Concluding Relief/Rescue works

Probable risk of earthquake made us ponder about us going out of Kathmandu valley for relief works. Beside I was volunteering in Rotary Relief secretariat and didn't have enough time to work in field. As such we contacted some volunteering organisation and sent relief materials with them. 

Relief and rescue activities were almost coming to end and it had entered to rehabilitation phase. As such for rehabilitation required specialised skills and network, we didn't enter into it and were almost winding up our activities. This week we provided materials to two places. 

 Kathajor VDC, Ramechhap

We packed sanitation materials for 30 families of Kathajor VDC of Ramechhap. Along with sanitation materials, blankets was also sent to every family via assistance from Rotary Disaster Relief secretariat in Nepal. 

 

 Jeewanpur and Chhatre Deurali VDC, Dhading

Rotaract Club of Sainbu Bhaisepati was planning to go to two villages of Dhading district which was also amongst most hit earthquake area. As they had done preliminary need assessment and had also managed for transportation, we agreed to sent sanitation items through them. There were about 100 beneficiaries families. Rotaract Club of Sainbu Bhaisepati was also providing other relief materials like food, temporary shelter, etc. As such our sanitation packs made a complete relief package to the needy people. 

We still had some amount left with us, which we decided to deposit in PM Relief fund. I would write in brief about it in next blog.  

P.S:  Each sanitation material pack had following materials:

Mosquito Coil                                    1 packet per family

Tooth brush                                     2 units per family

Tooth Paste                                     1 unit per family

Lifebuoy Bathing Soap                   2 units per family

Wheel OK Washing Soap              2 units per family

Handiplast                                      4 units per family

Sanitary Pads                                 2 units per family

Shampoo Sachets                          5 sachets per family

Post Earthquake relief works: My Second Week in Nepal

By now more than 7000 people had lost their life because of the earthquake. However life had started to come back to normal as magnitude and frequency of aftershocks was decreasing.  People had started to come back to Kathmandu and streets had started to be busy and moving.  This week I, along with some of my friends were to start with relief material distribution within the vicinity of the Kathmandu valley.

Khokhana,Lalitpur    
We did survey of nearby villages on the outskirts of Kathmandu: Lubhu, Imadol, Khokana, etc. These area were severely affected by earthquake resulting significant loss of life and property. While in Khokhana, we met a Buddhist monk in a bhuddhist center where around 140 people were living after they had lost their houses. We enquired about the need there and came to know that they were in dire need of sanitation items. 

We organized sanitation items for 140 peoples the same day and the very next day we went to the same place to handover it to Vikshyu Sudhiru. We thanked vikshyu for helping people at such critical period and departed to prepare for next program.

Jhaukhel VDC, Bhaktapur

We had collaborated to with Rotaract Club of Himalaya Patan for our next program in Jhaukhel village of Bhaktapur. Jhaukhel is one of the oldest settlements of Kathmandu valley and most of the houses there were broken down by earthquake. On behalf of SVCET Nepali students, we had arranged sanitation packs for 126 families which included various items like toiletries, mosquito repellent, first aid kits, etc. While Rotaract club had arranged for food and medical team.

We reached Jhaukhel at around 11 am and started to arrange things for distribution. Our medical team also settled their camp swiftly and within some minutes we  would start our camp on full range. As we started to distribute relief material, I heard people making noise and crying. I thought that some dacoits have committed crime. But after few more second ground shook like anything. Then I realized that it was an earthquake. I could see many elderly people, infants and children, women crying. While some of volunteers started to run to open space, I requested the villagers to not to panic and just stay where they had been, Given the difficult location of school, chances of stampede were high. So we just stayed there. The quake gave up within 30 seconds, but increased our fear again. People who had resumed to normal life started to fear again. Aftershocks continued as we went to open space. People were so worried to ensure safety of their relatives and friends. In couple of  minutes, phone line was busy. However I texted my brother to inform I was safe and got to know everything was fine in home.

We rested in open place for a while and interacted with local people. People were not only scared but also irritated with frequent nature of earthquake.  A constant cloud of fear and uncertainty still surrounded them. I got to helpless to see people being panicked. But there was nothing we could besies what we were doing. After about an hour, we resumed our operation in open field and started providing health care and relief materials. About 126 families were benefitted from the camp. We thanked everyone of helping us to organize program in smooth and effective manner and promised of any possible help in future.

It was about 5 pm in the evening when we returned. On way we saw many old houses in Bhaktapur area being demolished by earthquake. People were outside of their building, in open places and were making sure about safety of their family, relatives, friends and neighbors. Amidst all these uncertainty, we still had hoped to help people and bring their life back to normalcy.

Bela VDC, Kavre District

We were informed by one of our friends that some 30 family in Bela village of Kavre district were in dire need of relief materials as no other organizations had been there since day 1 of earthquake. We arranged all available sanitary items and made 30 packs. Meanwhile we had also collected blankets through Rotary International 3292, Nepal and Bhutan. Now only thing that we needed was Tarpaulins. Out of 30 tarpaulins that were needed, I collected 10 from Rotary International 3292 and remaining 20 was provided by Manish Gautam brother from Rotaract club of Kasthamandap. We collected all the items and headed off to Bela. Since we had only few beneficiary families and things were not in big quantity, we decided to curb cost by travelling in public bus. Though it gave us some inconvenience it helped us to save cost. 

We finally reached the place at 10 am. From there it was 30 minutes walking to reach the village. We carried the boxes ourselves and walked down the way to reach the village. In coordination with a local school teacher, we distribute the materials to available families. As we were about to return, the very local teacher offered us food. We didn’t want to become burden to people at such difficult situation and thus declined the offer thankfully. But a Nepali never gives up in hospitality, no matter in what condition his family is. He insisted that he would prepare basic meal.  Finally we agreed and stayed there for lunch.

Post Earthquake: My First Week in Nepal

I always wished to write blog more frequently. But I have been failing to do so because of various reasons. Of course one of them being my inability to manage time. May be because of this slogan “Better late than never” has been popular.

The first day I met my family and rested for a while. After lunch I visited Nepal Rotary Disaster Relief office and updated myself of relief and rescue activities that Nepal Rotary was organizing in coordination with various I/NGO’s. 

For the next entire week I started volunteering to clear debris of Kalmochan temple, in Thapathali of Kathmandu. The program was scheduled from 7:00 am to 9:00 am in the working. It was entirely a labor work that needed to carry bricks and mud from one place to another. Though this work was not an easy one as the dust from bricks and mud was very harmful and carrying bricks too was difficult one. But many motivated youths kept each-other motivating. There were many high school youths and also local residents who joined us after some days. Our work had started to show some progress as we had stacked almost all the materials and had cleared the temple area. Together with us Nepal police and Nepal army were also volunteering to clear the area. Together it was great experience to work for nation rebuilding.

As we had collected funds via various fundraising campaign in India, we now needed to spend it prudently for the benefit of the quake affected people. After so much of destruction and loss of life, threat of epidemic was haunting quake affected people. As most of I/NGO’s were focusing on foods and shelter, we decided to focus only on sanitation items. The reason also being that we didn’t have enough resources to cater people’s need of food and shelter. Now we had to collect basic sanitary items and also had important task of choosing the right place with needy people, for the distribution of materials.

Procuring things became easy as we had contacts of some local wholesaler. Next thing of choosing right place also became somehow easy via help of Rotaract club ( youth wing of Rotary), who had experience of working with people in grassroot level. We contacted some of them and accompanied them. Their part being to collect foods items, medicines and medical team, manage transportation, etc. This not only helped to take entire package of relief materials to needy place but also saved us from duplication of cost related to survey, transportation, duplication of relief distribution in same place, etc. After few other day we would start with relief material distribution to various places affected by earthquake.

I was informed later that a volunteer was needed in Nepal Rotary Disaster Relief office. I easily decided to join from the next day, where my job was to keep records of items that were coming and were being distributed via Rotary and also assist distribution of relief materials. 

Fundraising in India for April, 2015 Earthquake of Nepal

This time when earthquake hit Nepal on April 25, 2015, I was in India. This made me to envision the outside-in perspective of things happening in Nepal. Being updated about the aftermath of Earthquake, I was able to experience the helplessness of not being able to help my country besides giving moral strength to my people. There was also a section of people within Nepal who were claiming people  like me (who were living outside Nepal) to have neglected the country at such a critical period.  This helplessness was not only kicking hard on me, but also to some of my friends. As such we decided to come back to Nepal and help them in ground level. Before we embarked on our journey to Nepal, we organized series of fundraising for the earthquake victims of Nepal.

1)      Fundraising in own college

The fundraising originally was started by some of our friends from various countries, who were deeply pained by the unfortunate disaster in Nepal. Special thanks to every friend from MBA classes who touched us with their kind endeavor. Later the same day in afternoon, we collected contribution from various students from different departments.

Fund raising in our own college

In the evening we organized the fundraising in our hostel which houses about 1000 students from 32 different countries. These fellow friends from hostel were kind enough to have accompanied in our cause. At the end of the day we were successful to collect about INR 38,391.

2)      Getting out of comfort zone
Being outside of Nepal we were worried about ways to help our people back home. The only thing that we could do on such situation was to collect as much as resources to help our families back home. I was happy to see my friends coming out of comfort zone and volunteering to reach out people in nearby cities, to collect fund. As such we divided into teams for fundraising in Vellore, Tirupati and Chittoor. That very evening we witnessed a whopping collection of INR 40,669, resulting to total of INR 79,060. On the third day we collected INR 39,700. Including INR 25,000 from Emeralds Business School, Tirupati and INR 11,000 from Krishna Teja Group of College, Tirupati.

My college friend in front of CMC Hospital in Vellore, Tamil Nadu in India

3)      Our helpful friends

This notorious earthquake gave enough coverage across the globe that every people knew about the tragic condition in Nepal. Our friends from various countries were in pain just like us. It is said that you know your friends in hard time, and I think of this statement as being true. Our friends not only provided moral and emotional strength, but also helped us collect resources for our people, back home. Not only those whom we had know for quite a long, but also recently known friends helped us based on humanitarian ground. I was, and am so blessed to have such friends in my life. 

4)      What goes around, comes around

 After the tragic earthquake of Nepal on Baishakh 12, 2072, we approached to some recently established friendship to help us. Of course they did help us, feeling more of a duty than  help. While visiting a college in Tirupati, I met this man with golden heart who had visited Nepal couple of years ago. This man was so touched with the kind and generous behaviour of Nepali people that he said he got emotional when he heard Nepal was hit by a giant quake. In spite of our single request, they themselves collected the amount and provided us moral support and also promised of any kind of help for the relief operation in Nepal. This response was because of all those Nepali people who had been good to him during his visit in Nepal.

Fund handover to us by Assistant Director of Emeralds Business School Mr. Cma Parthasarathy

With due thanks to all the contributors who helped us at this time of need, I would like to inform you all that by the time I write this post we have collected INR 148,620. I shall post in details with amount and name of contributor as I get the full details along with the relief program organised by us. 

April, 2015 Earthquake of Nepal: An immediate call from Motherland

It was around 11:50 am, 25th April, 2015 when all of sudden the peaceful ambiance of my MBA class was disturbed by a phone call from Australia that informed that a massive earthquake has hit Nepal. I doubted the veracity of the information , as social media pranks are very common these days. But the intensity of seriousness of my bench partner made me serious. And then the first thing that I remember was my parents back home who were old, alone and in small house surrounded by big buildings. Then i remembered my relatives, friends and who not !! Fear kicked me hard inside when we tried to contact our family back home but couldn't succeed. And it was confirmed that a real earthquake had hit Nepal.

Panicking began when in-spite of trying to contact with family back home turned futile. Everyone who had not been able to communicate with family had started to panic, trying to hide it though. Finally I could contact my brother in law, an officer in Nepal police, who was in remote area of Dolakha. However he himself was unknown about family members in Kathmandu, which increased my restlessness. Counselling friends that everything in Nepal was fine was a damn lies as earthquake had created a havoc. Finally, it was only in the evening that I got little relief when my friend's brother in Kathmandu helped me to communicate with my parents, who were all fine, including my immediate relatives.

Dharahara: a symbol of our hope, pride and confidence was shattered by the Earthquake

However after updating myself with news in Indian medias, social media sites, etc I realised that a dark period has begun in Nepal which would not only lead to thousands of casualties and immense loss of property but also push back the country years back. I could see the intensity of seriousness by my friend's, juniors and other friends from various countries, who were trying to hide it with smile. Some friends who had lost their home had tried counselling themselves thinking that there is no human casualties. 

The quake created a real havoc. Immense loss of life of people (7800 people as I write this blog), thousands injured, loss of major cultural sites, etc. I had never imagined that Earthquake of this scale would hit Nepal. But now as it had occurred, there was nothing we could do beside trying to curb the casualties. 

Then the following day another big aftershock, 6.8 on Richter Scale hit Nepal again which make the situation here more intense. People had started to live in open space with intense fear, of not only quake but also of burglary, theft, etc. Thousand of household, including women, elderly and children where in roofless open space waiting for some relief from the side of government as well as mother nature.

Meanwhile, we in Chittoor were about write our exams after two days. But it was really difficult condition to do so as we were stressed with what was happening back home.   

I was feeling so helpless that I immediately wanted to come back to Nepal. I couldn't bear imagining the guilt because of not being able to help my people, my country at this hour of need. This was an higher order calling of my country and I just wanted to be there to serve her.  

As such I started to convince the officials of our college to consider such condition on humanitarian grounds and give us leave to return back home. Thanks to the college officers who promised to look after us, in case any problem arises. Anyway that was not a big issue as we had decided to come back home and started booking return tickets. In some couple of days we would be back to wipe the tears of our motherland. 

Farewell message as President on 8th Installation of Rotaract Kasthamandap

My friends in Rotary, Rotaract , Interact and invitees.

I address you today, for the last time as President of Rotaract club of Kasthamandap.

Exactly 365 days ago, when I was entrusted with this responsibility, I entered upon it with perseverance as my tool, and a hope that I might always do the right thing. In the last Rotary year, we have seen many successes and achievements that we should be proud of. Today, our club is stronger in every respect than it was a year ago. For atleast we tried to keep things in place and I give credit for these successes to all of you-my club members.

As I leave office today, as the President of the club, my tenure will always remind me of the generous love and kindness that I have always received from you. It was both a pride and a challenge to work as President of Home club of DRR and sister organization of Home club of DIR. But I am confident that we were successful to live upto our previous expectation that each of us would be successful at the end of the day.  It was my first experience of leadership in public forum and a learning opportunity for a lifetime. It is both a debt that I will never be able to repay and a memory that I will cherish for a lifetime.

I am confident about the future of our club, and this is a best thing a soon to be IPP wishes for. I am happy to hand over the helm of the club to Rtr. Grishma and I believe this as a decision that will enable us to accomplish greater heights than ever before.  I wish the incoming team every success and pray for an astounding success.

Finally I would like to end up thanking our sponsoring Rotary, specially President Rtn..Upendra, PP Rtn. Rajan, Secretary Rtn. Sanjiv, IPP Rtn. Milan sir, for every possible support in every endeavor. Also my sincere thanks to our Interact LA, Rotaract District Committee members, friends from Rotaract clubs throughout the country and abroad, and all helping hands for their cooperation throughout the year. I cannot skip thanking my family members who were always rock-solid to support me everytime. My sincere thanks to Secretary Rtr. Bikram and Jt Secretary Rtr. Milan. You guys are behind the success of our club.

I believe we were successful enough to Engage Ourselves to Change Lives.

Thank You

The Joy of Volunteering

How do You generally spend Your weekends or lets say Your free-time?? umm...Movie? some indoor/outdoors Games? just hang around? or do it in a way that is Quite different : Volunteering for a Change. Without disregard to any of the option listed above, I would say that I would prefer the latter option.

Volunteerism/ philanthropy is deep rooted in Nepalese society: in one form or another. Construction of  temples, pilgrims house, Water taps, hospitals, etc in public places can be seen in abundance. Volunteerism inspired me since a very Young age when I used to witness the social services rendered by my family members and some people of the society. Helping the ill people to get medical services, abused and oppressed people to go through legal proceedings, helping the flood victims etc were some of the events that made a deep impact to my raw mind at a very Young age. As a result I began to involve myself in some of those activities.

Braille Books distribution with Trifc USA, 2012

Volunteerism is very popular in the western countries. Many developed countries like United States focus on Volunteerism as a key towards a sound and prosperous society. For instance: average hours of volunteering in US  is estimated to be 50 hours by 64.5 million people for the year ending on September 2012. Though our Nation lacks proper statistics about total volunteer hours rendered by it citizen, we can believe that volunteering passion is increasing in the country. We can see many social organisations, government agencies, private organisation involved in volunteerism. Just for an instance, if we consider Rotaract Nepal ( a Rotary International sponsored Youth Program), with 85 clubs in the country, with an average membership base of 15, and estimating that an individual Rotaractor contributing 7 hours a week in volunteering, the estimated total volunteering hours in a Year would be 464,100 hours ( 15 members * 7 hours /week * 52 weeks * 85 clubs ). Converting this figure into Years would be 56.979 years, which we are contributing to the nation and society in one Rotary Year alone !!! Now You can visualize the power of Volunteerism. :)

Volunteering in Bagmati Cleaning Campaign, 2013

As Year passed on, as a Youth I began to visualize importance of volunteerism more than ever.  The presence of turmoil political condition of the country has made impediments for its socio-economic progress. On top of that a state of lawlessness  prevalent encouraged many Youths to regards hooliganism, destruction, and vandalism as a means to achieve heroism. As education system of the country was/ is not job oriented and many Youths were/are frustrated against the state mechanism. As such these Youths became the political cadres of many of the absent minded Political parties who exploited them massively to held mass protest, enforce general strikes, vandalize public properties etc. Hence the frustration of Youths increased at a sky-rocketing rate. If those youths could have been influenced towards volunteerism, than the society as a whole have been benefited. Nevertheless, there are optimistic Youths who have been focusing in Optimism and are working out for small change for betterment.

 Baglamukhi Cleaning Campaign, 2012

Volunteerism has always fascinated me.  Being involved myself in different service projects: Braille Books project, Cleaning campaign, Supporting needy people etc. gives me a deep satisfaction. As a member of International Youth organisation (Rotaract),  I would always find myself among some bunch of activists who were always eager to make a change in the society.  Creating a harmonious relation among the Youths of the country and outside the country, exchange of goodwill and international understanding, service to the marginalized and needy people through various service projects etc is a real fun. Volunteerism brings in You various benefits which when visualized in a holistic approach will make You realize that You are not Volunteering for someone else but for Yourself. 

1. Volunteerism will help you to foster a good relation with your friends with whom you are volunteering as you share common beliefs and understanding. 
2. It helps you realize that you are giving something back to the society/country that has given you a-lot.
3. It helps to prosper a positive vibe and goodwill among people of different strata / walks of life.
4. You will also be able to understand the feelings and notions of people of different age groups.
5. It helps You to wipe away frustration or worries by being involved in a creative work. It is always worth to give something back to the society.
6. If You are volunteering now, it means that You are inventing in  you a Socially responsible leaders and are also encouraging other to opt for the same.
7. Interest in volunteerism encourages you to be abreast about the problems in the society and the way those problems are affecting You and Your society. When You are sensitive to other people sentiments, it will in a long term establish a harmonious relation among people of different background.
8. As John. F Kennedy said: My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. As such, Volunteerism helps you to be a responsible citizen and accountable towards to Your nation.
9. People who are passion of Volunteering have a positive outlook towards life and always inspire you to invigorate a positive passion for the future.
10. Volunteering also helps you to ensure proper physical and mental health. Recent research proves that volunteering reduces risk of hypertension in older.( link )

Bagmati river cleaning with Small earth australia, 2013

By Volunteerism while  you inspire to Change the Society ,you Strengthen Trust, Enhance Solidarity and Reciprocity among Citizens, Mutual Understanding, Adhere yourself to Individual and Cultural Differences. As such if you analyse these things in a holistic approach, you can conclude that You are volunteerism for yourself and your own eternal development. This is the real joy of Volunteering . :)  So let us aspire to create a better world for Us and generations to come.

You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.    (Winston Churchill)

Rejoicing RYLA

                                    Rejoicing RYLA

Program: RYLA Nepal

Date: 24-27 May 2013

Venue: Agriculture Development Bank Training Center, Bode, Thimi

Theme: “Awakening Youths”

RYLA-Bode was an incredible experience. I first came to know about RYLA long time back. This time, as I was preparing to participate in RYLA for the first time, I Googled about RYLA in various Rotary, Rotaract website and in Youtube.  Since RYLA 2013 for the first time in R.I District 3292- Nepal and Bhutan was organized for only Rotaractors, I was all set to participate in it.

Learn embedded with fun:

24 May:               

It was the first day of RYLA where all the RYLA participants gathered in Rotary Hall at Thapathali. There were about 50 Youths, but only a handful of known faces!  After finishing registration, we all boarded to RYLA venue which at Agriculture development Bank, Bode, Thimi. RYLA-2013 session started formally with inaugural speech by Peter Bode, US Ambassador to Nepal who stressed the importance of Volunteerism in the United States and here for a developing country like Nepal. We also enjoyed with the cultural performances like songs and dance by students from a local school.

 

His Excellency Peter Bode inaugurating the RYLA program

Learning started when a Team of unknown people was formed and we were to choose a leader in a real time. It was wonderful experience to follow a consensus model to choose a leader. The program continued with formation of 7 different teams. The formed teams were assigned with debate topics and homework of making drama making use of available resources that the organizers would provide. The debate was conducted after the hi -tea break. We had lots of fun during the program meanwhile we also made lots of friends.

25 May:

The second day of RYLA started with Tai Chi from Mr. Deepak Shrestha. It was great fun to learn Tai Chi. Tai Chi was followed by Health and Happiness program which was focused on the techniques to manage stress and increase productivity in work-life. On the same day we were scheduled for observing indigenous method of producing Pottery in Bhaktapur District. We got opportunity to see beautiful pottery work. Some of our friends also enjoyed making pottery.

RYLARIANS posing for a group photo after visiting the Pottery Industry in Bhaktapur

We had creativity workshop after our lunch break which emphasized in the difference in perspective of people that makes us perceive things in different ways. Rtn. Hare Ram Bhattarai came to us with Leadership and Management presentation after the creativity session. The presentation pointed on various leadership traits that a leader must have.  The schedule for day 2 ended with debate competition.

26 May:

The third day of RYLA began with teaching us to find Success within ourselves, a session by Ranjit Acharya, a motivational speaker. Shaily Basnet shared her experience that she had in her journey in climbing Seven summits of the world. It was very inspiring to know that girls from poor and average class family climbed 4 top summits of the world and are planning to climb three more summits. Young female achievers encouraged the RYLARIANS to dream BIG and to chase the dreams.

Mr. Rupendra Maharjan taught us about Appreciative Leadership. He taught that a leader needs to appreciate his followers. Moving with the session we had the final of the debate competition, which we had been doing since the first day of RYLA.

We were all excited for the drama competition. For which our team has prepared extensively. The plot was based on Violence Against Women , with a title " Maunata", meaning Silence, where a young girl is bound to get married by her family and how she finds herself in series of misfortune when she is sold to Brothel for  prostitution in Mumbia by her husband because of not bringing enough Dowry. After having worse of time in prostitution, the lady is found infected with HIV/AIDS and is kicked-out of her work. Finally “Maiti Nepal” official rescues her.  We tried to search an answer about why we Youths were in silence as many of our Nepali sisters are facing violence cases like everyday. This seems quite dramatic but this has been the issue that many Nepalese young girls have been facing in their life. To give more effect to the acting part, mute drama was performed. And yes we proved to be best by bagging the first prize.  Adding more memories to the event, we celebrated surprise birthday of our team mate Aditi on the same evening.

Performing as a father in the Drama:- Maunata during Drama competition in RYLA

With the completion of the drama formal session was over for the day. Since it was the last day of RYLA we had lots of fun we cracked jokes, sang songs, and enjoyed with friends. A period of 3 days had passed so quickly and by this time there weren't any strangers but only friends.

27 May:

As a last day of RYLA we had thanks speech from the RYLA committee, District Governors and other District officers. After the formal session, we also enjoyed taking photos with Rotarians from our home clubs. Similarly we must say that all the strangers at the first day of the Rotary hall have become our best friends. We took lots of pictures with our friends who had been as our family in those four days. After that we bid farewell to each other and returned back to our home.

Conclusion:

Literally, RYLA was an experience of lifetime. It encouraged in me to adopt for some changes in my life. The values of self-confidence, adopting to unfamiliar circumstances and deriving motivation out of self were the basic things that RYLA experience helped me to foster. I was able to grasp the Essence of Teamwork : Together Everyone Ac hives More, similarly  friends from different parts of country would always be adding fun in life, Pragmatic learning about Leadership and Professional developments were the best of its type. As such the essence of RYLA was fully embraced. 

For Ambassador Address: Click Address

For more Pictures: Click Pictures

Presidential Speech on the 7th Installation Ceremony of Rotaract Club of Kasthamandap

 Rotaract Club of Kasthamandap

Rotary International District 3292, Nepal and Bhutan

                                                                                        Venue: Little Angles' School, Kathmandu
                                                                                                                     Date:  29 June, 2013

                 

Respected Chief Guest District Governor Rtn Dilendra Raj Shrestha,

Guest of Honor- President of Parent Club Rotary Club of Kasthamandap, Rtn Upendra Poudyal,

Immediate Past President of Rotary Club of Kasthamandap Rtn Milan Bikram Shah, 

Past President of Rotary Club of Kasthamandap Rtn P.B Limbu, visiting Rotarians, District Rotaract Representative Rtr Ashish Chaulagain, Rotaract District Committee members, visiting Rotaractors, Interactors, club members, family and relatives, friends, invitees from Partner organization, ladies and gentleman,It’s my pleasure to have your gracious presence on the 7^th Installation Ceremony of Rotaract club of Kasthamandap (RAC-K).

RAC-K had its very inception on April 13, 2007 under the visionary leadership of Charter President Rtr Biswas Pradhan. Over the years RAC-K has undergone various developments and transformations to mark its vibrant presence in R.I.D 3292. I would like to recognize the effort of our Charter President and the entire team for their effort to take the club to this level.

At this time when I am going to take helm of  RAC-K, I want to go back to the time when I came to know about Rotaract for the first time back in 2008. My basis purpose to join Rotaract was to make friends and to know how the functioning of an Organization takes place. I would like to remember two different personalities who influenced me into Rotaract. The then Vice-President of Rotaract Club of Pashupati, Mr Hem Mahat and Charter Member of RAC-K Rtr Bishow Man Angdembe. I am honored by your presence today.

I vividly remember the DRR visit in 2009/10 held in Art of Living center, Kathmandu, during President-ship of Rtr Ashish (now DRR) and since then the journey began. Over the years, Rotaract has been my passion and whenever someone asks me what Rotaract is, I say-my extended family. Rotaract has taught me about what it takes to be a leader, how one can groom professionally and to understand the importance of service for bring Peace in the world. This passion still goes strong each day and I must say that I am perfectly loving what I am doing.

President 2012/13 Rtr Subigya Collaring President 2013/14 Rtr Amish. Along in the picture DG Rtn Dilendra Raj Shrestha and President of Rotary Club of Kasthamandap Rtn Updndra Poudyal

Over the period of 6 years and till this time when we are entering into historic 7^th years, RAC-K has been working enthusiastically to uphold the basic Principles of Rotaract-Leadership and Professional development while also taking into consideration of Rotary International humanitarian philosophy and principles. Just a glimpse:

• RAC-K has produced many leaders who are working remarkably in their professionals and have proved leadership beyond the club level.
• RAC-K has distributed NRS 2.5 million + scholarship to meritorious students through mega-event Rotaract Running Shield-NationwideInter-school Quiz Competition, while also addressing Rotary –Rotaract promotion.
• International Shoot Your Movie Film Fest, a program of short video making competition to work against HIV/AIDS, and professional development program that has identifies many talents and has helped them to be established in main-stream film line.
• Shelter Box Project for Koshi Flood victim in 2008 is still gaining applauds for the untiring effort of RC-K family, mainly under leadership of Rtr Ashish.
• Yuwa-yug, a Youth Debate and Oratory Competition have identified many young talents who have established themselves as top debaters of the country.
• Braille Book Project in coordination with Nepal Association for the Welfare of the Blind (NAWB), Rotary club of Kasthamandap and THE ROSE INTERNATIONAL FUND  for THE CHILDREN (TRIFC-USA), where we mobilize Rotaract clubs throughout the country for Book Distribution and empowerment of visually impaired students.
• World Community Service (WCS) project in coordination with Rotary Club of Shimodate Japan and Rotary Club of Kasthamandap where we distribute stationary materials to needed student of the Public schools of Kathmandu valley and many other projects.

While mentioning all these I feel proud and deeply satisfied. At the same time I feel challenged by the benchmark that our Past Presidents have created. However I believe that with the support of you all, I shall set the level of service ever high.

RAC-K for Rotary Year 2013/14 will focus on Professional Development Avenue. Though Rotary Year 2013/14 has not started but we have already done some significant tasks:

• 6^th Rotaract Running Shield will be done in collaboration with Rotary District 3292, Nepal and Bhutan. We have already had a round of talks with DG.
• The pride of the club rests mostly in leadership beyond the club level. As such, as a home club of DRR, all possible preparation and support shall be rendered to make his tenure of DRR successful.
• Interact club of Little Angles’ School board formation and orientation has already been completed. All possible support shall be given to Interact. As a home club of DIR, interact will be of special interest to the club.
• Semiannual publication of RAC-K will go monthly in coordination with Rotary club of Kasthamandap.
• We will launch a series of program in coordination with Rotary club of Kasthamandap to promote literacy and professional development of youths.
• Projects shall be done taking into consideration of the needs and interests of the Club members.
• RAC-K will focus on collaboration with other Rotaract club for most of the project. Project sharing shall be done. Fellowship through Service shall be ensured in whatever we do.
• Rotary-Rotaract club of Kasthamandap will match their annual plan of action and will execute the community service projects jointly.

As I join to be President of RAC-K, I would like to congratulate President 2012/13 Rtr Subigya for a legendary year in his tenure. Working with you was fun, sometimes hectic, though a continuous learning. I would always love to have a friend and a mentor like you. Thank you Superman!!!

Nepolean Hill has his hallmark expression, “What you think, when believed with Determination and Perseverance can be achieved”. As RAC-K moves to RY 2013/14, We will CONCEIVE-BELIEVE-ACHIEVE our goals, be it in Professional development of members of leadership development or be it mainly to what R.I President Ron D Burton says: “Engage Rotary, Change Lives”.

# Long live Rotary - Long Live Rotaract.

# Thank You

                           
Rtr Amish Dhungel                                                      

President RY 2013/14

Rotaract Club of Kasthamandap (76282)

R.I.D 3292, Nepal and Bhutan