Krishnapur, Kanchanpur | May 16, 2026 – The Municipal Child Network Krishnapur, in collaboration with Saathi, NNSWA, and Krishnapur Municipality, successfully organized a two-day Municipal Child Conference from 15–16 May 2026 amid the ongoing local planning and budgeting process for the upcoming fiscal year.
The conference aimed to strengthen meaningful child participation in local governance by engaging children in identifying and prioritizing issues affecting their lives and communities. A total of 45 children from all wards of Krishnapur Municipality, including participants from the GOAL Project area in Shuklaphanta, actively participated in the event.
During the conference, children highlighted several key priorities that require urgent attention, including the elimination of harmful practices such as chhaupadi pratha and child marriage, prevention of substance abuse, ensuring quality education, promoting child-friendly schools and municipalities, establishing safe shelters, and ending domestic and gender-based violence.
Addressing the event, Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Khagendra Prasad Bhatt appreciated the active participation of children and encouraged them to develop plans that support their overall development. Deputy Mayor Ms. Draupadi Rana expressed commitment to addressing the priorities identified by children and emphasized support for children deprived of education.
Mayor Mr. Hem Raj Ojha reiterated the municipality’s commitment to empowering children as agents of social change. Similarly, Municipal Child Network Secretary Mr. Tek Raj Joshi highlighted that children’s participation in planning should not remain a one-time event but continue as a good practice that strengthens children’s voice and representation in governance processes.
During the event, Saathi was honored with an appreciation letter in recognition of its continued support in youth capacity building and gender-based violence prevention and response initiatives.
The Municipal Child Conference served as an important platform to institutionalize child participation in local governance. The priorities identified by children are expected to contribute to more inclusive, responsive, and child-friendly planning and budgeting processes at the municipal level.
The activities were implemented across both project areas under the GOAL Project with the support of AEIN – Aide à l’Enfance de l’Inde et du Népal, funded by the Luxembourg Ministry of Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs and the Luxembourg Ministry of Environment, Climate and Biodiversity.
