In Nepal, the impacts of climate change are deeply personal; frequent floods, landslides, and unpredictable weather patterns threaten both homes and lives. Yet, the emotional toll of these crises is often overlooked. Children and adolescents, who are the future of our country, silently carry the fear of losing their homes without a safe space to express it. The ‘Anxiety to Action’ initiative created that much-needed space for them to share their stories, emotions, and hopes.
This youth-led project, organized by the Youth Thinkers’ Society (YTS), brought together 107 students from both private and government schools in Kathmandu, Nepal. Through creative activities, dialogue, and a Co-Solution Model United Nations (MUN) workshop, the initiative sought to transform climate anxiety and housing injustice into a collective call for action, healing, and hope. Choosing to include both private and public schools was a conscious decision, ensuring that all students’ voices were heard, and no one would be left behind. It was essential to bridge the gap between different educational backgrounds, allowing the perspectives of students from diverse socioeconomic environments to shape the conversation around climate justice and housing.
Housing is not just about having walls and roofs over our heads, it’s about security, dignity, and the right to live safely in a warming world. In Nepal, many vulnerable communities are increasingly facing environmental disasters, but the mental health struggles these families experience remain largely invisible. The “Anxiety 2 Action” program aimed to break the silence around this issue, validating the fears of children and adolescents while also empowering them to take charge of their future.
In December 2024, the program was organized at Bright Future Secondary School and Shree Mangal Secondary School. Although the schools came from very different backgrounds, the students found common ground in their experiences and hopes. Through emotional mapping, art expression, and a Co-Solution Model United Nations (MUN) workshop, the classrooms became places of creativity, honesty, and healing.
One powerful moment came from Arjun, a 15-year-old student from Shree Mangal Secondary School. On the first day, he took part in an art activity where he drew a small home surrounded by floods and cracked soil. It reflected his deepest fears about climate change and housing insecurity. That drawing helped him express emotions he had kept hidden for years. On the second day, during the MUN session, Arjun became a delegate representing a country facing housing injustice. At first, he was nervous, but as the session went on, he gained confidence. He spoke passionately about eco-friendly housing solutions and stood tall for his community.
As these students engaged in the MUN debate, they proposed solutions for affordable, flood-resilient housing, called for policies that provide mental health support in schools, and suggested using eco-friendly materials in building homes. What began as a workshop evolved into a movement, with students not just imagining a better future but actively working to shape it.
This kind of emotional expression was seen throughout the project. Many students who usually stayed silent began sharing openly. A survey taken before and after the program showed that many adolescents felt anxious, unsupported, and unsure how to talk about their feelings. But after two days of creative activities and open dialogue, their confidence grew. A teacher reflected on the experience, saying, “I had no idea so many of my students carried this emotional burden. This project helped us see them not just as learners, but as humans needing support.”
The “Anxiety 2 Action” initiative taught us something powerful: when young people are given the chance to speak, they don’t just participate, they lead. They are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the changemakers of today. Their voices deserve to be heard in every conversation about climate change and housing injustice.
This project was more than just raising awareness, it was about giving power back to young people and adolescents. It showed us how deeply connected mental health is to housing justice and the climate crisis, and reminded us that a safe home is not a privilege, it’s a basic need. That’s why this effort should not stop here. It needs to grow, reach more schools, more students, more teachers, and more families. It must push leaders to listen to young voices when making important decisions.
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