Stars and STEM Stories
The 5th National Conference of School Clubs in Nepal Brings Together GLOBE Schools from Nepal and Other Countries
Nepal’s Environmental Camps for Conservation Awareness (ECCA) hosted the 5th National Conference of School Clubs in Banepa, Kavre, Nepal. The conference, held 21–24 May, sought to build partnerships among GLOBE schools both nationally, within Nepal, and internationally, with other GLOBE countries. This year, in addition to schools from Nepal, participants included schools in Thailand and Taiwan. ECCA hopes to build on this success and include more GLOBE countries in the future.
The conference also introduced the GLOBE program to officials in Nepal’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) and helped to forge partnerships on government initiatives regarding science literacy in schools and communities. The mayor of Banepa, Mr. Shanti Ratna Shakya, welcomed participants and highlighted the importance of community in education. Conference participants agreed to work on the following items, including integrating GLOBE protocols and practices into their teaching:
- STEM Education and Emotional Intelligence shall be combined in the teaching–learning process in schools, which will also integrate and practice GLOBE protocols.
- Local heritage conservation and local knowledge shall be fully utilized for environment and wildlife protection.
- Efforts shall be made for an inclusive and disabled-friendly school environment.
- Schools shall promote a safe drinking water/waste management program to reduce waste going into landfills.
- School clubs shall be supported and empowered to create a positive learning environment.
Of the 173 conference participants, most were students, teachers, and school administrators from 47 schools across Nepal, representing nine districts: Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Kavrepalanchok, Dolakha, Chitwan, Rupandehi, Dhankuta, Jhapa, and Morang. Two schools from Taiwan and two schools from Thailand also participated.
Representatives from several different organizations, both national and international, were present at the conference, including Taksvarkkiry-Finland, which promotes youth rights and youth participation in society; the International Union for Conservation of Nature; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); German Nepalese Help Association (GNHA); and representatives from the Finnish Embassy and Lumbini Buddhist University.
The event included formal opening and closing ceremonies, documentary screenings, cultural performances, art exhibitions, yoga and meditation sessions, and a Knowledge Market Place, as well as excursions to the “Living Mountain Lab” at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) Environmental Park, the Central Zoo, and Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During the conference, six GLOBE schools received awards for proposals they presented at the Knowledge Market Place:
- Hari Basic School, District of Jhapa: “Awareness Program on Environmental Conservation”
- Thani Basic School, District of Dhankuta: “Herbal Garden and Construction of Resting Place”
- Ganesh Secondary School, District of Chitwan: “School and Community Sanitation Program”
- Kandeshwori Basic School, District of Chitwan: “School Garden and Daily Clean-up Program”
- William Public School, District of Lalitpur: “A Zero Plastic Initiative (Eco-Brick)”
- Mahendra Secondary School, District of Kavre: “Waste Management and Production of Compost Manure”
Congratulations to ECCA, to all the schools who participated in the conference, and to the awardees!
- Learn more about Nepal’s GLOBE participation.
- Learn more about Thailand’s GLOBE participation.
- Learn more about Taiwan’s GLOBE participation.
This article is based on a GLOBE Star report by Yogendra Chitrakar, GLOBE Nepal country coordinator.
Images courtesy of Yogendra Chitrakar, GLOBE Nepal country coordinator.