Tackling current issues head-on, UPF-Nepal held two education programs in southern Nepal, in Itahari and Biratnagar, January 29 and 30. Addressing the concerns about declining moral values, the theme for each event was “The Role of the Family in Nation-Building.” Three presentations were given at each event.
{besps}/images/ftp_uploads/2013/nepal/4939{/besps}
In both venues many more participants came to the program than were originally expected. Local Ambassadors for Peace covered the costs of the conference, including travel expenses for the presenters. Highlights of each program follows:
Itahari: Originally organizers planned for 160 people but as the program began many chairs had to be added. In the end between 280 – 300 people from eight districts attended. Some quests traveled from Ilam, more than 200 km away. The audience included college officials, and 16 new Ambassadors for Peace were appointed. One Ambassador for Peace offered land and buildings to be used as a regional education center. One local TV station filmed all the presentations and interviewed Dr. Robert Kittel, the main presenter, and Mr. Santosh Paudel, Secretary General of UPF-Nepal and translator.
Biratnagar: Originally organizers planned for 120 people, but in the end nearly 200 people attended. Primarily couples were invited, but a good number of young people also came. The audience stayed until the end, and there was stimulating interaction among the presenters and participants. When one Ambassador for Peace learned that the local UPF office was using flashlights and candles because of the power outages (as much as 14 hours a day), he offered an inverter and batteries for back-up power.