Put on your virtual reality glasses and experience life in Nepal

20 November 2016

Launched today on Universal Children’s Day, a virtual reality video allows you to step into the life of one teenager in Nepal who’s been transformed by the Power for Youth partnership between UNICEF and ING.

Bibek, 19, lives in a village of around 200 people in western Nepal with his mother and two siblings. His father died more than 10 years ago and his mother has been on her own since, as widows don’t often remarry in Nepali culture. So when Bibek turned 16, he became the head of the family and the breadwinner — a heavy responsibility for someone just coming of age.

“I didn’t feel like a child anymore. I kept thinking of ways to make money,” he told ING.

Living room tea shop

Then Bibek participated in UNICEF’s Power for Youth programme, locally called Rupantaran (‘transformation’), which teaches young people in Nepal about topics they don’t normally learn at school, focused on personal and financial skills. With this knowledge, Bibek took over the family tea shop in their living room. He expanded it and made it a well-run company, creating a new livelihood for his family.

“This programme changed my life in so many ways,” said Bibek. “I learned a lot of important topics like how to save money and manage finances. I also practiced writing business proposals, pitching ideas and budgeting.”

Dreams of growing his business

Bibek has meanwhile expanded his product range beyond tea, selling different items that are needed by the villagers. He also teaches the youth programme to other adolescents in the village and surrounding region to empower them too. His dream is to grow his business and become a wholesaler.

With its 360° perspective, the virtual reality video will let you enter Bibek’s home and tea shop and meet both him and other villagers. It brings the ING and UNICEF partnership to life.