Kathmandu: The students from 16 primary and secondary schools in the Khumbu region near Mount Everest had taken the opportunity to express their views on climate change and global warming through painting and writing. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) stated that the program for the students was jointly organized by ICIMOD and Initiatives for Development and the International Centre Eco Action Support (IDEAS).

The organizers stated that they have organized the programme to raise awareness on the effects of climate change among the mountain community. Kamal Thapa Magar, a fourth-grader from Khumjung High School won the first prize in the Art Competition and Chandra Kala Rai from Mahendra Jyoti Secondary School won the second prize. Similarly, Furba Tenzing Sherpa, a tenth-grader from Khumjung High School won the first prize for Nepali Letter Writing Competition and Dawa Futi Sherpa, a ninth-grader from Khumjung High School won the second prize.
Andreas Schild, Director General of ICIMOD said, "Children are very vulnerable to climate change and such competitions helps raise awareness of the impact of climate change on their own lives as well as ways they can contribute to combating it."
Dawa Steven Sherpa, chief coordinator of IDEAS, said that when conservation started at a young age it became a part of daily life. “The art and letter writing competition would encourage the children to look at the environment in a new way,” he said.

Source: The Rising Nepal; The Himalayan Times, June 20, 2009