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8 March 2021. Barsha Mahato from Shree Adhunik Rastriya Secondary School, Bagmati Province was declared the winner of national level-poetry competition—at the finale held virtually today to mark International Women’s Day. The competition was organized by UNDP Nepal and Rato Bangala Foundation with an objective to encourage students to creatively express their ideas through poems and raise awareness on gender equality.
The competition was organized with the theme “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world” where the students from seven provinces of Nepal recited poem on women empowerment, leadership, role played by women in the COVID era etc. Barsha Mahato was declared the winner by a panel of judges that included Yogendra Yadhava, Bimala Tumkhewa, Deepak Rauniyar and Dr. Divya Dawadi. Mahato’s Maithili language poem entitled,“Nari Nai Chhai KeKro Par Bhari” which depicted women not as burden but as empowerment.
Pooja Pathak from Jana Namuna Madhyamik Vidhyalaya, Karnali Province won the second prize. Ms. Srijana Sapkota, Amar Madhyamik Vidhyalaya, Gandaki Province and Ms. Sapana Bhandari, Damkada Secondary School, Lumbini Province won the third prize. The top three winners will be receiving workshop from Rato Banagala Foundation and UNDP Nepal to enhance their creative thinking/writing & personal development.
In the virtual event, UNDP’s Resident Representative Ayshanie Medagangoda Labe said “Youths are key for changing the mindset of society, we are pleased to collaborate with Rato Bangala Foundation to encourage young poets in creative thinking and raising awareness on gender equality”.
In the same vein, President of Rato Bangala Foundation, Shanta Dixit emphasized on the necessity of early childhood development and educating children about the gender equality from the early stage.
Encouraging the young poets, Dr. Giridhari Sharma,Vice Chair, Policy and Plannig Commission of Gandaki Province highlighted on the demand of girl students in the technical field. "We need to transform schools and universities in order to encourage girl students to develop entrepreneruship and promote quality education". He added.
The other participants who make to the national level poem competition includes Ms. Yasodha Subedi from Shree JalKalyan Madhyamik Vidhyalaya, Province 1, Mr. Nagendra Dhimal from Janata Madhyamik Vidhyalaya, Province 1, Ms. Preeti Thakur from Shree Janata Model Technical Secondary School, Province 2, and Ms. Lalita Joshi from Shree Mahunyal Secondary School, Sudurpashchim Province.
