Rasti Buda Magar grew up in Nepalgunj, a bustling town where the environment often took a backseat to rapid urbanization. As a child, she saw people casually toss wrappers and trash on the streets, including herself. Climate change and environmental protection were concepts she learned about in school, but they seemed distant and irrelevant to her everyday life. Like many of her peers, she didn’t see how her individual actions could make a difference. However, since her childhood, she was driven by her desire to make a meaningful impact in the community.

In 2019, Rasti joined a local organization in Nepalgunj called “Nice Nepalgunj” that addressed waste management and environmental issues in the community. Rasti joined the organization as a volunteer and later became its Treasurer. The group focused on making Nepalgunj cleaner and greener, organized community orientation and municipal-level workshops. Rasti got associated with the GreenShift project in 2023, when Nice Nepalgunj was selected as one of the Youth Advocacy Groups under GreenShift.

"GreenShift has been a game-changer for our environmental work. The innovative approaches they’ve introduced, like the TagMe app, have given us the tools we need to make a real impact. Mapping waste and using that data to advocate with the local government has been incredibly effective. It’s inspiring to see how technology can be used to drive positive change."

As part of the GreenShift project, Rasti seized the opportunity to participate in policy reform discussions and work directly with government officials. This experience gave her the confidence to raise her voice on issues she once thought were beyond her reach. Rasti began advocating for stronger environmental policies and urging the government to listen to the concerns of young climate activists like herself.

"I used to think our environmental issues were someone else’s responsibility, but GreenShift and my work with Nice Nepalgunj have changed my perspective. If we don’t act, who will? It’s our future at stake, and young people like us are in the best position to address climate change."

Today, Rasti is more than just a Treasurer at Nice Nepalgunj—she is a climate action leader in her community. Her journey from a young girl who once littered without a second thought to a climate advocate has inspired many others in Nepalgunj to take action. Thanks to Rasti and her team, waste management and environmental sustainability have become part of the local conversation, with growing support for initiatives that promote a cleaner, greener future.