Shiksha Nepal organizes National Book Fair 2019

Entertainment programs organized by volunteers of Sikshya Nepal at Nepal Academy Hall, Kamaladi, on September 13, 2019.

Shiksha Nepal, a non-governmental organization, organized a ‘National Book Fair 2019’ at the Nepal Academy Hall, Kamaladi, on Friday. The theme of the event was ‘Ek Nepali Ek Kitaab’.

Shiksha Nepal is working in the sector of child and youth education. Founder of the organization Prem Bahadur Bohara said, “The motto is to provide a platform for all the readers. The main aim is to collect one million books, especially storybooks, for the children living in rural areas of Nepal including the Karnali region.”

“That one book--which we have forgotten about, and has been left on the bookshelf for long--could change the thinking pattern. They can change the mindset, creativity, or even the life of a child living in the Karnali region,” he said. He further added that the vision of collecting one million books could easily be accomplished if every Nepali would donate at least one book.

The organizers hoped to collect at least 500 books by the end of the two-day event.

The event is a common platform to raise awareness about the importance of books in one’s life. He added, “The involvement of youth as volunteers in the event is to cultivate the reading culture among youth through youth.” Bohara also expressed his concern about the future of reading in the younger generation.

Student volunteer, Sabina Adhikari, said their involvement in the event has motivated others to learn. She added it has helped other youths to embrace the art of reading for developing critical thinking.

“I have chosen to lead the bookmark stall team as we can show our creativity in making handmade bookmarks. The money from the stalls will be further used in buying books to accomplish their goals of reaching one million books by 2020,” Adhikari said. Various renowned writers including Amar Neupane, and Nimesh Poudel among others had shared their insightful experiences in the event.

Shiksha Nepal aims to connect local, national and international youth to work with children for social and environmental change where the youths can contribute to the children’s education, the well-being of local communities and ultimately social and environmental change being a volunteer- a part of the change.