Speaking on the occasion as chief guest Hon’ble Daman Nath Dhungana said that human rights is one of the important factors to empower youth for the promotion of peace and development solution of many problems confronting the  lies in the role that youth play in the days to come. He further said that Nepal is deeply engaged in the promotion of the process and constitution drafting.
Col. Gunter Chasse,  International Director, Global Country of World peace shed hight, in detail on the ideals of transcendental meditation linking the goals of human rights with it.
Similarly Dr, Raja Kingsly, International Director, Global Country of World Peace highlighted the goals of transcendental meditation and its impact on the life of people.
Mr. D. Richard Rasmussen of American Embassy informed the audience that the American Embassy is keenly interested in promoting youth empowerment and their rights.
Mr. Shriram Pant, Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports, said that youth are the pillars of the nations so that youth empowerment and right should be promoted for the larger interested of the society.
Mr. Rambabu shah, UNIC read the message of UN Secretary General made on the occasion of Human Rights Day.He also convyed the good wishes and message of Mr Robart Piper, UN Resident Coodinator
Mr. Sanjay Bir Thapa,  President of UNYSAN speaking from the chair said that youth should channelize their energy and enthusiasm towards building a new society in Nepal based on the  ideals  of human rights and world peace.
Mr. Deepak Praskash Baskota, former State minster for Home threw light on the importance of youth empowerment for Peace and human rights.

I had the great pleasure of interviewing Positive Youth Development (PYD) expert Marilyn Price-Mitchell PhD. She is a developmental psychologist, educator, researcher, and writer who studies how today’s youth grow into healthy, successful, and engaged adults.

She synthesizes multidisciplinary research in psychology, education, sociology, child & adolescent development, social psychology, and neurobiology to bring evidence-based research to parents, teachers, civic leaders, mentors, coaches, and all those who support positive youth development.

She was kind enough to provide her insight and wisdom on this ever growing and valuable field. Whether you are completely unfamiliar with PYD or a proponent and advocate for it’s expansion, there is a great deal of knowledge to be gained below.

1. What unique value do you feel positive youth development offers society?

It gives us the opportunity to view children and adolescents more holistically.  Child psychology, much like medicine, focused on a disease model, looking at ways to treat deficiencies in development instead of how to achieve well-being.

When preventive medicine gained momentum, people became more aware of ways to live healthier lifestyles. In a similar manner, positive youth development offers society evidence-based practices that build internal strengths in children and improve their ability to thrive in life.  It doesn’t replace traditional psychology but rather adds balance to the field.

2. What led you to become passionate about positive youth development?

I spent 20 years working in corporate America as a practitioner in the field of organization development.  I slowly realized that an organization’s ability to innovate was greatly dependent upon a collective set of intellectual, interpersonal, emotional, and ethical skills that should be developed in individuals by late adolescence.  Yet, many adults do not have these foundational skills because they are not an integral part of K-12 education.

Parents and teachers pay the greatest attention to academics, leaving the development of internal strengths to chance. These strengths include how young people discover purpose, meaning, initiative, creativity, resilience, empathy, and compassion.  It takes into account how young people learn to respectfully collaborate with others and critically think about the world around them.  These human qualities drive innovation, social change, and positive outcomes for the public good.

I wanted to be part of a movement to bring a strengths-based approach to youth development.  As a parent, I was exposed to the strengths and weaknesses of our educational system. I began to bring collaborative, systems-oriented practices used in corporations into schools, helping parents develop positive practices to support children. I co-founded the National ParentNet Association in 1996, a nonprofit whose mission is to build family, school, and community partnerships that help kids thrive.

3. The family is such an integral part of PYD. What can families do to bring the philosophy of Positive Youth Development into their everyday life?

Yes, the family is integral to positive youth development. But it must be a shared responsibility between parents, teachers, and community programs that support youth. It cannot be accomplished by families alone.

The simplest way to transfer this philosophy to everyday practice is to think about ways to build on children’s strengths instead of focusing on their weaknesses. This takes intentionality.  As parents and educators, we are so absorbed on fixing what may be wrong with kids that we forget about what is right with them. Then we wonder why more than 50% of today’s teenagers are not hopeful, engaged, or thriving.

4. What are a few suggestions for parents to help them raise children to be thriving adults?

Two parenting practices that come to mind and are quite easy to implement are in the areas of praise and learning from mistakes.  First, general praise is not helpful to kids. Instead of saying “great job,” think about how you can give praise with more specificity.  Help them understand their character strengths by praising their kindness, teamwork, fairness, or enthusiasm.

Second, children learn from mistakes. Parents should help kids understand that you don’t expect them to be perfect and that you love them unconditionally, regardless of their errors, lapses in judgment, or school grades. If parents rescue children from mistakes, kids never get practice in overcoming obstacles and solving problems. This is an important process that develops initiative, critical thinking, and creativity.

5. I believe in focusing on strengths. How can we get schools and social institutions to begin realizing the power of a strengths based approach?

Put simply, we need to stop focusing on testing as the ultimate measure of student success and start measuring success in more qualitative ways. There is a place for testing, particularly when it is used to assess curriculum and improve education. However, the emphasis on testing today has become an obsession that undermines a strength-based approach to development.

I believe parents will be the driving force of change. Eventually, they will force schools and social institutions to pay attention to what matters most – how their kids thrive in life rather than how they perform on a standardized test.

6. It seems that PYD is tough to implement because it takes major systemic change in regions where it is lacking. What are some of the biggest obstacles to overcome in order to make PYD a “household” concept?

You’re right. It does take systemic change. And it is lacking for all children, rich and poor. One of the biggest obstacles is the lens through which schools view themselves.  Originally founded as mechanistic organizations, they often function like automobiles. Many believe that if all the parts of their internal systems are running smoothly, then the student will excel.

The problem is that today’s schools need to be more like the World Wide Web, not an automobile.  They need to be connected — to parents, communities, civic leaders, social service organizations, virtual communities, and students. And they need to understand that learning occurs at the boundaries of all these parts, not just within the confines of the school.  When they begin to think this way, they will become 21st century learning communities that build on strengths.  It’s a big obstacle but I think schools will eventually respond to this environment.  If they do not, they will not survive in their current form.

7. What trends and transitions do you foresee taking place with Positive Youth Development in the near future? Or, what exciting trends are actually taking place in the field?

There are many exciting trends in the field. Three come immediately to mind. First, research has recognized that out-of-school-time programs are a major contributor to positive youth development.  The Harvard Family Research Project has been a leader in conducting and synthesizing this research.

Second, research has long supported the need to create family-school-community partnerships that foster the academic, social, and emotional development of children, particularly those who are the most disadvantaged.  The National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education has provided valuable research and collaboration, driving many successful partnership efforts.

Last, technology is part of 21st century learning. But computers are more than machines and software applications. They can help children learn to think, create new ideas, and find meaning in their work.  Therefore, technology can be used to support positive youth development. Exciting research in Positive Technological Development (PTD) is being conducted by the Developmental Technologies Research Group at Tufts University, exploring ways that technology can play a positive role in children’s development and learning.

I’m very hopeful and optimistic about these trends and excited to be a part of them. Thanks for asking such great questions and for inviting me to be a part of this dialogue.

Venue: Russian center of science and culture Nepal

Time: 8:45 am

on 21 September 2011

“Make Your Voice Heard”

United Nations Youth and Student Association, Nepal and Nepal National UNESCO Association organized a Peace Rally to celebrate  International Day of Peace on September 21, 2011 in Kathmandu. The Rally was organized in cooperation with UNESCO Kathmandu was attended by a large number of youth, students, ASPnet teachers, UNESCO Clubs Activists, professors and many peace lovers. There were more than 500 participants at the Rally. Before beginning of the programme t-shirts printed with the theme of this years International Day of Peace were distributed to all the participants.

The Rally was started in Bhrikutimanda, Exhibition Road with the flying of pigeons, the symbol of peace and love by our distinguished participations. The route of the Rally was Bhrikutimanda-Bhadrakali-Shahidgate-New Road Gate-Ratnapark-Bhrikutimandap. Participants marched towards at the rally holding play-cards in their hands with different slogans. Some of the slogans of the rally were Peace  is  our rights, Peace  is  human  Rights, Peace  through  Dialogue, Peace through  Unity, Make our Voice Heard, Listen to Youth,  Listen the Voice of Youth, Youth for peace, Let us Build a Prosperous Nepal, Let us Build a peaceful Nepal, Youth  Empowerment  for  Peace etc.

At the end of the Rally a function was organized in when distinguished personalities addressed the gathering. Asso.Prof. Dambar Bir Thapa, President of United Nations Associations of Nepal, Mr. Bhola Thapaliaya, ASPnet National Coordinator of NATcom, Mr. Sanjay Bir Thapa, President of United Nations Youth and Student Association, Nepal were among the speakers on the occasion. At the end of the programme a lunch box was provided to all participants of the rally.

“Make Our Voice Heard”

United Nations Youth and Student Association Nepal (UNYSAN) organized a talk programme on ‘Make Our Voice Heard’ to mark the International Day of Peace on 21st September 2011 in Russian Culture Centre, Kathmandu in cooperation with Himani Trust and Russian Centre of Science and Culture. Hon’ble Sarat Singh Bhandari, Minister for Defense was the Chief Guest on the occasion where as Mr. Sanjay Bir Thapa, President of UNYSAN presided over the function.

Speaking on the occasion Chief Guest Hon’ble Sarat Singh Bhandari, Minister for Defense said that ”as youth are the pillar and builder of nation Government of Nepal should pay special attention to problems confronting youth community. Youth empowerment should be the priority for the Government of Nepal and youth should canalize their energy and enthusiasm into development of the nation and for building peace in Nepalese society. Organizations like  United Nations Youth and Student Association Nepal (UNYSAN) should be encouraged and promoted for the interest of peace and development of the country ”

At the beginning of the programme Mr. Sanjay Bir Thapa, President of UNYSAN welcomed the guests and participants and shed lights on the role of UNYSAN in promoting peace through youth empowerment.

On the occasion Dr. Bishnu Hari Nepal, former Ambassador, Asso.Prof. Dambar Bir Thapa, President of United Nations Association of Nepal, Mr. Bhola Prasad Thapaliya, ASPnet National Coordinator, Ms. Heather Steil, Public Information Officer, Embassy of USA in Nepal, Ms. Claire Naylor, Executive Director, Women Lead Origination, Stanislav Simakov, Director, Russion Center of Science and Culture spoke on theme shedding light on the importance of youth empowerment for the larger interest of peace and development Nepal.
In honour of the International Day of Peace UNYSAN organized an art competition on the theme of peace. Many students from different schools of Kathmandu Valley had participated in the competition. The jury has announced the name of students who won the prize. Mr. Rajiv Tamang from Himalayan Hear Academy, Mr. Pabitra Tamang, Himalayan Hear Academy ad Mr. Chandra Man Gurung from Manjari Secondary School won first, second and third prize respectively. .

In the meeting we shared the concept and direction of our organization,UNYSAN. They were interested about how our organization operates. We gave them the idea that our organization is a self-sustaining organization wherean assortment of members are present each from diverse background such as,students from different faculties, bankers, IT professionals, doctors, Nurses, Management fields, media and so on. We are also discussing on generating various channels throughout the nation, of which we have already touched, brigunj, nepalgaunj and many other.
The Executives were also concerned about how the embassy will be helpingUNYSAN. They were positive enough. They said we can participate in any youth programmes organized by the embassy, the details of which will be notified in their fb page. US embassy is active with youth related issues. Meeting was very successful. Both Heather and Richard were positive and happy with our activities.  We are looking forward working with US Embassy in Youth issue and empowering  them in future.

In the meeting we shared the concept and direction of our organization,
UNYSAN. They were interested about how our organization operates. We gave them the idea that our organization is a self-sustaining organization wherean assortment of members are present each from diverse background such as,students from different faculties, bankers, IT professionals, doctors,
Nurses, Management fields, media and so on. We are also discussing on
generating various channels throughout the nation, of which we have already touched, brigunj, nepalgaunj and many other.
The Executives were also concerned about how the embassy will be helping
UNYSAN. They were positive enough. They said we can participate in any youthprogrammes organized by the embassy, the details of which will be notifiedin their fb page. US embassy is active with youth related issues.
Meeting was very successful. Both Heather and Richard were positive and happy with ourActivates.  We are looking forward working with US Embassy in Youth issue and empowering  them in future.

United Nations Youth and Student Association, Nepal organized a national workshop on “the Role of youth in Promoting Dialogue and Mutual Understanding for Peace and Change our World” ‘ to celebrate the International Year of Youth 2010-2011 and International Youth Day on 12th August 2011 at Russian Centre of Science and Culture, Kathmandu. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon’ble Upendra Yadav was the chief guest on the occasion. The function was chaired by Mr. Sanjay Bir Thapa, President of United Nations Youth and Student Association, Nepal.

Chief Guest Hon’ble Upendra Yadav, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs inaugurated the workshop by lighting the panas. A the workshop chaired by Mr. Sanjay Bir Thapa, President of United Nations Youth and Student Association, Nepal, Hon’ble Upendera Yadav very vividly presented the political landscape of the country and the condition of the country in which the youth are bound to live and struggle. He regarded youth as the builders of the nation and agents of change and advised youth that they have mobilize their energy for larger interest of the nation and youth community.

Welcoming the guest Mr. Sanjay Bir Thapa, President of United Nations Youth and Student Association, Nepal said that UNYSAN is a peace movement committed to promoting international understanding and universal brotherhood through empowering youth.

Prof. Dr. Mohan Lohani, former Ambassador, Mr. Axel Plathe, Head of UNESCO Kathmandu, Asso.Prof. Dambar Bir Thapa, President of United Nations Association of Nepal, Mr. Radhesh Pant, CEO of Kumari Bank and Co-President of UNA of Nepal, Mr. Anil Shah, CEO of Mega Bank, Mrs. Pramila Singh and Miss Nepal 2010 Sadikshya Shrestha spoke on theme at the inaugural session of the workshop. All the speakers shed light on the need of promoting empowerment of youth for peace and mutual understanding by changing this world. Youth numbering 190 from different youth organizations and colleges were the participants at the workshops.

After inauguration session, all the participants were divided into five groups A, B, C, D and E. Different topic was given to every group. Theme of the group was as following :

Group A : Youth and  Employment
Group B : Youth and Education
Group C : Youth and Health
Group D : Youth Migration
Group E : Social Inclusion of youth
Group F : Youth and the Environment

In every group, a facilitator facilitated the group for the discussion on their respective topics. Every group made a presentation on their topic. This method proved to be very productive and fruitful

United Nations Youth and Student Association Nepal (UNYSAN) organized a workshop on ‘Global Warming and Climate Change in Nepal’ on 24th October 2009 in Russian Culture Centre, Kathmandu. Mr. Gopal Krishna Shrestha, President of UNESCO Associated Schools National Teachers Association and Principal of Brookfield College was the chief guest whereas Mr. Sanjay Bir Thapa Thapa, President of UNYSAN was the chaired the function. Mr. B.N. Sharma, Member of United Nations Association was the Guest of Honour at the workshop.

Speaking on the occasion Chief Guest Mr. Gopal Krishna Shrestha said that Nepal is facing a number of problem due to global warming and climate change. Nepal produces less carbon than other developed countries but the effect of climate change is rapidly rising in Nepal. He further said that the action to reduce its impact in Nepal is needed. Developed world should increase their cooperation to reduce its impact in the countries like Nepal.”
Speaking on the occasion Guest of Honour Mr. B.N. Sharma said that “it is a common problems of the people of the world thus it is the need of the hour to join hands in hand to reduce carbon emotions by the people of the world”.

On the occasion Mr. Sanjay Bir Thapa, President of UNYSAN, Vice-President Mr. Som Nath Gautam, Mr. Ishwor Rayamajhi and Mr. Bishal Dahal, Members of UNYSAN also spoke on the theme.