“Project 50/50”
Karnali Province, Nepal | Eco Warriors | 2022
We are the Eco Warriors, a fierce and proud group of LGBTIQ+ climate activists who are part of the Blue Diamond Society. We embody the green color of the rainbow flag and are deeply committed to involving marginalized groups in climate solutions.
The Right-Sized Problem
In the Karnali zone, communities lack access to sustainable energy sources.
What did we do?
We launched a campaign to bring alternative energy solutions to the marginalized populations in a village in Humla, Nepal. Teaming up with the local government and influential community members, we distributed 50 solar panels to 50 households. But we didn't stop there. In collaboration with the Child Development Society (CDS), we organized orientation and awareness programs on sustainable energy at Shree Bal Jyoti School in Darma Village.
Campaign Impact
Our active engagement as LGBTQI+ youth in the climate change discourse has elevated us as role models within our community. We've shattered stigma and fought discrimination by creating a space filled with respect, trust, and collaboration. As we look to the future, we've earmarked our remaining seed fund to launch an ethical clothing line. The launch will kick off with a spectacular fashion show featuring key influencers and media outlets. Proceeds from this venture will be funneled back into installing more solar panels in the villages of Humla.
Our initial partnership with the Khana Sabailai (Food for All) social project and Child Development Society (CDS) laid the foundation for our ongoing activities. Through dialogues and targeted sessions with the local community on alternative energy and transformative climate action, we've successfully built a strong support base. These community-centered actions have also served as a platform to shed light on the devastating impacts of climate change while educating people about LGBTQI+ rights.
We've harnessed the power of social media to amplify our message, too. Using two key influencers, documentaries, and other content, we've made an impact that reaches far beyond our immediate community. We documented our journey of distributing solar panels and initiating tree plantations in the remote village of Humla, and shared this inspiring story across social media channels. Partnering with four other youth groups, we've educated tens of thousands of people about the critical issues of climate change and renewable energy. This even caught the eye of major media outlets like the Kathmandu Post.
We had the honor of engaging in constructive dialogue with key parliamentarian officials at a Shift National Event on the 27th of December. This engagement further solidified Nepal's commitment in line with COP27 to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.
Words from Eco Warriors
“The Shift journey was really impactful and I learned better overall communication skills which helped me over my entire journey of the Eco Warriors campaign. Shift was a great support during the campaign as it works for the vision of young people for social change regardless of gender and being an individual from the queer community. The support and training offered through Shift allowed Eco Warriors to reach intersectional participation in every part of our advocacy.” – Roshan Gurung, 21
“Definitely for me eco-warriors was my first project where I took lead in terms of procurement process, vendor selection and everything, which I was informed on before but have not yet practiced. ... But for social causes like climate justice, I believe I am capable of going through 100 difficult hurdles in future, which is something I realised in part through Shift project and am very thankful the whole experience.” – Angel Lama, 23
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