One of the key components of Project CAP is to inspire behavioral changes in school students, fostering a natural inclination towards recycling, reducing, reusing, and developing a strong sense of environmental responsibility from an early age. In addition to tackling the immediate challenges of plastic waste management in Nepal, the project aims to cultivate a future where individuals are acutely aware of their consumption and disposal habits. As part of this initiative, 12 Waste Smart Clubs were launched in July 2024 across seven municipalities, engaging a total of 132 student members. Since then, these clubs have organized a variety of activities—rallies, poetry competitions, awareness campaigns, and clean-ups—impacting over 1,100 students. Club members, with the support of focal teachers, have taken the lead in these efforts.

As a monitoring and evaluation specialist, I visited the schools in September and held in-depth conversations with the club presidents to assess the clubs' effectiveness and identify early behavioral changes.

One notable interaction was with 13-year-old Ashila Basnet, the Club President at Shree Sharmik Secondary School in Hetauda-4, Makwanpur. I had initially met Ashila during a two-day workshop organized by Project CAP in Kathmandu before the clubs were officially established. During the workshop, she shared her feelings about being a new student adjusting to her peers and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to attend.

 I was thrilled to see Ashila step into her role as Club President.

 “I was initially hesitant about becoming the President,” Ashila shared. “I knew it would require me to speak in front of my peers and teachers, and I often feel nervous. I suggested that my friend Nihal take on the role while I served as the vice president, but Nihal encouraged me to step up as President. My focal teacher also supported this idea, assuring me that I would learn and gain confidence over time.”

When I asked if she felt more comfortable in the role now, Ashila responded positively.

“I definitely feel more confident now. This is my first time taking on any leadership position, so initially I felt slightly nervous. But my focal teacher supported me a lot in the beginning. If I made any mistakes, he’d correct me, and over time I felt okay with making small mistakes. Now I am much more comfortable in the position and look forward to our club meetings.”

I followed up by asking if she’d noticed any other changes in herself, particularly regarding plastic usage and management.

“Compared to my old school, this one already had some good practices in place to manage plastic waste—like disallowing junk food within school premises and having students participate in school clean-ups. But I think the club activities and what we learned in the workshop have helped us understand why these things matter. Previously, I was mostly concerned about not breaking rules, but now I see the importance of these actions. Our teachers don’t have to push us as much.

I've even talked about the importance of segregating waste at home with my family because it is important to manage plastic waste outside of school as well. I've started noticing food wrappers on the ground when I'm walking around outside of school premises, which I didn’t pay much attention to before. Now, if I eat something like a packet of noodles, I make sure to keep the wrapper in my pocket until I find a proper place to throw it away.”

Additionally, I wanted to learn more about how the club operated and how active it was, so I asked Ashila to give me a brief overview.

“We try to hold a meeting every week. Before organizing any club activity, we have a brief meeting in the library. We mostly use our half-time and occasionally the last period, which is social studies. During these meetings, we review the club action plan and decide when and how to conduct the activity. Once everything is confirmed, we announce it during the assembly.

We also keep minutes for each meeting. This is my first time actually, learning how to write minutes. At first, our focal teacher helped us with it, but now it's our secretary and sometimes me who take care of it.”

To understand whether managing academics alongside club responsibilities posed challenges, I asked Ashila if she or other club members had faced any academic difficulties after joining the club.

“Our focal teacher is quite strict about not missing classes as much as possible. It is only sometimes that we utilize our last period for club meetings. And to be honest, social studies is easier to catch up on, so it hasn’t been much of a challenge. If it were math, then it would be slightly more difficult. On the bright side, we are learning so many new things, so I feel good about engaging in these activities.”

When I asked if there was anything the club needed further support with, Ashila highlighted the issue of not being able to utilize the e-library as much as she’d like.

“It would be great to use the e-library more, but we haven't had many opportunities. We don’t get to go to the computer lab often due to our tight schedule, where the e-library is located. It would really help if there was a designated time to use the e-library.”

Understanding her concerns, I suggested that it might be beneficial to bring the e-library features to the classrooms using sub-routers.  She seemed excited about the idea.

My conversation with Ashila revealed the meaningful impact of Project CAP on students' environmental awareness and personal development. She and her peers are not only gaining knowledge about plastic waste management but also cultivating essential leadership skills, building their confidence, and nurturing a deeper sense of responsibility towards the environment. Their initiatives reflect a growing awareness that extends beyond school, as students apply their knowledge at home and in their communities.

It was affirming to see how these young leaders are transforming their newfound knowledge into actionable steps, creating a ripple effect that has the potential to influence others. With regular check-ins and targeted support to address any gaps, these impacts can be amplified, ultimately paving the way for a more sustainable future in Nepal.

This conversation has been carefully translated from Nepali to English.