IFSA-HETAUDA ‘Local Congress 2023’ in Nepal

IFSA-HETAUDA “Local Congress 2023” was a highly successful event from April 22-24, 2023. 

The event theme was “Greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save us,” focusing on the importance of individual efforts to protect our planet. The event marked the completion of IFSA-HETAUDA’s official International Forestry Students’ Association membership. The event was on World Earth Day, which had almost the same theme. The event was a success, with various activities and competitions being held throughout the event.

The opening ceremony marked the beginning of the Local Congress event. The event had three sections on the first day. The first section consisted of lectures and speeches by various seniors, guests, and teachers who shared their experiences and views. The second section was the ”What after graduation” session conducted by District Forest Officers(DFO), where attendees could learn about their career options after completing their studies, which was informative and engaging. The third section included several entertaining games organized for students, such as musical chairs, sack race, and treasurer hunt. More than 40 students participated in musical chairs, and the sack race had separate teams for boys and girls. The treasurer hunt game attracted over 57 students, forming nine teams of approximately six members each.

The second day of the event had two sections. The first section was the General Assembly, where former board members shared their experiences and plans for the next year’s projects. The second section was the Forestry Exhibition competition, where eight teams registered their names for participation. The exhibition topics included medicinal and aromatic plants, harvesting equipment, silvicultural systems, minerals and rocks, posters, art, forest models, etc. Each team consisted of a maximum of three members, and the competition results were based on 70% judgment and 30% voting. The organizer’s decision was final; each game’s registration fee was Rs 50.

The event’s final day concluded with a cultural night that showcased the different ethnic groups of Nepal by displaying their traditional dresses, songs, and dances. Prizes were given to the winners of other entertaining games, and certificates were awarded to new and former active members to motivate further and engage them. The organizers thanked all the sponsors, including Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), Name Hetauda Institute, Samriddha Samajh as a Media Partner, and the Institute of Forestry (IOF), for their support throughout the event, making it more effective.

Overall, the IFSA-HETAUDA Local Congress 2023 was a highly successful event that provided a platform for forestry students to share their experiences, enhance their skills, and learn from others. The event was well-organized and successful due to the hard work and dedication of the organizing team, and the support from the sponsors was greatly appreciated. The event was informative, engaging, and entertaining, making it a memorable experience for all participants.

Author: Anil Subedi