| ashu |
Posted
on 07-Feb-01 01:22 PM
Almost 80 per cent of Nepal's population is under
the age of 40. Viewed that way, Nepal is a very
young country. [Maoist soldiers, as many of you know,
are all quite young men and women: many barely out
of their teens, carrying guns in the jungle. Sexual
activities are reportedly rampant among the Maoists,
but more on that some other time.]
Yet the youth in Nepal have no or little say about matters
that are of relevance to them.
That's what Deependra Gauchan thinks. And he's trying
to do something about it.
Gauchan, a St. Xavier's School graduate who shot to
fame with his prize-winning documentary-film on the
perils of child marriage -- UJELI -- has just
started a new year-long initiative to engage the
urban youth in creative pursuits.
To that end, his organization, AA-VAS, has kicked off
a VOICE OF THE YOUTH initiative. The idea, says Gauchan,
is to involve youths in all kinds of pursuits from
film festivals to street festivals to fashion shows
to public service to music festivals to trekking to
organizing various adventure sports . . . all year
long, in 2001.
Partnering with the GAA, the Kathmandu Film Archives,
Dribya-Dristi TV, Artists' Collective and other
organizations, Gauchan hopes to invest on the young.
The opening music festival last January was reportedly
a success, and a Valentine anti-HIV Dance is coming
up soon.
Here's wishing all the best to Gauchan as he devises
more programs to keep the youths busy and actie on
socially relevant activities.
oohi
ashu
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