Nepal Team
Roshan K Bhatt
NCEP Nepal Program Coordinator
I am Roshan K Bhatt, usually known as Roshan Bhatta among those who know me. I was born in Baitadi, a remote hilly district of Far West Nepal. I grew up and got my education up to grade 10 in Mahendranagar, a small town in Kanchanpur district which is the last district in west south of Nepal.
After I completed my grade 10, I came to Kathmandu to pursue my further education. I was interested to study A Levels as it is a new education system in Nepal and provided much more practical and creative education compared to the Higher Secondary Education Board of Nepal. Studying A Levels meant more money which I was lacking. However, I was lucky to have a kindhearted uncle who was ready to provide me financial assistance to study A Levels. He loved me a lot and had a high belief that I will do great in my future. So, this is how I completed my A Levels.
From the very childhood, I showed leadership qualities. When I saw the children of my age spending their time doing nothing, I formed a child club (The Rising Club) in my hometown Mahendranagar. Through that club I assembled young people to engage in creative works such as dancing, drawing, and painting. Also, I formed sports teams of football, cricket, volleyball, etc., for those who were interested in sports. I initiated playing Deusi-Bhailo(which is a played in Tihar festival of Hindus), through which we used to collect money to buy playing kits for the club. I did all these things when I was about 15 years old.
Once I came to Kathmandu and got admitted in Trinity International College to study A Levels, I felt that there needed to be more attention to extra curricular activities. This led me to assemble all the A Level Students together and establish a society. After long debates with the college administration, we were finally able to succeed. Through this society, I started a series of Youth Motivation and Mobilization Campaigns. These campaigns were focused to motivate the young students to get involved in social service activities and works for community welfare. After getting motivated they were then mobilized for these activities. Success activities conducted by the Society under my Presidency included:
– Library Establishment Project in three rural districts of Nepal
– Awareness campaigns in women’s empowerment and programs to promote gender equity and address social taboos in four districts of Nepal,
– Visits to various NGOs and INGO’s and organizing youth seminars in association with them to gain donations of stationary materials to 40 HIV/AIDS infected children staying in Nava Kiran Plus (an organization providing shelter to HIV/AIDS infected people)
I am in gap year these days. I want to pursue my undergraduate education in Biomedical engineering or Molecular Biology. I want to develop my career as a genetic engineer or biomedical engineer and continue my profession here in Nepal in future. Since the subject of my interest and my ambition is not available in Nepal, I am applying to colleges and universities of U.S., Canada and Denmark. As I do not have good financial status, I am applying for full scholarship/ financial aid to study. I do not know whether I will get it or not.
I first had my touch with NCEP when Luke came to Trinity to present to potential Field Volunteers for NCEP scholars. As I was the president of Trinity A-Level Society our A Level Coordinator asked me to help Luke organize orientation programs and then select the FV’s. I, along with few of my friends helped to choose the best volunteers from among all the interested students. I next met the NCEP members Luke, Sandeep and Raju when they had came for the training program for the selected FV’s. During which also, I was responsible to assist NCEP.
The reason why I wished to join the NCEP is because of the work it is doing, because of its contribution to Nepalese children. I was greatly influenced by hearing that the NCEP collects the donations in Canada and uses the collected donation to educate my little brothers and sisters here in Nepal. This is why I told the NCEP team that I would like to join NCEP as soon as I finish my exams in May/June and the NCEP team was affirmative to my request. In June, Luke called me from Canada and asked about my interest and undoubtedly I told him that I am still interested to join NCEP.
I began my work in NCEP and earned the role of Program Coordinator. I am responsible for coordinating FV’s for their field visits and presently I am assisting the Volunteer Tutors as well. I have been monitoring field Volunteers and volunteer tutors through emails and phone calls, and meetings.