Paper Bag Campaign

With the increasing concerns regarding the harmful effects of plastic bags, people have opted a more environmental approach by deviating towards the use of cloth and paper bags. In order to encourage people to adopt this environmental approach, the Interact Club of Rato Bangala initiated a small campaign. The students of the school were asked to make as many paper bags they could using old newspapers and magazines. The bags that had been made by students were collected and evenly distributed to students so they could distribute them to local shops in the vicinity of their neighborhood. Since its usually these local shops and street vendors who are compelled to use plastic bags due to their low costs and easily disposable feature, the students provided the paper bags to sellers as a substitute. The students also made sure local shops and streets vendors knew about the harmful effect of using plastics bags and encouraged them to either sell paper bags or ask customers to bring cloth bags while shopping. Although this  was a more local campaign, it was successful in discouraging use of plastic bags.

Melamchi Trip

From 16th January 2016 to 17th January 2016, Interact Club of Rato Bangala organized an event which established a library as well as distributed clothes and blankets to the local people in the Jyamire Village of Melamchi. The main objective of these events was to help the students have a better learning environment and help the local people with their basic needs.

ICRB had collected books and clothing materials from donations of various organizations as well as buying them from the funds collected from the fundraiser events held before. As we reached Shree Panchakanya Primary School, we were greeted by the staff and we proceeded to set up the library. After the library was set up the task of arranging the clothes according to the sizes were placed on us so that it would be easier to distribute. The following day, we distributed the clothing materials to the people, blankets were given to the family who had infants. Later on the day, we opened up the library so that the students of the school could read the books. We helped them and it was a fun learning session. They were filled with gratitude and we were grateful for the hospitality that they provided.

Deusi Bhailo. The Experience of a Fellow Interactor

As we all know the main motto of the interact club is Service above Self, which basically means you do more for others and towards the welfare of the society, than you do to yourself, which includes sacrificing a lot and dealing with many opportunity costs in your life.  Being a part of the interact club has shown different flying colors in my life and has given me the chance to explore myself more and more each day.

My most remarkable experience includes performing during Tihar (a five-day-long festival celebrated in Nepal that comes soon after Dashain. Among the Newars, it is popularly known as Deepawali or Swanti.) This was when the Interact club hosted small performances in different houses around the valley, where we sang different songs and also danced in groups, this was a splendid opportunity for me to showcase my talent and experience what it feels like to perform in front of a big crowd. This gave me a great chance to know the culture and “Interact” with people in the society; I guess this is what the club is really good at doing, “Interacting” with people to experience their rich culture, and helping them when they are in need. We collected a lot of money from this event and donated to a charity. Overall it was very exciting to be a part of the Interact club and I suggest all of you to join it.

-Kewalin Aryal

Firefly's Children Home

Firefly is a home for the children whose parents are in prison. Last year, ICRB had served Firefly in various occasions. We visited Firefly multiple times last year to interact with those children and also refresh them with fun games and other activities like singing , dancing , drawing etc.

ART WORKSHOP

In regards to World Interact Week 2015, the Interact Club of Rato Bangala conducted an Arts Workshop at Firefly Children’s Home. The main objective of the Art project was to establish a basic connection with the children of the children’s home, engage them in interactive learning and help enhance their positive thinking. This was done through several activities pertaining to arts and crafts.

First of all, we made the children take part in a hand prints painting. They dipped their hands in colourful acrylic paints and stamped them on a cloth. All their handprints combined to form a tree. This activity increased unity and a feeling of togetherness while also being enjoyable. Secondly, we used colourful papers and taught the children how to make origami. Some of them already knew how to make several objects such as a camera or a rose and we taught them further by teaching them how to make cranes or boxes. We then collected these origamis and arranged them in a mobile which is used to hang in a room. Lastly, we made them take part in an activity where they saw stimulating words such as “Ambition,” “Hope,” “Peace,” written on a chart paper and wrote the first thing that came to their minds. They discussed things that brought them peace or gave them hope. They talked about the future that they hoped they would have.

After a fun and interactive session with the children, where we spent several hours doing creative activities, we ended our workshop on positive notes.

STATIONARY DRIVE AND CHRISTMAS GIFT GIVING

One of those were at the time of Christmas, when we decided to distribute gifts to the children. As “secret santa” we hid socks with chocolates inside it and made them look for it, just to make it more exciting and give some vibes of Christmas.

We also had a stationary drive. We collected some notebooks and old books and distributed to the children. We also distributed some medicines as it was the time of winter and they were vulnerable to flu, cough, cold etc.

Interact Club Deusi Bhailo 2014

The Interact Club held a Deusi-Bhailo cultural program to commemorate Laxmi Puja and also to raise funds to build a library in Gorkha.

 

The Interact Club of Rato Bangala thanks everybody for letting us into their homes and for their hospitality.  Also, thank you for making this project possible!

Cycling Rally Organized by Stepping Miles

A cycling rally was organised by Stepping Miles on 31st May, which included the participants cycling from Patan Campus to Tin Kune. Many members of the Interact Club showed up and cycled with 140 other cyclists.After that, the volunteers contributed in the Bagmati Clean Up Campaign by planting saplings and also by clearing garbage and rubbish thrown in and beside the holy river. The whole campaign was a huge success and it surely exhorted the interactors to contribute more towards environment sanitation and protection in the upcoming environment week.

Activities Planned for the Rota-year 2014/2015:

Please note that the Rota-year starts from 21st July, 2014.

1.      Community service projects. Rato Bangala School expects all its A-Level students to do a minimum of 140 hours of community service. To help out new and old A Levels students to find volunteering activities, the ICRBS works in performing volunteering activities. The ICRBS has thus associated with four organizations and programs (Bagmati cleanup campaign, Sparks home for children, Prayas Nepal and Prisoners Assistance Nepal)   located in different places making it convenient for the new students to find the nearest one for them to do their community service through the club itself.

2.      Establishing libraries. The ICRBS has already been establishing a library annually in unprivileged areas. This year the club plans to extend it up to three libraries. The club plans build these libraries in a more sophisticated manner with technological improvements, which will befunded through sponsors and fund raisers.

3.      Walkathon. The ICRBS has planned to do a walkathon around Kathmandu this year collaborating with other interact clubs in Nepal and senior Rotaract members

4.      Blood donation campaigns. The club plans to help out in blood donation campaigns when they are happening around Kathmandu by spreading awareness or giving a hand in the camps

5.      Workshops. The ICRBS plans to conduct workshops such as talk programs to help the Interactors develop leadership and other essential qualities

6.      International project. The ICRBS also plans to do an international project in a big scale with the help of the rotary club of Patan south but it can only be confirmed after the clubs official handover

Gorkha School Project: together we can

It all started from a casaual talk between the club Secretary Itr. Amir and President Itr. Amulya to gift the society something useful. The casaul talk quickly turned into a serious discussion and led to planning of a mega project, in fact, the hugest in Interact Club of Rato Bangala's history. The duo held talks with other Interactors and got their support. Boosted by the support, they selected Patandevi School in Kumaltar, Gorkha for the project.

" I think that the project was too ambitious for high school students for which their appeal for support was ignored by corporate houses" quotes the Secretary. Actually, it was - setting up a library and a computer lab in a rural area of Nepal was not that easy for a student-run club. The club had some funds but not enough for the completion of the entire project. The Deusi-Bhailo fundraiser was an effort to aid this particular project. Still we lacked resources and no one was ready to help.

A2 group at the site

After rounds of talks, the required fund was managed from within the club members who were interested in the project. The project left the ground then. Two groups of 40 Interactors each were to go to Kumaltar for few days to complete the project led by the President and the Secretary jointly. The Interactors had loads of fun alongside volunteering. We got support from few staffs of the school in the later stages of the project. But the Interactors, without any help, independently completed the project.

ICRB donated nine computers, a printer and thousands of books along with the furnitures required for them. The total  investment into the project was approximately a whooping NRs. 4000000 (US $ 5000). Our work was welcomed by the local community and praised the efforts of the Interactors. This project is aimed at improving the resources available in the underprivileged school and give opportunities to the students to cope up with the developing society. Access to IT and the library would help them to enhance their knowledge and prepare themselves for the fast moving world. During the handover ceremony (farewell) the president shouted "Change has to start from us. We should not be totally dependent on the authorities for everything." Everyone present in the program applauded. The Vice-President, Komal Kunwar, added " we hope this inspires people to be independent and help the society to their capacity." We just hope our work would enlighten individuals and groups around us and we receive help from the responsible corporate houses in the future.

We must thank all the Interactors, the board for the success of the project especially the initiators, President Amulya and Secretary Amir.

Deusi Bhailo Fundraiser... Together for a change

From right to left: Secretary  Itr.Amir Mallepati, Vice-President Itr. Komal Kunwar, Club Advisor  Rtn. Kamal Mani Dixit and ICRB President 2012-13 Amulya Bashyal

Respected tihar as it came and went brought delight in our doomed homes of fatigued term of study. Zealous A1's and thoughtful A2's, what better combination to expect, to see these reflective minds set out to modify but secure nepali culture to fit their hinted bags of modernism but of course, revered part of culture to lay alive within, was excitedly intriguing. A aired thanks to all interactors working to make it success- this tihar, and in the conscience of us to have packed the moments that we shared as being part of interact, in retrospect if not much but a smile at least for sure to have caged, some sparks to have laid and as always in fresh moods of thee to have perfected- all to as we enjoyed. Adios.

                                            -Itr. Nijesh Upreti

Itr. Chitij Karki and his parent handing 'bheti' (money) to President and Secretary 

The whole day was full of fun. But the most prominent part was we did collect a decent sum.We thank all those people who were thoughtful in supporting us in our noble cause of supporting poor children in and around Kathmandu valley. We did a great job and were able to collect around NRs. 64000.  We not just collected a handsome sum  but also helped in preserving and promoting our Nepali culture : Dheusi-Bhailo.

Our theme (conceived by our Secretary Itr. Amir Mallepati) came alive through this fundraiser :

TOGETHER FOR A CHANGE.. 
                                                     together we can!!!

...we sincerely feel that.

The Okhaldungha Survey Project with VIN

http://www.volunteeringnepal.org/

Interact Club of Rato Bangala is grateful to have had the opportunity to partner with Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN) in what has been a successful project. A team of three headed by VIN Chairman Mr. Bhupendra Ghimire were present in the premises of the Rato Bangala School for an orientation session attended by 40 ICRB members in order to prepare them for the tedious task of digitizing the results of  a survey carried out in remote parts of Okhaldunga.

The survey in question consisted of an interview recorded in the form of a four page long questionnaire which focused on the quality of living of the interviewee.  As the data was recorded in Nepali in paper, ICRB was given the task of translating the data into English in addition to recording it digitally in the form of an online questionnaire.  Through the strategy of "Divide and conquer" around 1500 forms provided by VIN have been filled by ICRB members, with each member taking an average of 15 forms.  Furthermore, ICRB is proud to say that the project was a success as the wealth of data recorded in the surveys were all digitized within the given deadline.

However, it is important to note that this project with VIN was not only a cost-cutting, times-saving maneuver but a chance for the members of ICRB to have access to a window into the lifestyle of people in remote parts of the Hilly Region of Nepal.  ICRB looks forward to engaging in such awareness building, eye opening activities in the months and years to come and hopes that it is assisted in future endeavors by outstanding organizations such as VIN.

- Itr. Chitij Karki

General Assembly 15 : How I saw it

It all started with smile as it seemed sarcastic I suppose. Itr. Amulya Bashyal, our President for the Rota-Year of 2013 was somewhat incensed about some of the minor controversies surrounding the formation of the new executive board. To these protestors, "Platforms aren’t earned, they are created. Thus, we ought to create our own." Our Secretary Itr. Amir Mallepati along with other members entered the meeting and that was GA as usual but more so unusual to have rio juice distributed to all the hungry Interactors staying after school for the GA . The meeting ended up with lots of fun filled exciting news on latest developments as it always sounds ”oh hail, the name, our interact.” While the issues got hot, people began hooting with expressions too. But more so, ephemeral meeting had not much to remember and deal with for A1’s skepticism was hunting them out of the admiration. To skeptics, have faith, to have known Interact form a year long, I find it much appealing and trustworthy than any other club that is existent in Rato Bangala School. Queries, if there are, go deal with it. Interact comes up with memories you will always remember and if you happen to be a person of retrospective admirer do go for it, for it’s the platform for thee, get the best out of it with the best that’s in you.

-  Itr. Nijesh Uprety

ICRB Installation Ceremony for the year 2012-2013

The Executive board of ICRB for the Rota-Year 2012-2013

The Interact Club of Rato Bangala today successfully held its Installation Ceremony at the Kamal Mani Theatre in the premises of the Rato Bangala School to initiate the Rota-Year 2012-2013 in which about thirty people were present.   Among those present at today's Installation Ceremony were the Board Members of the Interact Club of Rato Bangala for the Rota-Year 2011-2012 Charter President Itr. Piyush Bhopalka, President Itr. Aarjit Adhikary and Secretary Itr. Dibyamshu Shrestha who passed on their responsibilities to the new Interact Board for the year 2012-2013.  The Interact Club of Rato Bangala would extend its appreciation to President  Itr. Sneha Shakya and other Interact Members from the Interact Club of Saint Xavier's Jawalakhel who allotted their time to attend this year's Installation Ceremony on the official invitation of our Secretary, Itr. Amir Mallepati.

Itr. Aarjit Adhikary Handing over his badge to Itr. Amulya Bashyal,  the President of ICRB for 2012-2013

During the program, the outgoing executive board nostalgically looked back upon their various accomplishments in the previous Rota-Year.  The newly appointed President, Itr. Amulya Bashyal then shared his plans for the Rota-Year 2012-2013 which includes a great range of community service projects ranging from assisting public school in Kavre to the completion of the Okhaldungha Project entrusted to ICRB by VIN.  Finally, the Executive Board formally began their tenure with an oath taking ceremony towards the end of the program.


Listed below are the members of the Executive Board of the Interact Club of Rato Bangala for the Rota-Year 2012-2013, with their names and respective posts.

President : Amulya Bashyal
Vice-President : Swastika Khunjeli
Secretary : Amir Mallepati
Seargant at Arms : Prasen Man Shakya
Treasurer : Sabal Lamsal
Club Service Director : Pragyan Sigdel
Community Service Director : Nishan Acharya
International Understanding Director : Anav Pradhan
Finance Director : Jyotsna Gautam
Public Relations Director : Achal Shumsher Thapa
Editor-in-Chief : Chitij Karki

Committee Members:

Club Service : Niraj Parajuli, Sanket Pandey, Rabina Adhikari
Community Service : Prava Rai, Bishakha Singh, Nirdesh Bhandhari
International Understanding : Nirabh Koirala, Pratap Jung Khadka, Yutsha Dahal
Finance : Kritika Pradhan, Ujesh Shrestha, Pradikshya Sharma
Public Relations : Sudhab Sharma, Shambhavy Shrestha, Prakrit Manandhar
Editorial : Nijesh Upreti, Bikesh Pandey, Sirikit Joshi

- Itr. Chitij Karki

Charter Day Celebration of Interact Club of St. Xaviers Jawalakhel

ICRB's sponsor club Rotary Club of Patan South has been supportive of all activities that our club has done. It has helped the Interact Club through mentoring, financial support and through love and affection. With these, the club reached a new height in the past years. Motivated from this our sponsoring club wanted to open a new Interact Club in St. Xaviers School and 7 months back, their thought came into reality.

Interact Club of St. Xaviers Jawalakhel is the sister club of ICRB as it has been sponsored by the same parent Rotary. On the 5th of June 2012, this club was officially chartered although works had begun 7 months back. Interactors from ICRB namely President Aarjit, Charter President Piyush, Charter Secretary Jagadish, Vice President Amulya and Joint Secretary Amir had attended this program. It was conducted alongside the general meeting of the sponsoring Rotary Club.

All agendas of the Rotary Club were completed and then President Aarjit was given some time to give a talk on the projects that he had conducted during his tenure. His presentation was applauded by everyone and this was followed by the Charter Handover Ceremony of our Sister Club. Later, the interactors from St. Xaviers sang a song Shanti Lukau Kaha which was wonderfully sung. Next, President Aarjit handed over a signed copy of ICRB Souvenir to the President of the Interact Club of St. Xaviers Jawalakhel.

This was followed up by a fellowship dinner party hosted by our sponsoring Rotary Club and a photography session. Everybody enjoyed it. 

Rotary International Theme 2012-13

           This is the new theme from Rotary International President Elect Sakuji Tanaka. This will be the theme for every club worldwide for the Rota Year 2012-13. 

PEACE THROUGH SERVICE.

        Interestingly, Nepal government has declared 2012 as VISIT LUMBINI YEAR to promote the birthplace of Lord Buddha, messenger of peace in the world. Thus, we hope that all the interacts in Rato Bangala would help us to embrace the new theme and to launch related projects successfully.

Debate competition

ICRB organized an in-school debate competition open to all A-level students in Rato Bangala School. It was spearheaded by members of the board including Itr. Samikshya Siwakoti, Itr. Piyush Bhopalka, and Itr. Aarjit Adhikary. With this debate, ICRB hoped to raise awareness on social issues bothering our community and encourage complex, coherent debating among our peers. This would make students more aware of their surrounding and force them to think critically for solutions to these concerns.

Trials were held after school in our school classrooms. Beforehand, those who had signed up were given a random topic regarding a social issue and given a few days to research on that topic thoroughly and prepare a stand for the trial. In our classroom, each participant had a minute to assert their side of argument and cite supporting evidence to convince the judge. 

Ms. Perry, our English and Literature head, was gracious enough to be our judge and sort out the competition. The trails lasted for three sessions and Ms. Perry had to pick out the best speakers. Although a grueling process, she managed to single out six students from a pool of around forty students. These six had a clearer, more intelligent insight on their topic and a stronger stage presence.  They were divided into two teams and given a question ‘Should prostitution be legalized in Nepal?’ For the final debate, each team had to argue on either side of the topic and convince the judges ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

After much planning and organizing, the final was held in the Rato Bangala auditorium. Our special judges were Ms. Perry, Mr. Rabindra Mishra (BBC Nepal) and Mr. Santosh Shah - recipient of Youth ambassador for Peace. Ms. Milan Dixit - school principal - and Ms. Shanta Dixit - school director- were also present, as well as all students from Grade Seven and above. Everyone was expecting a strong, clear debate from these two teams.

Well, no one was disappointed by the hour long debate. The two teams shot at each other and were neck to neck in the debate race. Their scores were extremely close, in fact our judges found it incredibly difficult to decide on a winning team. Finally, the team led by Veda Khadka won over Apekshya Prasai’s team by a narrow margin of two points. Both teams scored in a range of 400 plus points over a maximum of 500 points.

After debating, our contestants were praised for their strong performance by our judges. They had enjoyed judging them and been treated to a drawing, engaging debate. Certificates were presented to our contestants and all those who assisted in making the debate a success.

ICRB accomplished in raising awareness of social issues as well as its work among students of Rato Bangala through this competition. 

Presentation to our juniors

With a new year, the time comes to introduce fresh talent to our club. Our ICRB orientation for our A1s was met by a large audience. We were delighted that the classroom – where it was held – was packed with our juniors and in fact some had to stand because they could not get seats. We were not delighted they had to stand of course.

The juniors saw two video clips. The first was a short promotional video, simply a preview of Interact international. Second video was ‘Interact – a part of Rotary’ and it clarified many common questions about Interact and Rotary International. It showed that Interactors and Rotarians are a strong global community with the shared desire to help the poor and disabled. Featuring interviews from Interactors in Europe and Rotarians in Los Angeles, this video gave our audience an insight to various ways Interactors and Rotarians have reached out to their local and global community. Organising cooking classes, neighborhood cleanups, caring for the elderly and disabled, providing essential supplies to schools in Kenya, and even holding wheelchair basketball tournaments are examples of Interact’s and Rotary’s efforts in the video.    

The video also gave a preview of RYLA. RYLA is Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and in the clip, a RYLA program in the USA showed our juniors how their high school peers over there developed leadership skills, learnt to cooperate with others, and become real leaders.

The last part of the clip was about Rotary Youth Exchange. Youths get the opportunity to experience another culture far from home and to understand common bonds everyone shares in any place. They understand the important differences people in another country have and to respect that.

Following this, Itr. Piyush Bhopalka (Charter President) and Itr. Aarjit Adhikary (President 2011-12) gave a detailed explanation of the initiation, role, and goals of ICRB. They highlighted ‘Reach Within to Embrace Humanity’, our theme for the year and the programs they had in mind regarding it.

Questions and Answers was next. Itr. Piyush and Itr. Aarjit made sure they answered every question our audience put forth carefully so that they could have no doubt left. They explained again about ICRB’s initiation, our past accomplishments and future plans. Lastly, they made it clear only those who were certain they could work hard for the club should join and appealed to our juniors to make their decision wisely.  

ICRB orientation was a success and we were pleased it turned out smoothly. It was clear many juniors were eager to become a part of our family and make a difference. 

Achievements of Rota Year 2010-11

World Environment Day celebration

 “5th June!” - A day to emphasize on the immense value of a greener, cleaner and healthier environment for a better and safer home to the global citizens. Acknowledging that community services prove to be the germinating seeds for the global development, ICRB held a “Tree Plantation Program” within the premises of Rato Bangala School with the theme of “Forests: Nature at your Service”. Education can contribute to bring a change in the attitude of people but it solely depends on the individual whether to implement it or not. The Interactors demonstrated a high-level of teamwork, civic consciousness, participation and the implementation of their understanding to promote a healthier environment. Different species of trees like apple, walnut and avocado were planted in different areas of the school compound. Since the program was conducted within the school compound, we assure that the job was effectively done by the ICRB members, proving to be the exemplars for other students for promoting “A greener plant” encouraging them to join such projects in the days to come.

Rotary International Theme for 2011-2012

This is the Rotary Theme for the year 2011-2012.

Participation in South Asia Youth Summit

Two Interactors from Interact Club of Rato Bangala went to USA for participation in SAYS. They were PE Itr. Aarjit Adhikary and Itr. Shashank Sharma. Itr. Aarjit has shared about his experience there in US.

South Asia Youth Summit (SAYS) is a highly academic and interactive youth-leadership program sponsored by the United States’ department of State which is exclusively designed for South-Asian youths to develop leadership in young people to transform communities. I consider myself one of the fortunate Nepali youths to travel to the United States and participate in a 28-day SAYS held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Washington DC. Leaving my native soil to a country with such widespread development, a country with such unparallel power and hegemony, yet still, a country which listens to the voices of its people was definitely a grand honor for me.

My long journey to the States brought me to a state of morbidity with a little bit of fever and travelling sickness; however, my health improved drastically after reaching my destination. Maybe it was because of the dust-free air of the evergreen city of Pennsylvania; the ambiance of Pittsburgh truly saved my ‘good start’. Moreover, the warm welcome from the SAYS’ staff members, the delegates from Sri Lanka and Maldives as well as from my host-family was even more pleasing and delightful.

The three-week experience of Pittsburgh made me realize that my stereotype of Pittsburgh being an ugly industrial ‘City of Steel’ was amiss: the reality was much different. Cruising through the bright Fort Pitt tunnel, one can see the city of Pittsburgh emerge with edifices brightly lit with neon, gleaming streets and bridges. Furthermore, in the daytime one could clearly see the vivacity of the beautiful undulating hills by the incessant Ohio River. Living in Pittsburgh gave me abundant exploring opportunities; however, my daily schedule usually was occupied with presentations, seminars, high school and organization visits which were really very prolific, I must say.    

Participating in the SAYS’ activities and programs, so duly and well managed was an exhilarating experience for me. Moreover, I found the talk programs given by highly qualified professionals to be very informative and interactive. Working together with the entire team taught me the crucial role of teamwork behind success. Above all, living together with the team in Washington DC made me realize that we were not only a team, but a large family from diverse backgrounds working together to achieve the same goal. Having learnt so much along with recreation and merriment, I think that SAYS couldn’t have had been any better.

After successfully completing the program, I learnt that leadership is not a skill that you acquire; rather, it is a skill that you develop within yourselves and I believe that SAYS was successful in providing me the urge and motivation to develop my leadership skills. I am glad that SAYS brought a significant change to my life; albeit, I still find it incredible that it took me ten thousand miles of prolonged travel to realize my latent potential and unleash the true leader in me.