Blog

01/12/2025

📰 Community News: Workshops Weekend Canberra Successfully Concludes with Strong Community Engagement

The Workshops Weekend Canberra, held on 23 November 2025 at The Chimney Nepalese Restaurant in Gungahlin, concluded successfully with an impressive turnout and strong community participation. The event focused on three key themes—food safety & nutrition, environmental sustainability, and digital literacy—and provided practical, easy-to-understand knowledge for everyday life.

Opening Remarks by Her Excellency, Ambassador of Nepal to Australia

The program commenced with an address from Her Excellency, the Ambassador of Nepal to Australia Dr. Chitralekha Yadav, who praised the initiative and its community-centered approach. She highlighted the value of such educational events in empowering migrants and local families. She also emphasised the importance of increasing women’s participation as facilitators, speakers, and leaders in future programs, encouraging organisers to create more inclusive opportunities.

🥗 Safe Food – From Paddock to Plate & Regulations

Dr. Sita Ram Ghimire delivered a clear and informative presentation on how food travels from farms to households, explaining:

• The journey of food from paddock to plate

• Safety checks, hygiene standards, and Australian food regulations

• Common risks of food contamination and how to prevent them

• Practical tips for safe food storage and cooking at home

His session helped participants understand that food safety is a shared responsibility that begins at the farm and continues into every kitchen.

🥦 Healthy Eating & Nutrition Basics

Dr. Yakindra Timilsena explained simple, realistic steps to improve daily eating habits. He discussed the importance of:

• Balanced meals with fruits, vegetables, and whole foods

• Reducing salt, sugar, and oily foods

• Making healthier choices despite busy schedules

• Long-term benefits of good nutrition for families

Their session focused on practical lifestyle changes that anyone can adopt.

♻️ Recycle to Revive (R2R) Initiative & Recycling Awareness

Mr. Bhaskar Regmi highlighted the importance of recycling and introduced the Recycle to Revive (R2R) initiative, encouraging the community to collect 10c refundable containers. He explained how these containers can be donated to the initiative, with collected funds being reinvested into the community through:

• Charity activities

• Social support programs

• Environmental projects promoting sustainability

He emphasised that recycling is not just about reducing waste—it is about protecting the environment and giving back to the community.

💻 Digital Literacy & Internet Safety

Mr. Sujan Neupane delivered an engaging and practical session on digital literacy, covering:

• How to identify online scams and unsafe links

• Ways to protect personal information

• Basic smartphone and online skills for everyday use

• Tips for parents to keep children safe online

His session helped many attendees feel more confident and secure in navigating the digital world.

🎤 Event Summary & Importance of Community Programs

In his concluding remarks, Dr. Raju Adhikari summarised the event and highlighted the value of such community-focused programs. He explained that workshops like these:

• Improve knowledge in health, safety, technology, and sustainability

• Build stronger, better-informed communities

• Support new migrants and families by providing accessible education

• Foster collaboration and shared responsibility

He emphasised that continued community learning is essential for long-term wellbeing and growth.

🎙️ Program Coordination & Hosting

The entire event was coordinated and hosted by Dr. Krishna Hamal, a respected community leader in the ACT. His leadership ensured smooth program flow, meaningful engagement, and effective connection between speakers, volunteers, and participants.

🤝 Acknowledgements

Organisers expressed their appreciation to all speakers, attendees, volunteers, and supporting organisations—FeNCAA, Nourish Nation Foundation, NEPAFE, and Recycle to Revive (R2R)—for contributing to the event’s success.

🌱 A Step Toward a Healthier, Safer, and More Sustainable Community

The Workshops Weekend Canberra showcased the community’s shared commitment to learning, growth, and sustainability. The event concluded with a renewed sense of unity and motivation to continue supporting initiatives that uplift and empower the community.

Sujan Neupane

An Agriculture Engineer. Have been working in the area of Parks and Conservation, Environment and has a background in wetland and irrigation projects, combining engineering expertise with strong project delivery skills.