KATHMANDU, April 30: Marking the 11th memorial day of the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake, an international training initiative is under way in Kathmandu to equip young people with essential skills in disaster preparedness and emergency shelter planning.
The two-day training, held on April 25–26 at Kanya Mandir Secondary School, Chhetrapati, is organised by the Nepal Red Cross Society (Kathmandu District Committee and Youth Chapter, Public Youth Campus) in partnership with Aston University, United Kingdom. The programme has brought together 25 youth Red Cross leaders from 19 districts, with a focus on inclusivity, dignity, local leadership and practical learning.
The training is designed and led by Dr Komal Raj Aryal, a UK-based disaster management expert of Nepali origin, who has been working across Nepal, the north-western Indian Himalayas and Bhutan to strengthen local disaster risk reduction and response governance. The initiative is supported by the UKRI International Science Partnerships Fund.
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The programme adopts a hands-on approach using 3D objects and LEGO-based simulation tools to facilitate participatory planning for emergency shelters and temporary settlements. The method aims to help participants better understand spatial planning, coordination challenges and real-time decision-making during crises.
Shyam Dotel, president of the Nepal Red Cross Society Kathmandu District Chapter, said mountain communities across Nepal and the wider Himalayan region face disproportionate risks from earthquakes, landslides and other natural hazards.
“This training is both timely and essential in equipping our youth with practical skills to prepare for and respond to emergencies, particularly in planning and managing temporary shelters,” he said, expressing gratitude to Dr Aryal.
Participant Pratima Gurung said the training had been an eye-opening experience.
“As part of the programme, we conducted an urban vulnerability walk to identify real-time risks in the core areas of Kathmandu—something I had never considered before,” she said.
Since 2025, Dr Aryal has been leading similar capacity-building initiatives across Nepal, Bhutan and the north-western Indian Himalayas, contributing to broader efforts to strengthen disaster risk reduction, emergency response and resilience governance in hazard-prone mountain regions.
