Prior to my work at the College of the Atlantic, I studied agriculture at the Simon Bolivar United World College in Venezuela. Upon my return to Nepal after UWC, I sought out ways to improve the lives of people in the country. In rural areas, poverty, a lack of educational options, and illiteracy act in a self-perpetuating cycle.  According to the World Bank, only seven out of ten Nepali children enrolled in first grade will reach the fifth grade, and more than half quit school before reaching the lower secondary level. Working to solve this issue through an active youth network, I helped found the Maya Universe Academy. Maya means “love” in Nepali, and this sentiment of love for the community and a passion for solving problems is part of the core beliefs of the school. It is an elementary school that is changing the status quo by being the first community-run school in Nepal to provide free primary-school education.

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UNESCO has recognized Maya Universe Academy for its exchange for peace program through board member Surya Karki, who is a UNESCO Youth Peace Ambassador since 2012. We hope to contribute to the initiative of UNESCO through our work that we do best, educate and empower rural Nepal.

We welcome this initiative of UNESCO and hope to have several youth volunteers helping us in the near future.

http://www.unescobkk.org/fileadmin/user_upload/shs/Youth/Exchange_for_Peace_-_Surya_Bahadur_Karki.pdf