My name is Rubina Neupane. I am nineteen and currently studying Bachelor in Environment Science, first year at Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus. I am a proud VFC(Volunteering for Change) member. As member of VFC, I have participated and volunteered different programs like ‘Hamro Cycle Yatra’ with the moto “Dignity for all” for the recognition of Waste workers , ‘ Swap Your Plastic’ program held on this World Environment Day to create awareness in the community about recycling organized by CREASION Nepal.
Similarly, I had also got a chance to participate in a workshop "Know Your Plastic" which was again organized by CREASION Nepal. I had also volunteered a program on this International Youth Day organized by CREASION Nepal which is based on presentation and Idea sharing Competition on ' Circular Economy Of Plastics' with the moto of "Green skills for Youth". In sum , I had also got a chance to work as a volunteer/Project enumerator at RIPL project focuses on enhancing the capacity of women in the informal recycling sector and increasing the recyclability of plastics to prevent them from entering into the rivers in collaborative effort between GRID-Arendal , The Norweigian Geotechnical Institute(NGI), CREASION Nepal, The International Solid Waste Association(ISWA) , DOKO Recycler and SASAJA.
All these program had taught me different life lessons and skills which further increases my self confidence, improves my communication and leadership skill as well. During "Hamro Cycle Yatra" there was a participation of 150 plus waste workers and this program was held for their recognition in this society. This program had taught me that Every individual in this society are really important and serve the community in their best way possible. So everyone must be treated equally and must be recognized. During this program , I had got a chance to know how programs can be conducted in a properly managed way , how teamwork plays a crucial role in any programs. During "Swap your Plastic" program I'd experience how different people can be connected through a single program for the good cause. This program shows that people are conscious about the changes that we must start for the sustainable and ecofriendly lifestyle. During 'Know Your Plastic' session I had got a chance to learn about how plastics evolved and took whole world into convenient option ignoring all the hazardous impact that plastic creates. I had learnt to segregate plastics according to their RIC code and so on . This program taught why alternative must be developed to completely eradicate plastic use otherwise it is not possible to say "No to Plastics". Likewise, During volunteering the program "Circular Economy Of plastics" there were the participation of Youths from different educational background like Law, Public Health , Environmental Science, Social Work and so on and every groups had given different solutions , laws to be made and empowering any other youth like us to reduce, reuse or recycling plastic wastes. This program was so wholesome where every Youth brings their thoughts and ideas for the better future .
Having keen interest on serving environment , I had also got a chance to work as a project enumerator at DOKO Recyclers in a RIPL project which aims to reduce plastic waste going to the rivers in Nepal. During this one month project, we had outreached more than 15 different places of the Kathmandu valley and aware people about waste segregation, had visited different schools , offices , financial institutions, Café /Restaurants, General stores, households for surveying . This time I got to know about the thoughts of individuals regarding waste segregation and its management. How they are applying 3R methods in their day to day life. In sum I had learnt how to conduct and manage programs , know about waste segregation process and its importance, build up my inner confidence to speak up my thoughts on any planning, increased my knowledge and skills regarding protection and preservation of environment, had taught the importance of teamwork and uplift my knowledge based on recycling, surveying , reporting and community awareness. Hence, 4 months could be a short period of time and it's way difficult to conclude this whole experience in a paragraph but the knowledge, skills, confidence I had developed within myself in these months was so wholesome and I felt so proud that I am a VFC member and got a chance to not only volunteering but also planning ,executing plans and participating at the programs for the betterment of near future concerning with the environmental protection.
