Interns' Blog
During their assignment abroad, participants in the International Youth Internship Program offered by Alternatives are encouraged to produce content, such as blog posts, podcasts or video reports.
These journalistic-style productions aim to provide a platform for expressing their experiences during their placement, with the goal of engaging the general public with the realities observed in the host country and the issues addressed, as well as sharing personal impressions and reflections on their professional experience abroad.
Sri Lanka, an island nation highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, must commit to a just transition that would boost the country’s economy while significantly improving community resilience and ensuring that the country meets its environmental commitments on GHG emissions. Success in this area could serve as an example on a global scale.
Mangrove Restoration in the Face of Booming Tourism in Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, the issue of mangrove deforestation is attracting considerable attention. As a result, several organizations and coastal communities have launched initiatives to conserve these fragile but vital ecosystems. However, several aspects of the tourism industry have hampered these efforts.
The Status of Business and Human Rights (BHR) in Nepal
Nepal, a very mountainous country, relies heavily on hydroelectricity for its domestic consumption. However, despite concrete progress in human rights by companies, the country still struggles to respect certain workers’ rights, while developing its hydroelectric sector in an environmentally friendly manner.
The Kathmandu metropolitan community faces significant challenges in waste management. Despite political will and the 2011 Solid Waste Management Act, the city struggles to implement best practices. Solutions include greater recognition of informal and semi-formal workers in the waste sector, better cooperation between private companies and the municipality, and investment in infrastructure.
This article explores the root causes of coastal erosion in Sri Lanka, its impact on the community of Muthupanthiya, and how scientific research is turning to nature-based solutions to help preserve traditional culture and protect ecosystems, particularly mangroves.
The mental health of young people in Nepal suffers from a public health system that does not sufficiently recognize the importance of treating this issue as a political priority. On May 17, 2025, Nehal Singh and Susmita Yadav attended a workshop on this topic co-organized by several associations, including the Nepal Development Initiative (NEDI).
Dr. Baburam Bhattarai was Prime Minister of Nepal after serving as a senior leader of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). He holds a doctorate from Jawaharlal Nehru University and published a thesis entitled “The Nature of Underdevelopment and Regional Structure of Nepal – A Marxist Analysis.” Nehal Singh had the opportunity to interview him in May 2025 as part of his internship with Alternatives.
In many armed conflicts, rape and sexual violence in general are weapons of psychological and physical destruction used mainly against women in order to terrorize populations. However, despite United Nations resolutions and international condemnation, perpetrators are rarely found and convicted, as was recently the case in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
