Discussion Program on 'Role of Far Westerner Youth on the State Restructure'

May 8, 2012: Nonviolence Youth Groups (NYG) formed in districts of Far Western Region of Nepal under the Social Work For Development (SWD) has organized a discussion program on 'Role of Far Westerner Youth on the State Restructure' in CNAS hall, Tribhuvan University. More than 115 lecturers and students of Far Western Region residents have participated in the program. 

During the interaction program, Dr. Chetraj Bhatta, Dr. Surya Kant Kaloni, Min Bahadur Khati, Yajya Raj Panta, Saurav Kiran Shrestha (President of SWD), Prem Raj Upreti (General Secretary of SWD) including representatives from various organizations and student from varying faculties have expressed their views.

Most of the participants expressed their concern about on-going strike and bandh. They also asked urgent need of state initiation to prevent from communal unrest and unwanted violence. They also asked to address need and voice of Tharu and Pahadi communities while restructuring the stated.

Most of the students have expressed their opinion in favor for unified Far Western. They said that youth should be very careful to deal with such odd situation and to prevent possibility of communal unrest. Youth can play a vital role for the peace and development in Far Western. During the program, representatives of Non-violence Youth Group including Dev Raj Joshi, Jaya Raj Bhatta and Khagendra Bam have also put their remarks. 

The program was coordinated by Mr. Prem Raj Upreti (National Coordinator of Nonviolence Youth Group) and has been conducted by Ishor Bhatta.

Participation in Exhibition of 115 meters long painting by children

Social Work for Development (SWD) had participated in the exhibition program of 115 meters long painting. The painting was made by Nepali children. The exhibition was held in the premisis of Classic College International (CCI), Gausala in 18 March 2012. More than 1000 sudents had observed the exhibition. The program was coordinated by Social Work Department, CCI and Child Nepal.

National Initiative for Peace and Child Rights (NIPCR) Nepal initiated the national campaign "Longest Painting in the World on Peace and Child Rights by Children" from the year 2010 and been continuously organizing painting events with children in different parts of Nepal. The objective of the campaign is to increase awareness among children, adults and all concerned stakeholders, ensure children as zones of peace and promote participation of children.

Orientation on Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation Orientation and Core Training

A three-day 'Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation Orientation and Core Training' was held in 12-14, 2012 in Pokhara, Nepal. The orientation was conducted by The Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, The University of Rhode Island USA in association with Collective Campaign for Peace (COCAP), Peace and Conflict Development Studies (PCDS) and Social Work for Development (SWD). The main trainer was Paul Bueno de Mesquita.

More than 50 participants from various Nepalese organizations and America had actively participated in the programs. Mr. Khrishna Pahadi, a human rights activist, had addressed the participants and make lights on the issues of Nepalese human rights situation. Mr. Prem Raj Upreti, General Secretary of SWD and Ms. Anuja Sapkota had played facilitative role on behalf of SWD during the program. Mr. Hem, coordinator of CDPS, Mr. Basu, the president of COCAP and Mr. Saurav Kiran Shrestha, the president of SWD had attainded and addressed the closing ceremony.

Participation in South Asian Peace Youth Camp 2011

Representatives of SWD Saurav Kiran Shrestha (President), Mr. Prem Raj Upreti (General Secretary) and Ms. Anuja Sapkota (Member) had actively participated in South Asian Peace Youth Camp 2011 held in Negombo Sri Lanka. Total 19 Nepalese representatives headed by Dr. RB Panta (Country Coordinator, Nepal) were participated in the camp. 

Objectives of the Camp are: To form a reginal platform for young people to initiate collective actions, To declare youth voices and aspirations as a South Asian Youth Declaration on Peace, To educate and empower young people to be non-violence change makers of the society, To facilitate exchange of ideas and sharing of techniques and practices on national, regional and global peace. 

Sri-Lank-United Nations Friendship Organization (SUNFO) together with National Youth Project, Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi organized a four-day Youth Camp from December 20-23 at Don Bosco Technical Center Campus, Negombo Town, Near Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

Dr. S.N. Subba Rao, an octogenarian Gandhian and internationally known youth activist, Chairman of National Youth Project (NYP), Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi conducted this camp. Dr. Gurdev Singh Sidhu,Trustee, NYP, New Delhi, Dr.RC.Gupta, Sukumaran, NarenderBhau, Dr.Deshapriya`S.Wijetunge (SUNFO), etc coordinated the events of the camp. SriLanka, India, Bangladesh, Maldives and Nepal participated in this camp. 

The main events, activities in the camp were 1. Peace talks, 2. Peace meditations, 3. Peace cultural shows, 4.Peace Parade, 5.Peace Art Shows, 6.Opening and Closing Ceremony with VIPS and Guests, and 7.Manual work (Shramdan) like cleaning, gardening, 8.Networking sessions, etc.

 

Handing Token of Love to Dr. SN Subba Rao, Chairman, NYP New Delhi

Marching in Peace Parade, Negombo

After ending the camp, in order to experience local culture in Sri Lanka, few interested youth had participated in ‘home stay’ in Negombo area, from 24-26 December,  as arranged by SUNFO. Other participants, for these three days jointly, gone for local tour to Colombo, Anuradhapura, Kandy, NuwaraEliya, Jaffna, Trincomalee, etc.

With Dr. S.N.Subba Rao, Founder of National Youth Project

With Dr. Deshapriya Wijetunge, Director General SUNFO

Participation in National Integration Youth Camp, India

Secretary of SWD Mr. Prem Raj Upreti and Youth Peace Activist Mr. Chudamani Thakurathi had participated in the National Integration Youth Camp, Shanti Niketan, Kolkata, India. The Camp was held during 21-28, September 2011. The camp was organized by Gandhi peace Foundation, New Dehli, India. There were international participants from Nepal, Sri Lanka and Armenia including Indian youths.

The camp was inaugurated by Som Nath Chatarjee, Former Speaker of Parliament, India. The camp was conducted by Nobel Gandhian, Dr.S N Subbarao, Director, Gandhi peace Foundation, New Dehli, and India. Social work, Cultural Exchange Program, Yoga, were the few key activities of the camp.

About SWD

Social Work for Development (SWD)

Introduction: 

Social Work for Development (SWD) is a social organization led by enthusiastic educators from different academic backgrounds, motivated to provide professional service to the society. SWD emerged at a time of social disintegration and social dysfunctioning phenomena of developing and transforming social reality, to fulfill the need of social work intervention for a just and peaceful society.

Vision

A society where everyone lives with dignity, freedom, justice and has equal opportunity for sustainable development.

Mission

-          developing resourceful organization that offers professional services

-          bridging target group to service and service provider

-          promoting  people's participation for meaningful devlopment

Goal

Enhancing a peaceful and just society where people and resources are linked for development.

Objectives

·          

• ·         to promote social work practice by conducting program, research and training on social work
• to conduct researches on psychological, social and development issues
• to conduct professional training for capacity building and awareness programs for empowerment.      
•  to advocate and promote basic human rights including child rights, women rights and rights of under-privilege people. 
•   to work for integrated health and environmental issues  
•   to mobilize indigenous knowledge and resources for sustainable development
•   to built network and coordination among social organizations, colleges and concerned stakeholders.
• publication and dissemination of IEC materials

Strategy

• Undertaking developmental based research activities and producing IEC materials (social work practice, integrated health, environment, rights etc.) 
•  Advocacy for the rights and participation of people in the development process
•  Right based approach for social mobilization and empowerment 
• Institutional strengthening and propfessional capacity building
•  Networking and coordinating with concerned duty bearers, stake holders and development agencies to secure necessary assistance for development activities.

Social Work for Development

Social Work for Development is an organization established on September 2010 in Kathmandu, Nepal.