Ambassador of South Korea to Nepal Choe Yong- jin attended the “Bagmati River Cleaning Campaign-2071” in its 58th week on 9th August.

Likewise, Representative of Korea International Cooperation Agency Haeng Lan Jo, Diplomats and staffs from South Korean Embassy, KOICA staffs, KOICA volunteers and members from KOICA Alumni Association Nepal (KAAN) also actively participated in the event.

New KOICA volunteers who arrived on July 14, 2014 to work in health and education sector also participated in the program with full enthusiasm.  These new volunteers at present are undergoing adaptation training program where they are learning Nepali language and culture. The whole team comprising of 60 people actively participated in cleaning program at Teku Dovan from 7:00 am to 9:00 am.

The Bagmati River faces a number of ecological and environmental challenges. Pollution in the river has made the entire civilization polluted. Unmanaged settlement and garbage, increasing trend of sand extraction in the river and other problems have challenged the Bagmati River system. The single effort of the government is not sufficient to address the problems without the help of other organizations as well as public. 

According to a press release issued by KOICA, the South Korean Embassy as well as KOICA Nepal Office really appreciates the social initiatives made by the Chief Secretary Lila Mani Paudel as well as other likeminded organization to save Bagmati and make Kathmandu a better place.  The overwhelming participation from people every week has proved that this campaign has been taken over by the citizens. Yet a strong determination and leadership is required to continue this marvelous job of retaining the cultural and religious significance of Bagmati and set an example of change which can be brought once people are motivated.

KOICA is government agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handling Korean Aid since 1991 to maximize the effectiveness of Korea’s grant aid and technical programs for developing countries by implementing the government’s aid and technical cooperation programs. Since then KOICA has been actively contributing in many development activities in Nepal through its projects, providing volunteers as well as by supporting civil society organizations. Every year KOICA sends around 100 government officials to Korea in short as well as long term training/master courses.