Project

Fostering Grassroots Conservation through School-Level Eco-Clubs

UKALI’s eco-clubs empower students in remote Nepal with hands-on conservation skills, fostering future environmental leaders and driving grassroots sustainability.
Picture of people dressed in blue tracksuits, holding banners and signs as they march for biodiversity conservation in Nepal, with a backdrop of forests and glaciers.

In Nepal’s remote regions, environmental degradation, climate change, and biodiversity loss threaten communities. Many students lack access to hands-on learning opportunities that spark creativity and practical problem-solving. UKALI’s eco-clubs address this by building and nurturing young, environmentally conscious leaders. 

Supporting future environmental leaders through grassroots action 

The program institutionalizes school eco-clubs, turning ideas into meaningful, long-term actions. These clubs equip students with essential conservation skills through hands-on training, mentorship, and real-world engagement, all grounded in the local context. Participants identify plant species, track wildlife, manage waste, and practice sustainable farming. They lead cleanup campaigns, plant trees, and advocate for climate action, transforming environmental education into daily practice. By fostering innovation and leadership, the eco-clubs empower students to turn waste into resources and reforest degraded areas, ensuring a lasting impact on their communities. 

Empowering students for lasting environmental impact 

Since launching in January 2022, the initiative has expanded to 8 schools, engaging 2,500 students and reaching 15,000 community members. Students now lead awareness drives and local environmental projects. Challenges like limited resources, poor infrastructure, and funding shortages persist, but the project thrives on local leadership and collaboration with schools, municipalities, and families. UKALI plans to expand to 20 schools in the next two to three years, empowering students to run eco-clubs independently. A structured activity calendar, a dedicated resource center, and an eco-club magazine will support their initiatives. Research grants will encourage students to explore and propose solutions for environmental challenges. A key milestone is the creation of an endowment fund, ensuring long-term sustainability. 

By fostering innovation and resilience, UKALI is building a movement where students don’t just learn about sustainability—they lead it. 

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Picture of a diverse group of people of different ages having a discussion outdoors in a Tibetan village.
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Picture of eight men in a Nepalese village, one of them filming with a tripod-mounted camera.
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Picture of a group of children and teenagers gathered around and on top of a small stone house, some wearing blue tracksuits.
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Project begin: 21/01/2022 

Leading organisation: Upper Karnali Landscape Initiatives (UKALI) 

The country where the team is based: Nepal

Theme: Biodiversity, Education for Sustainable Development, Indigenous knowledge 

Sub-themes: Agriculture, Climate change, Environment, Energy, Food and food security, Forests and desertification, Gender equality and women's empowerment, Knowledge sharing, Natural disasters risk reduction, Natural resource management, Resources management, Sustainable lifestyles, Waste management, Cultural diversity, Health 

Tag: #Women #Youth

Project needs

  • Training
  • Crowdfunding
  • Digital communication
  • Volunteer workforce
  • Equipment supply
  • Communication strategy design
  • Partnerships development
  • Sponsorship / Philanthropy
  • Research
  • Social media
  • Strategy/advocacy
  • In search of financial partners
  • Graphic design
  • Symbolic adoption of students model project and or supporting our eco-club endowment fund

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