The concept of “connecting of dots” was initiated due to the necessity of the urgency which the global pandemic COVID-19 caused us. The program, organized by the Symposium of SDGs committee and supported by Thought for Food (TFF), Universal Youth Movement (UYM), Kathmandu University Biotechnology Creatives (KUBiC), Forum of pharmacy (FOP), Child Development Society (CDS), GFF HELPS Nepal, Sustainability week Kathmandu as organizing partners, encompassed a series of webinars with experts from various background to discuss on the ongoing issues and also share the possible areas of youth engagement.
The program was conducted in 3 sessions:
- Agro Entrepreneurship
- Solving Hunger Crisis: Roles and Obligations
- Mental Health Stigma related to COVID-19
Agro Entrepreneurship
August 29, 2020
The Agro Entrepreneurship session was conducted on 29th August,2020 and guided by Mr. Dhanej Thapa and Mr. Gunadhaya Kumar Upamanya. The session provided a platform for co-learning among the participants to engage them to tackle the two main Sustainable Development Goals a) No poverty and b) Zero hunger campaign and the impact of COVID-19 on it, by utilizing the skills developed in the various sessions of the SDG on agr0-entrepreneurship and connecting the participants with various mentors to discuss innovative ideas such as using local resources and land to their maximum utility by engaging youths and the local community to produce agriculturally based products which will increase the current economic condition in the country.
Solving Hunger Crisis: Roles and Obligations
September 12, 2020
The second session was held on 12th September, 2020 and was guided by Mr. Sujan Prajuli. Global crisis causes a ripple effect on the agricultural and food production sector. The delay of the monsoon and multiple lockdowns implemented by the government has reduced the agricultural produce. Consequently, the harvested products cannot be transported to the market signaling risk in food security.
Mr. Prajuli discussed ideas on the proper mobilization of youths to engage in the proper chain of production, processing and storage. The roles and obligation of each of us as an individual were also discussed in resolving and tackling the food shortage which we might face in the future.
Mental Health Stigma related to COVID-19
September 26,2020
The third session held on 26th September, 2020 was guided by Mr. Sanjib Pandit. The session explored the knowledge of the participants regarding good health and well-being and the impact of COVID-19 on it. The COVID-19 pandemic brought our world to a standstill and affected us in all forms physically, economically, mentally and socially. Due to high transmission of the disease on contact with infected people, isolation of the infected people is often stereotyped and discriminated against by society.
The session inspired and informed the youths regarding the various social stigma related to COVID-19. Active engagement of the participants to share ideas and contextual solutions regarding the social stigma and to bring in effective solutions to tackle them was observed. The participants were encouraged to share the ideas and concepts with their family and friends to help them understand the social stigmatization caused by COVID-19 and actively help to reduce it.