Background

International Women’s Day (IWD) is observed globally every year on 8 March. This year’s global theme for IWD 2021 is “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.”and national theme: “महिलाको सुरक्षा, सम्मान र रोजगार समृद्ध नेपालको आधार”. The theme celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is also aligned with the priority theme of the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, “Women's full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”, and the flagship Generation Equality campaign, which calls for women’s right to decision-making in all areas of life, equal pay, equal sharing of unpaid care and domestic work, an end all forms of violence against women and girls, and health-care services that respond to their needs.

Women leaders and women’s organizations have demonstrated their skills, knowledge and networks to effectively lead in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. Today there is more acceptance than ever before that women bring different experiences, perspectives and skills to the table, and make irreplaceable contributions to decisions, policies and laws that work better for all.

This year UNDP Nepal in collaboration with the Rato Bangala Foundation (RBF) will mark the day involving the students from grade VIII-XII. The programme will include Poetry Competition and interaction on pertinent women’s rights agenda in Nepal. The primary target students are from the model schools as identified by the Government of Nepal and schools selected by professionals in the education field focusing on those that have internet facilities and are led by women Principals.

Objective

•     To reflect on the status of women and express opinions and concern
•     To raise their awareness regarding the leadership role played by women
•     To encourage students to creatively express their ideas through poems
•     To develop oratory and creative skills amongst the students

UNDP Nepal in collaboration with Rato Bangala Foundation (RBF) will organize two activities virtually and/or hybrid

School poetry competition based on the theme “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”  national theme: “महिलाको सुरक्षा, सम्मान र रोजगार: समृद्ध नेपालको आधार”.

(Possible Topics: Women as role model, Women in leadership in different sectors, for example: women engaged in climate action, technology, political participation, medical, changing social cultural practices, role of women in recovery in covid-19 pandemic,  women leadership in your community or family, community/ social workers etc.)

1. Provincial level Poetry Competition based on above topic [6^th March 2021]
2. National level Poetry Competition based on above topic on 8^th March 2021. Including the students from Rato Bangala School (non-competitive)
3. Panel Discussion/Interaction programme based on “women’s human rights agenda linking with the right to mobility” conducted by RBF [tentative 5-8 March 2021]

School level Poetry Competition Preliminary round on 4th March 2021

The list of Schools provided by RBF as well as schools identified by UNDP Provincial office staff will form the basic list of schools to be approached.

These schools are public schools which are identified either as model schools by the Government of Nepal, or other schools that have access to internet and are led by women Principals from all seven provinces of Nepal. They will be encouraged to allow their students from grade VIII to XII to submit their poems in accordance with the specific objectives of the competition. A preparatory lesson plan (resources) on writing poetry will be also be provided to the Schools by RBF. UNDP and RBF will, together with this concept note, send invitation letters to all identified schools and select seven on first come, first serve basis (Registration Form Link). Each province UNDP Field Office will be responsible to coordinate with their respective schools from their respective provinces in coordination with UNDP and RBF.

The participating schools will be responsible to organize open school level poetry competition using the lesson plan provided on 4^th March 2021 from grade VIII to XII in the given topic and provide the names of three best poets to the respective UNDP Field Offices, and RBF by 5^th March 2021 from each school. One of the best poets recommended by the jury from each school will enter the Provincial level Poetry competition.

Provincial level competition on 6th March 2021

The Provincial Level poetry competition will be organized by UNDP Field office and RBF virtually and/or hybrid on 6^th March 2021 from 10:00 hours to 13:00 hours tentatively. The three best poets from each province will be selected, and one of the best poets recommended by the jury from each province will enter the National level Poetry Competition which will be held on 8^th March 2021. Those coming second and third will also be invited to participate without reciting.

The Rato Bangla Volunteers will coordinate with UNDP Field Office in the respective provinces.

National Level Poetry Competition (The Finale Round) on 8th March 2021

The National level poetry competition will be organized by UNDP Nepal and RBF virtually on 8^th March 2021 from 10:00 hours to 13:00 hours tentatively. In the finale round the three best poets will be awarded.

In addition, the Rato Bangala School students (2 to 3 students) will also recite poems in the 8^th March 2021, which is non-competition.

The programme will be live through UNDP Nepal and RBF Facebook.

The topic will be the same for all 3. The same poems the children write will be recited at the school level, at the provincial level and at the national level.

• Poetry will be based on self-composed content.
• Languages for poetry can be any preferred language (Nepali, English, mother tongue)
•  Each candidate will be allotted 5 minutes.
•  Decision criteria will be based on provided the students poetry recitation on the topic given:

1.  Content of the Poem
2.    Expression and Body Language
3.    Articulation
4.    Diction
5.    Delivery & Style

●       Jury’s decision will be final and binding all candidates.

The competition is only open to the students from Grade VIII to XII of Nepal either from the public model schools and or other public schools that have been identified by educational professionals and are led by women Principals from all seven provinces of Nepal. The selected participants should provide duly filled online google form which will be shared by UNDP Nepal and Rato Bangala Foundation.

Here are the zoom links to participate in the provincial and national level poem competiion.