My journey with ECCA started fairly recently. Being from Nepal and passionate about the environment, ECCA has always been on my radar. However, since I currently reside in Cambodia, I want to expand my passion for the environment to the best of my abilities there. I joined the Environmental Action Committee in my school in 7th grade and, in 11th grade, became the environment and sustainability committee leader. I also started a trash collection initiative in Cambodia, where international and local community members gathered to make their home cleaner. Volunteering for ECCA, I aim to expand on what I have done in Cambodia and enforce things such as extracurriculars (e.g. nature club) and programs like the litter-free campaign.

The Litter Free Campaign is conducted by ECCA and its youth counselors to make Nepal a cleaner place. This campaign started with an awareness rally on World Earth Day (22nd April 2023). In addition to ECCA officials and counselors, there was participation from Bal Binod Secondary School, Lalit Kalyan Kendra Basic School, Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus, Nami College, Patan Multiple Campus, Lalitpur Local Guide, Leo Club, Rotaract Club.

Objectives:

• Raise awareness about the impacts of plastic waste on health and the environment.
• Encourage people to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic waste.
• Promote the concept of a litter-free zone in the community.
• Engage and mobilize youths in environmental conservation efforts by collecting plastic waste from the surroundings while walking on the rally.

Ultimately, this rally led up to a greater campaign. With the idea of being litter free and cleaner being so prominent in Nepal today, this rally and this campaign are adding fuel to the fire and reinforcing the importance of protecting the environment and the three R’s (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle). Upon arriving in Nepal, I helped increase the litter-free campaign by endorsing school extracurriculars. Below are images of our school visit and the presentation to promote the litter-free campaign via extracurriculars in schools.

Extracurriculars are highly important, and endorsing things like the litter-free campaign within programs like the nature club, was a great way to get the youths involved. Ultimately this Campaign is the one that functions with the goal of making our home, Nepal, a cleaner place.