Kathmandu, February 25, 2025: With the collaboration of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), the Centre for Integrated Urban Development (CIUD) and Bottlers Nepal Limited, BABA (Balbalika and Batabaran) project officially concludes in two community schools in Kathmandu’s inner core. The initiative was concluded with the handover of the Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) at both schools with the presence of Deputy Mayor of KMC, Ms. Sunita Dangol, Education expert from KMC City Planning Commission, Mr. Shailendra Jha, and ward officials.
The program, which began in June 2024, intends to expand students’ knowledge beyond books and educate them on environmental issues. It addresses environmentally friendly adaptations like waste segregation at source, separate collection, recycling and upcycling. The program also includes activities on WASH and Urban Water Management. The program has been implemented at Himalaya Secondary School, Duganbahil, Newroad-ward 22 and Shree Mahendra Saraswoti Sewa Basic School, Teku, Ward 12 of KMC.
During the handover ceremony, students hosted tours to the guests of the two schools to showcase the newly established MRFs that includes innovative waste prevention, source segregation, and separate collection systems that they will continue to use. The students will use the MRFs to collect recyclables and sell them to the collection vendor. The students intend to utilize the income generated by selling the waste to collectors and fund future BABA subgroup school events. All waste collected and sold will be kept recorded for future reference and to understand the impact of the program.
Ms. Sunita Dangol, Deputy Mayor of KMC, concluded by encouraging students, the school management team. She thanked Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal and CIUD for successfully conducting the “Balbalika ra Batabaran (BABA) – a School-Based Environmental Education Program,” which is part of KMC’s Book Free Friday initiative. She underlined that such innovative approaches will help students learn and adopt such practices more effectively.
Mr. Shailendra Jha, Expert member, CPC, KMC shed light on the functioning model of BABA subgroups and recognized MRFs are more practicable than using the same type of dustbins for waste collection. This has helped students understand the value of the items they used to toss away which they now collecting revenue from.
Similarly, Mr. Bal Krishna Maharjan, Ward No. 12 Chairperson expressed that the initiative is very impressive, he wanted to start the segregation campaign in the household from his 12 wards and was delighted to see the initiative started by the school children of his ward. He thanked the school children, teachers and management. Likewise, he thanked CIUD for the project implementation partner Coca-Cola Beverage Nepal.
On behalf of CIUD, Mr. Nabin Bikash Maharjan, Executive Director, said that after learning at schools, students would be able to apply their knowledge to their families, keeping them clean and orderly and recognizing the worth of waste.
Ms. Sneha Shrestha, Communications and Sustainability Manager, at Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal shared, “A better shared future is something we really believe at Coca-Cola, – and the BABA Project combines the children who will build the future and the knowledge it aims to imprint amongst the children to strive for sustainable environment. We are humbled to be part of KMC’s Book-Free Friday initiatives and thankful to our implementing partner CIUD for making this a success in the 2 schools.”
Er. Dilli Ratna Shakya, Chairperson of Himalayan Secondary School, thanked the CIUD team and Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal for their assistance and initiatives. At the same time, he praised Ms. Dangol for visiting the school and encouraging the team.
About Coca-Cola Beverages in Nepal
Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal refreshes consumers across the country through its core product offerings of Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta and Kinley, and impacts thousands as a System. The company works with WaterAid Nepal, Centre for Integrated Urban Development (CIUD), Smartpaani and Splash on innovative integrated water management solutions for water conservation, water replenishment and to improve livelihoods of communities which has made Coca-Cola a water positive company. As part of The Coca-Cola Company’s global commitment towards better Waste Management, Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal has been working with partners like Doko Recyclers and Khaalisisi to support the global mission to collect and recycle every bottle we sell by 2030. Through the Saksham program, Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal and Coca-Cola Nepal are empowering over 3000 women retailers by providing training on financial literacy, hospitality, and sanitation management, and use of digital wallets. Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal continually engages in locally relevant initiations to bring about a positive difference to the lives of communities across the country.
About CIUD
Centre for Integrated Urban Development (CIUD) in collaboration with Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal, is a non-governmental organization that promotes people-centered urban development. It seeks community-based, sustainable solutions for livable cities and collaborates with municipalities to complement government efforts to address urban challenges. As part of its initiatives, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) implemented a “Book Free Friday” to allow students to comprehend beyond the book. Furthermore, the “Children and Environment” project (BalBalika Ra Batawaran) strives to enhance knowledge for community-based schools under KMC’s management.