Mit Jyu is a Nepali word which translates to “a sacred relation between two individuals, that lasts a lifetime.” We used this particular name for the project because this project is made up of passionate change makers coming from similar geographical landscape in South and Southeast Asia, though each with vastly different cultural backgrounds, passions, and aspirations. By connecting this group of service-driven people together to work on solving a challenging problem; we believe we will form deep and meaningful connections, fueled by a common core value to serve, that cannot be found elsewhere – a connection that will last a lifetime, just as the name of the project suggests.

Mitjyu is a developmental project which focuses on understanding the rural setting and identification of the problems in the village. It is a joint venture of youth thinker’s society with SEALNet (Southeast Asian Service Leadership Network). It is a sustainable development project where youth work in earthquake affected rural setting of Nepal. 15 young service leaders mostly undergraduates and young professionals from Asian countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam), will be appointed in Nepal’s rural areas. They will be accompanied by 15 other young service leaders from Nepal. 30 youths with different ideologies and views on rural setting will work together for two weeks in one of the isolated remote villages of Nepal. They will devote themselves on problem identification by cooperating with the villagers and relating the problems of that particular village with the villages of the other developing countries. These actions will contribute to pave up the road for sustainable development and bring service and promote the spirit of service leadership among the youth leaders.

During this time period of two weeks, they will work with the members of that particular village using the local resources available there. Using these resources they will try to eradicate the hindrances and introduce the infrastructures to open up the road for the sustainable development. Home stay will be available for Young leaders which will enable them to understand the difficult lifestyle and problems of the villagers and as well seek the possible solution to the problems. In the first three days, they will engage themselves in designing and implementing the project. The remaining days will be spent in the planning, management and formulation of the action plans among the young service leaders engaged in the project.

With the main motive of understanding the rural setting and identification of the problems in the village, the young service leaders will analyze the local resources available and connect it to the villager’s lifestyle to fill up the gap between them. These actions will contribute to pave up the road for sustainable development and bring service and promote the spirit of service leadership among the youth leaders. The main motive behind introducing this project is to create a regional platform for young leaders to get firsthand experience in identifying existing problems rural communities are facing and work with the communities in finding sustainable solutions to it.

After the primary and secondary data collection from different field visit and other reference sources, YTS in co-ordination with the SEALnet finalize Gerkhu village of Nuwakot district as a location for the conduction of MITJYU. The organizing team selected Gerkhu just not because it’s one of the earthquake affected areas but it also provide a participants, young leaders, to experience the utmost rural settings and lifestyle.