KCC Celebrates Completion of One-Year SDG Ambassador Program

Kathmandu: Kantipur City College (KCC) has organized the SDG Ambassador Graduation Program – Batch 3, honoring 26 students who successfully completed the one-year SDG Ambassador Program.

The graduation ceremony was held on Friday at Bougainvillea Events, Tripura Marg, Kathmandu. Organized by the SDSN Club in collaboration with Kantipur City College and Kalpa Academy, the event featured the presentation of certificates and various awards to the participating students.

Chief Guest Prof. Dr. Sujan Babu Marhatta, Vice-Chancellor of Purbanchal University, highlighted the important role of young people in promoting youth leadership, education and sustainable development. He said that young people's knowledge, skills and active participation are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"Graduation is not the end of learning; it is the beginning of greater opportunities,"Marhatta said. He urged the graduates to apply the knowledge, skills and experiences gained through the program to society and sustainable development in the coming days.

Special Guest Prof. Rama Krishna Regmi, Head of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at KCC, said the program had encouraged students to develop leadership skills and identify opportunities to work in sustainable development. He said the initiative enabled students not only to study society but also to understand social issues and engage with them through practical initiatives.

KCC Principal Raju Kattel said the SDG Ambassador initiative provides students with opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to social and environmental issues. He added that the program has helped transform young people’s creativity, leadership capacity and sense of social responsibility into practical action.

SDG Ambassador Program Director Er. Ravi Khanal emphasized the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders to build a sustainable, inclusive and prosperous future. He also stressed the need to prioritize youth participation and collaboration in achieving the SDGs.

KCC's  Head of the Department of Engineering, Dr. Dipak Bikram Thapa, said an SDG-related ecosystem was gradually developing within the college and emphasized the need to continue and strengthen sustainable development activities.

Gender and Social Inclusion Expert Samjhana Wagle Bhattarai said individuals should reflect on what they can contribute to society through their work. She emphasized putting social responsibility and inclusion into practice.

Stanislas Lazouzi, Head of Administration at the French Embassy in Kathmandu, said the quality of consciousness is a fundamental basis of success. Similarly, Dr. Binaya Krishna Thapa of Kathmandu University said KCC had provided young people with a pathway toward empowerment and leadership development.

Dr.Ratna Karki, Chief for program & Project at Rural Construction Nepal  , encouraged young people to seek opportunities for innovation within the country and connect society with productivity.

The event brought together educators, development experts, business-sector representatives and representatives of organizations working in youth leadership. Participants included Mim Hamal, Senior Program Manager at the European Commission; Stanislas Lazouzi, Head of Administration at the French Embassy; and Rakesh Karn, Country Director of DZI Foundation.

Representatives associated with FNCCI, NGCCCI, Rural Reconstruction Nepal, Kathmandu University, Practical Action/Global Voice, JCYCN and NYCA also attended the event.

The program featured discussions on youth participation, sustainable development, cross-sectoral collaboration and practical approaches to addressing social and environmental challenges. A panel discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities surrounding sustainable development and youth leadership.

During the "Success Story" session, participating students presented projects they had conducted during the one-year program, sharing their experiences, key learnings and contributions related to various Sustainable Development Goals. The event also provided opportunities for interaction and networking between students and experts working in sustainable development.

Professors Janet Sanders, Robertson Work and Dr. Rita Dhungel from universities in Canada and the United States congratulated the graduates through video messages. The event also featured a cultural presentation, panel discussion, Success Story session and graduation ceremony.

The SDG Ambassador Program is one of KCC's key initiatives operated through its SDSN Club. According to the college, the program provides students with knowledge, activities and practical learning opportunities related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Over the one-year program, participating students gained knowledge and practical experience in sustainable development, social responsibility and youth leadership. With the completion of the SDG Ambassador Graduation Program - Batch 3, the third batch has formally concluded its one-year journey.