As one of Nepal’s first non-state not-for-profit organisation, the Godavari Alumni Association (GAA) has come a long way since its inception in 1964. Originally begun as a club for the alumni of St Xavier’s School, Lalitpur to meet and watch English films and play sports, the club gradually transformed into a full-fledged organised body with the objective of empowering the youth for the service of the nation, a value inculcated amongst the members during their years in St Xavier’s School as per the school motto “Live for God and Lead for Nepal”. Two years later on 14 December 1966 the GAA was officially registered with the government of Nepal. Being composed of students who had attended the first boarding school in Nepal to offer a western style education , the members of the GAA no doubt had an advantage over other youth of the valley in many areas. Their proficiency in English was better than that of those who attended government schools, and because of the extracurricular activities that they were involved in during school, they had a greater sense of confidence. Indeed many of the popular sports played today such as basketball, hockey, and swimming were originally introduced through St. Xavier’s School.
As the membership grew with each passing year, the club gradually began to involve itself in organising various activities for the development of the youth and benefit of the underprivileged. Sports, especially basketball, hockey, and cricket were introduced to the wider public through various tournaments. In an era when no one had even heard of discussion forums the GAA was organising some of the most widely-participated public discussions.
Besides sports tournaments and public debates other events such as a school- and college-level spelling and general quiz contests were also organised by the association. Nepal’s first inter school English spelling contest was begun by the GAA as was the general knowledge quiz contest. The contests meant for school and college level students are in still organized every year with enthusiastic participation.
In addition the GAA has also initiated two separate units known as the Social Action Volunteers and The Learning Centre that were involved in distributing free medical aid to the underprivileged and giving free tuition classes to students of public schools as well as free adult literacy classes to working women in Kathmandu's urban centre. Both these programs have now been spun off and are running as independent entities.
The Association has always remained an apolitical institution. However with the changes in the political scenario of the country post April 2006, members felt the need to also voice their opinion in matters of national interest as well as become involved proactively to further strengthen peace and stability in the country. To achieve this the GAA has been exercising various activities such as the Bridging the Urban Rural Divide: Engaging Youth in Peace Building project held in August 2007 before the Constituent Assembly Elections. The project involved 70 urban youth who were provided with a week long orientation on human rights, the ongoing political transition, the role of the media and the youth and sent out to ten different parts of Nepal in groups of 7-10 to interact with local youths, civic organisations to share awareness about the need for a peaceful resolution and reconciliation in the post conflict phase as well as get an understanding of the needs and desires of the people and particularly the youth at large.
