Isn't it an overwhelming feeling when youth take responsibility and deliver it? Isn't it a proud moment when youth take initiatives to maintain their heritages? At times when frustration has engulfed youth, Power Shifter created this overwhelming and proud moment by contributing in transforming deteriorating Ratnapark into a beautiful park on April 22, 2014 and beyond.

Ratnapark- an open practise ground for emerging political leaders, a rent free space for vendor who could sell their products without being accountable to waste generated and a easily accessible and free space to wander and express frustration of unemployed youth till April 14 the park was a good example of how the most admirable resources could turn in lack of ownership by the users and lack of leadership of in implementing authority. That may be the reason why the park lost its beauty, the greenery in the middle section was limited in pictures, dustbins were full of burnt waste and food waste, in fact no one really cared to throw their waste in the bins and the beautifully constructed ponds had become dumping site of waste from visitors and vendors during our first visit to Ratnapark on April 2, 2014 we wandered if the park management is doing anything. To our relief, the park management had closed the park for the maintenance activities from April 14, 2014 we committed to contribute in maintenance activities under the banner of Power Shift Nepal mobilizing all our Power Shifter of "I am a Power shift" program in partnership with Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC).

While the park management was occupied in construction work in the garden, Power Shifter decided to contribute by cleaning the entire park.  Not just to limit themselves in the banners and slogans of Earth Day-"Green Cities" more than 50 Power Shifter gathered in the morning of April 22 to contribute bringing this slogan into reality by assisting to maintain a park of the city, which is also an entity of Green City.

And so, initiating with the plantation in the garden, the Power Shifter were ready to take charge of their mission. Divided in three groups, a group was given responsibility to empty the dustbins one team was mobilized to clear waste from ground and garden while the third team took charge of a herculean task of extracting the waste from the pond which had been there for more than 7 years!! Can we do it in three hours, a question in face of all Power Shifter but also a smile of commitment and confidence-Yes we can do it and we will do it. The energy with which the Power Shifter had shown was a stunning view the energy, enthusiasm and commitment shown by each was more than enough to motivate park management to inspire to carry forward the actions initiated by Power Shifter. After 3 hours of hard work, we could clean the ground and garden section but still nearly half of the pond was remaining to be cleared. Everyone looked tired, but served with tea cookies, light lunch and very short time to rest Power Shifter carried the same energy to clean the remaining pond. The pond and the garden were full of all types of waste that human civilization could possibly produce!! We pondered, "Is this a park of landfill site?"

Finally the pond was cleaned, supported by the staffs of KMC around 10 vehicles of waste were carried away from the pond. Albeit the objective of contributing to maintain Ratnapark was achieved for the day, every one was concerned on sustainability of the actions initiated by the Power Shifter. For the same the Power Shifter also shared their idea for sustainable Ratnapark imposing entry fee and disallowing unmanaged business was the highly suggested ideas to generate income and regularly maintain the park by controlling waste generation.

In the mean time appreciating and praising the effort made by Power Shifter, chief of Ratnapark Management Committee Mr. Hari K.C.  told that though many groups had conducted cleanliness program, selfless contribution from the Power Shifter has made a visible and notable transformation in Ratnapark which will made sustainable by the Park management.

Celebrating the Earth Day and contributing to an entity of Green City, Power Shifter achieved the objective of giving a message that Ratnapark can be 'GREEN' and also raised question to the park management, "Will Ratnapark be maintained 'GREEN'?" as one day action is not what Power Shifter want. Youth as Power Shifter are searching for sustainability of action for Power shifting is all about transforming into positivism and sustainability.  Power Shifter have internalized Ratnapark as their responsibility and commit to ensure sustainability of Ratnapark-common heritage of Kathmanduties. But will KMC internalize and ensure it?? The answer is yet to be discovered but Power Shifter will make sure that they are held accountable to this open and green space in the heart of the city!!!