"Pratap you will not receive a confirmation mail from GPS team, please do not expect to be part of "I am a Power Shifter" program as a participant" told Niraj Tamrakar, coordinator of "I am a Power shifter" program, after the orientation program at Kathmandu University School of Arts on "I am a Power Shifter", where I presented about the program on behalf of GPS Nepal team.

Really? I was completely shattered by his saying. "Any reason?" I asked.

"You are over qualified, looking at the presentation inside I think you can contribute better being in the organizing team," he replied with a smile.

"Are you sure??" I was shocked to hear the unexpected answer.

"Yes," he smiled.

From the day I began to work as a member of organizing team. It was really a tough time for me to understand the whole process of the program and I was suppose to contribute to design the training sessions and entire program and also work as a member of documentation team under the guidance of Pragati Shahi, a environmental journalist by profession and a British Council Climate Champion in 2009 whom I met in 2011 in course of participating in a program called Rural Urban Connection where I was selected as a Climate Messenger.  In a brief encounter with her, I could feel the zeal and enthusiasm within her which motivated me to work throughout the program and beyond. "Can I do it?" the only question that struck my mind at the time, I guess I will get the answer post 5 June, 2014 only which is the graduation day of Power Shifters.

A week before the training program I along with members of Management team visited Nagarkot to select venue and design and training program. We wanted to make the first 3 days of training program very effective where we get our message through the participants and exchange ideas of participants to generate innovative ideas to initiate activism against climate change. After our continuous discussion and critical comments we finally came up with the draft of the training session. But the effectiveness of the program was still questionable till 30 March- the last day of the training.

Finally the first day of the training arrived, we started the program on time. Though presence of the invited guests was low than the expected we were glad that all the selected participants participated in the program. The program started with interesting ice breaking sessions by Rambabu Regmi followed by inspiring songs and videos from GPS and some other documentaries by the British Council Climate Champions of 2009, and presentations from the expert  along words of motivation from the seasoned individuals of the field Everything was going well and good.

Now it was my turn post lunch to share the details of the other two days of the training and 2.5 months of actions. A friend of my asked if I was nervous, before I could say anything, another friend replied, "He is used to these situation nervousness is not in his dictionary." I just smiled, could not say "Guys I am trembling, it's my first presentation in front of more than 100 participants in such a big hall." I just kept quiet and calmed down myself. Unfortunately projector stopped working post lunch and had to give my presentation without the projector. It was a challenge but also an opportunity.

Just to set the tone, I started to ask the expectation of the participation and if they have action in their mind that they want to do during the program. As the conversation started I forgot that I was supposed to give the presentation and just started talking to the participants as if I am talking to them about regular stuff. But fortunately, I did not forget to share the details for the program later.

"You did a good job Pratap, it was very interactive and we could know lot of ideas and thinking of participants" commented Niraj Tamrakar and Pragati Shahi. It was really a moment of happiness for me to hear such wonderful comment from the people whom I admired for their inspiring work.

The following two days of training at Nagarkot was another wonderful moment. Though I was not in any particular theme, I could gather knowledge from each group and the most interesting part, I was welcomed in most of groups and two groups were ready to hear my suggestions though I was not with the from the very beginning.

I learnt some photography skills in the program and got to know the mechanism behind organizing a big scale training program. My job has just begun after the training session I am ready to take the challenge ready to contribute for the successful execution.

Being in the organizing team I am satisfied to see the delighted face of the Power Shifters and their zeal and enthusiasm to take actions. I feel proud that I was a part of a team which could bring youth from different background to single platform for a single cause. For me lesson as organizer has just begun!! Looking for more challenges and more lessons!!

No wonder I have no regrets on being on the other side of the table!! I am not a participant of "I am a power Shifter" but I am a Power Shifter.