Clean Air Network Nepal (CANN) has launched school and college level awareness and education programs to sensitize school children and college students on air quality related issues. On behalf of CANN, Clean Energy Nepal has taken the lead role for this initiative. Environment and Public Health Organization, Kathamandu Metropolitan City and Green Youth Network (a network of environmental science colleges in Kathmandu Valley) are other partner organizations for this particular clean air drive.

Under this program, a series of discussion programmes will be organized among school children and college students to encourage them to practice clean air -friendly behavior. Nearly 25 schools that have active student environmental clubs, or schools that express their interest in the programme, will be selected for this campaign. A core group of college students will be selected and trained on teaching air pollution in the classroom. Then trained college students will visit the schools to organize interaction progrmes with active involvement of the students and school administration. During the interaction programme, the college students will do a presentation on Kathmandu’s air quality and also involve the students on various activities and games related to air quality in Kathmandu. With the help of environmental clubs in schools, we will plan and implement school based follow up activities focused on air pollution.

CANN plans to organize interaction programs at colleges in close coordination with college departments and Free Student’s union. The major aim of this program is to sensitize the student leaders and college administration on issues of clean air. In Nepal, it is common to observe burning tires in the roads and streets during any protest program organized by whether political parties or other organizations. For most of the protest organizers tire burning on the roads is very easy way for expressing their anger despite fact that tire burning can emit carcinogenic chemical posing threat to public health. And very often college students take lead in these protest programs. So we have targeted students’ leaders and college students to motivate them take actions against tire burning. Besides this, we want to encourage college students to come forward to initiate awareness and education program for better air quality in Kathmandu.