For Immediate Release January 5, 2013 Media Enquiries Anuj Adhikary: anuj.d.adhikary@gmail.com Devraj Bharadwaj: devraj@ayon.org Online Voting Begins for Walk for Nepal Youth Innovation Fund 2012 Nepal ko Yuwa (NKY) and Association of Youth Organizations Nepal (AYON) are pleased to announce the"Walk for Nepal Youth Innovation Fund (WfNYIF) 2012 – Online Voting Competition" for the ten finalist projects starting today, January 5, 2013. The WfNYIF Committee selected these projects from twenty-seven nation-wide applications received from twenty districts based on four criteria – impact, innovation, sustainability and team capacity. Three projects from these finalists will be selected through jury evaluation and online voting through Facebook. The voting is available at http://walkfornepal.org/poll/&... will end on January 25, 2013. The ten finalists are AIDs/Safe Sex Education (United Youth for World Peace, Kathmandu), Community School Library (Sano Sansaar Abhiyaan, Dhading), Construction Workers' Health (Kishor Rijal, Kathmandu), Dalit Education (Sahayogi Haatharu, Siraha), Farming Training (Ravikiran Adhikari, Ilam), Green Gifts (Yatra, Lalitpur), Handwashing campaign (Herald Group, Nawalparasi), Health Camp (Social Action Volunteers, Kavre), Helping the Blind (Paddhati Bikas Sewa Kendra, Gorkha), and Rainbow Trout Fish Farming Training (Participatory Rural Development, Dolakha). Walk for Nepal (WFN) is a common platform to inspire and mobilize Nepalis and friends of Nepal to make meaningful contributions to Nepal by organizing walkathons around the world. Designed and implemented by NKY in partnership with local leadership teams in numerous cities and AYON, WFN aims to harness the potential and the passion of the Nepalis and friends of Nepal to support noble social causes that are serving the poor and marginalized people in Nepal. All charitable organizations participating in WFN raise funds through walkathons organized in different cities for their causes. In 2012, WFN was organized in Boston, Dallas, and New York City, mobilizing 570+ walkers and US $35000+ for 15 charities in Nepal working in areas of women, children, health and education. WFN allocates 20% of the funds raised by partner charities to the WFN Youth Innovation Fund, which is awarded to innovative projects that have the potential to bring about a significant positive impact on marginalized communities in Nepal. The winners are selected through WFN’s online voting and jury decision. Through this 80-20 fund allocation model, all participating charities recognize that, in addition to their own, there are many worthy causes in Nepal that need everyone's support and that civic collaboration is key to Nepal's overall development. Moreover, through the WFN journey, the NGOs will share ideas, lessons and collaborate, helping each other grow through a multiplier effect.