertakings, and communicated plans for further activities to participate in strengthening their efforts to build an environment-friendly community. They shared stories of working together for conservation, hardships, and how they tackled them. To conclude, we distributed appreciation certificates to VFC Bharatpur volunteers for their contribution to community service throughout the years.
Social-Emotional Learning
The children of Shree Rastriya Elementry School in Kasara got the opportunity to participate in a noble social-emotional educational proceeding. We educated the children in emotional intelligence, reflecting values of appreciation and anti-bullying, and experimented with gender norm reversal activities. It was a thrilling experience where children learned about emotions and empathy and were pushed out of their comfort zones. The elementary school was also provided with some stationery support.
Khulla Kitab: Stories to battle stereotypes and prejudices
Khulla Kitab was an intimate and heart-touching storytelling event to battle prejudices and stereotypes initiated by CREASION and VFC Kathmandu at Genesis Café, Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu on December 3, 2021, leading up to the International Volunteers Day. It was an open event for people to hear and tell stories shaped by their ideals, identity, and incidents that have made a huge impact on their lives. These were stories of hope and sacrifices, of support and encouragement, of neglect and being undermined.
The session was joined by inspirational leaders to share their stories and raise voices against these prejudices. We were joined by:
Radha Shrestha - Burn Survivor (Help Society Nepal, Radhako Burn Survivors)
Binod Shahi - Educator (Sir of the Himalayas)
Radha Paudel - Nurse, Author, Activist (Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation)
Anup Gurung - Adventurer, Expedition Leader, and River Activist, (Mission East to West, Nepal Kayak Club)
Milan Rai - Social Practice Artist (Vriksha Foundation)
Shrisha Nepal - Mental Health Advocate (Jibiko Media, Mondays For Mental Health (MMH))
Anjila Shrestha - Fashion Designer and Makeup Artist (Sustainable and Cruelty-Free Lifestyle)
Anuj Rai Petter – LGBTIQ+ Activist (Blue Diamond Society)
MELT- People’s Climate Mobilization Nepal
As the world representatives gathered in Glasgow, Scotland from October 31 to November 12, 2021 for the COP26 summit to bring parties towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, various institutions and organizations got together to show their solidarity to address the current environmental problems of the world.
On November 8, 2021, People's Climate Mobilization Nepal 2021 worked collectively to raise a voice for climate justice as we held various demonstrations such as wheel-chair dance, monologues, live art, tree of hope, and more at Basantapur, Kathmandu. Previously, there have been successful gatherings for solidarity with the People's Climate March-Kathmandu 2014 and People's Climate Mobilization 2015.
CREASION took part in the demonstrations as a dozen volunteers from VFC Kathmandu joined the mobilization and conveyed their message on the urgency of climate action and the need for climate justice.
Collectively, we demanded:
Separate Finance to address the Loss and damage and No climate Finance in Loan.
No to Net Zero, we call for Real Zero
No Climate Justice without Gender Justice
No to Oil drilling in Nepal
We Demand Rich Countries do their Fair share
No false solutions to address the climate crisis.
The event also brought together other organizations demanding a more sustainable and climate-focused justice to address our current climate change issues.
Basic Complaint Mechanism for Sexual Harassment Explored
A session on ‘Basic Complaint Mechanisms for Sexual Harassment’ was held at the CREASION office in Baluwatar on November 18, 2021, for Volunteer for Change (VFC) Kathmandu. The session explored what sexual harassment meant, the legalities behind actions considered as harassment, ways to act against harassment, and a fun session on distinguishing a compliment from a catcall. Overall, more than a dozen people were in attendance and the interactive session enticed the volunteer groups to further carry out such a session at various schools and institutions.
Weekly Meetups
Volunteer for Change held small get-together meet-ups and events every week to keep the volunteering community together.
Some of these activities included:
CREAJAM : a musical jam session where we expressed ourselves musically;
Let’s Talk Books : a book discussion event where we discussed our reading habits to promote reading culture;
Year-End Review and New Year Resolution Writing, reviewing our past year and writing our resolution for the next year.
Volunteer For Change also carried out collaborative activities with various groups. Some of them included:
‘Formation of Governments’, an informative session with iCAP where we introduced politics to youths.
Weekly mental health session in collaboration with Mondays for Mental Health every Monday evening to discuss all things mental health.
This year has been a fruitful journey. We are grateful for all the opportunities provided to us this year, and with the upcoming year, we strive to work towards our goals, missions, and priorities once again.
Thanks for taking the time to go through our winter quarter updates. To learn about our initiatives in the coming months, follow us on our social media handles.