Hope and Challenge’s Youth Awareness Campaign works to prevent drug use among young people through education and storytelling. By sharing real-life experiences of recovering addicts and screening the documentary “The Dark Side of Drugs” in schools, the program sparks honest conversations about addiction, consequences, and choices. With over 50 schools reached, the campaign continues to protect and empower the next generation through awareness and empathy.
How We Started This Project
Years before founding Hope and Challenge, Mr. Sonam Wangchuk spent four tireless years volunteering at over 15 rehabilitation centers across Kathmandu. There, he listened to countless stories of addiction—young lives derailed by a single wrong turn, bright futures dimmed by drugs, and families shattered by helplessness.
He saw the suffering up close—not just the physical damage, but the emotional weight carried by those in recovery. Many had started using drugs in their early teens—not out of rebellion, but out of curiosity, peer pressure, or trauma. Once they were trapped, the path back was long, painful, and often lonely.
One question echoed in Mr. Wangchuk’s mind again and again:
“What if we could reach them before the drugs did?”
That question gave birth to the Youth Awareness Campaign—a proactive initiative to educate, engage, and empower young people to stay away from substance abuse
Taking Awareness Directly to Schools
Understanding that many schools lacked the infrastructure to host screenings, Hope and Challenge invested in portable projectors, screens, and sound systems. With this mobile setup, the team began visiting schools directly, bringing the full experience to students across Kathmandu.
But the campaign didn’t end with just a film.
After each screening, Mr. Wangchuk and a team of recovering addicts engage with students in honest, open conversations. They answer questions, share personal stories, and break the silence around addiction. A short questionnaire is handed out at the end, helping assess student understanding and emotional response.
This model creates a safe space where curiosity is met with compassion, and misinformation is replaced with truth.
Reaching Hearts and Minds
To date, the documentary has been screened in over 50 schools in Kathmandu Valley. Teachers have praised its authenticity, students have expressed gratitude for its honesty, and more institutions continue to request sessions.
Some of the outcomes we’ve witnessed include:
Why It Matters
Nepal’s youth face increasing exposure to harmful substances—often without guidance or awareness of the consequences. The Youth Awareness Campaign exists to change that.
We believe prevention is the most powerful form of protection.
And education, when delivered with empathy and lived experience, has the power to change lives before they’re broken.
Be Part of the Solution
Together, let’s build a future where our youth grow up informed, strong, and free from the shadows of addiction.
