Lufthansa Group organized Impact Week in Nepal in a collaboration with King’s College

An entrepreneurship and innovation-focused non-profit program called “Impact Week” was organized for the first time in Nepal.

Hosted by King’s College in Kathmandu in collaboration with Germany’s Lufthansa Group Airlines, the Impact Week was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, seven European experts coached 18 Nepalese academic professionals and 18 international professionals about the “design thinking” methodology.

Similarly, in the second phase, the trained Junior Coaches guided about 120 students and young professionals from diverse colleges and field of studies through a design thinking process over a course of 4 days Impact Week Challenge to solve pressing local and national level challenges.

On 14th November, during the closing ceremony of Impact Week Challenge, all 18 teams pitched their final prototype solutions to a jury panel of international and Nepalese executives. Three teams received Lufthansa Group Impact Awards worth 1.5 Lakhs, 1 Lakh & 75 Thousand respectively in the form of financial aid to support the teams with implementing their solutions. The closing ceremony had the honorary presence and keynotes from Hon. Gokarna Bista, Minister for Labour, Employment & Social Security, Hon. Bidya Sundar Shakya, Mayor of Kathmandu and Mrs. Andrea Pernkopf, Managing Director of Lufthansa Help Alliance, Germany.

Alongside the support of Lufthansa’s social arm - help alliance - and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kathmandu, representatives from various European multinational companies had come together to bring this global event to Nepal.

The Impact Week in Nepal was organized by a team of volunteers from Lufthansa Systems including the lead organizers Aman Bhattarai and Tilo Hillmer, and the lead coach Danny Tobisch. They are experts in their respective fields with a rich background of participating in Impact Week programs around the world. 

The challenges addressed during the Impact Week were focused on six areas including, Agriculture, Tourism, Mobility, Arts & Culture, Health and Education. The six tracks will be mentored by the following local organizations respectively: Eco Himal Nepal, Nepal Tourism Board, Tootle, Kathmandu City Planning Commission, Hospital for Advanced Medicine & Surgery, and King’s College. 

The German Ambassador to Nepal, Roland Schäfer expressed his admiration for the changing outlook of Nepal in the global scenario, from a country known for its beautiful mountain-ranges to becoming a country working on finding innovative solutions to its problems, which encourages development based on ideation and technological advancements.

“Knowledge and skills are the most precious things that are needed to foster Nepal’s economic and social development. I am excited to welcome global innovation experts, my colleagues from the Lufthansa Group and their skills and methodologies to Kathmandu and hope to foster user-centric social innovation growth among Nepalese youths through this unique collaboration,”  

said Aman Bhattarai, Senior Consultant at zeroG – a Lufthansa Group company – and lead organizer of the Impact Week Kathmandu.

While Saroj Basnet, Vice-chairman, KMC City Planning Commission, added 

“We are proud to collaborate with the Lufthansa Group and King’s College on the Impact Week program and are confident that the event will enable youths to think in a more user-centric way while pursuing their innovation journey.”

Narayan Dhakal, Managing Director, Eco Himal Nepal, stated, “All the six tracks are of utmost importance for the socio-economic development of the country. We are inspired and look forward to a huge impact of this event.”

“This event based on design-thinking approach towards solving real problems posed by the organizations in Nepal, engages the young minds of Nepalese students and professionals in the process and is an initiative towards ideating innovative solutions to our problems in a collaborative manner,”  

says Executive Director of King’s College, Narottam Aryal.

Overall, the program facilitates participants to connect with like-minded people from Kathmandu valley and around the world, to learn from both the experts and each other, and to create a real impact for their community and country. It contributes towards promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in emerging economies as the basis for sustainable growth. 

With the help of the design thinking method, local students and young professionals are empowered to develop the business ideas of their own and solutions to solve problems in their local or wider community.

This German award-winning program was established in 2015 in Kenya and has been successfully held in various emerging economies across the world. This year’s locations include India, Jordan, Ghana and Nepal. 

SCHOLAR HIGHLIGHT- ANSHU CHAUDHARY, CANOPY NEPAL EXCELLENCE SCHOLAR- CANSHIP

Anshu Chaudhary, Canopy Nepal Scholar

Anshu Chaudhary, a former EIC participant, is Canopy Nepal Excellence Scholar studying in Grade 8 at Kanti Ishwori Rajya Laxmi Secondary School, Pyaphal, Kathmandu. She is a highly diligent and disciplined student and is always eager and curious towards learning new things. She has been a part of the scholarship program since 2017 after impressing our team during the EIC Sessions in 2016  and has continuously made the team proud with her excellent performance throughout this period. 

Before the introduction of EIC, an interactive learning program of Canopy Nepal, Anshu considered herself to be an introvert with lowered confidence and with very limited friends. Interacting with teachers and her friends was a nightmare for her that lowered her expression capacity. EIC really helped in breaking the ice of reluctance towards expression inside her, which increased her confidence and enabled her to interact with her teachers as well as make many friends. Recalling her memories on EIC, she mentioned, “Before EIC, it was difficult for me to interact with people, but now, the EIC program has capacitated me enough to be a part of huge debate programs that are taking place in school.”

Anshu during one of the workshops organized by scholarship team

After the completion of EIC, she placed her possibility of dropping out of school to her teachers after her father telling her, his incapability due to his financial background to support anymore on her studies. Being one of the toppers of the school with a good moral background, her school recommended her as a CANSHIP scholar. Remembering the selection process of CANSHIP, she states, “I always thought, I would never be selected in any scholarship programs and would be devoid of my dream of studying. My interview, I remember, was not that good as I was very nervous and I was pretty sure I would not be selected. However, interestingly, the CANSHIP selection committee selected me as a part of CANSHIP and I finally saw my dream of getting proper education becoming a reality. In the period of these two years, I have realized, CANSHIP is not just about access to school supplies or uniforms but is also about enhancing different skills based on our interest.” Anshu, being an active scholar of CANSHIP, has managed to be an important part of all the programs conducted by the team in the school. She believes the workshops conducted by CANSHIP in their schools such as Young Picassos and Book Club has turned her interest towards a platform to learn and explore. 

Summarizing her experience as a CANSHIP scholar and EIC member, she believes, Canopy Nepal is different than other organizations. Unlike the programs conducted by other organizations, Canopy Nepal tends to grow the scholars encouraging them to explore their potential thus boosting their confidence through different skill development projects. 

Anshu with other Canopy Nepal Excellence Scholars-CANSHIP at her school

*Based on a consented conversation with Anshu Chaudhary

Written By: Pransu Khakurel

Edited By: Mohit Rauniyar

Zero Waste ambitions of the Young Roots

Waste is undertaken as an environmental problem, but is often devoid of an argument that the issues in waste management also cause economic loss. Not only does improper waste disposal contribute to creation of greenhouse gas effects and cause significant harm to marine and wild life, but is also losing production efficiency and opportunities on cost reduction associated with purchasing raw materials achievable through recycling.

It is undeniable that reducing the production of waste is the ultimate procedure towards reducing pollution. But while reducing the production of waste is important, waste management also plays a vital role. As the quantity of waste generated is steadily increasing every year, it is getting more challenging to monitor and manage waste disposal. So it is upon the individuals to not only follow through safe, Eco-friendly waste disposal practices but also encourage others around them to do the same. Energy conservation and 'Recycling' are among two great ways to eliminate improper waste disposal.

'Young Roots' is a not for profit organization that promotes environmental wellness and takes action to aware people about environmental concerns and how people on individual and community level can take initiatives to help minimize environmental damage.

The organization has been working to mitigate the serious issue of waste management that we have been facing for a long time. The team is currently spearheading two different projects. 'Zero Waste Schools' forms an Eco-club in the schools, trains them on the practices of waste segregation by teaching students the power of the 5 R's, and focuses on reducing waste by distributing color-coded dustbins while teaching them to be aware of the types of waste they generate. Young Roots also promotes 'Zero Waste Homes' by conducting zero-waste workshops in different communities. This campaign trains them about the practices of waste segregation and encourages community participation to create a sustainable future.

Riya Basnet, Miss Nepal Earth 2019, who instigated the emergence of this organization, has been a crucial support in the success of the projects. Her initiation with a belief that they can be a part of a big positive change has touched over 100 households and aims to reach 400 more by the end of this year.

Managing waste disposal is not a task too big or too small. The habit of recycling, re-purposing and refusing materials that are no longer usable and will instead be sent to a landfill, can avoid risks to the environment, protect scarce resources, provide economic benefits and reduce dependency on raw material and non-renewable energy.

Young Roots Nepal