Empower 400 Girls and Boys to be Leaders in Nepal

Our 2019 LEAD Course has kicked off with a bang! This year, the 10th year we've run the LEAD Course, we had 326 applications from adolescent girls around the Kathmandu Valley to score a spot in our year-long leadership course. 

After a rigorous selection process, we narrowed down the 326 applicants to the 30 girls who are our 2019 LEADers! Our LEADers this year are our most diverse, motivated and passionate batch yet. Many come from underprivileged backgrounds and have shared powerful and inspirational stories about their experiences.

"Every person has a different story and each is very unique and they inspire us to raise our voice and speak against it (discrimination)." - Raisha, 2019 LEADer

Our 2019 LEAD Course began with our annual Leadership Institute during which our LEADers spent 12 days participating in sessions on topics such as Leadership and Followership, Personality Types, Comfort Zones, Self Defense, and Active Listening.

Our 30 LEADers also heard from inspiring female changemakers in Nepal such as Chunu Shrestha - who overcome a series of challenges to summit Mount Everest, and Shristi KC-a blind activist and motivational speaker.

The LEADers also participated in eye-opening workshops on the topics of Privilege and Bias and Sex and Gender which broadened their mindsets and introduced them to new perspectives.

"I realised we are misusing our privileges and fail to realise the value they hold. (When people were sharing their stories) It made me realise not all of us are privileged and we are here through different circumstances. We need to learn to acknowledge our privileges."- Migma, 2019 LEADer

In the next few months, our 30 LEADers will pair up to run the four-month School Leadership Program in middle schools around the Valley. Through the program, our LEADers will get the opportunity to put into practice the skills and knowledge they've gained through the Leadership Institute by delivering weekly workshops for groups of 20-25 girls and boys.

We can't wait to share with your updates from our LEADers' School Leadership Journey in our next report! 

Links:

• Follow us on Facebook for more updates about the LEAD Course!

Last month our 28 2018 LEADers graduated from our year-long leadership program, the LEAD Course after an intensive year of growing, learning and influencing others. 

Our 28 LEADers participated in sessions throughout the year on important topics such as gender-roles, privilege and bias, effective communication, and sexual and reproductive health. 

The participants also visited various government officers and learned to hold leaders accountable while also understanding what good governance and citizenship roles look like. The LEADers were inspired by visits to Election Commission's department, the central government at Singha Durbar and the National Youth Council. 

Our LEADers also implemented four of their own advocacy projects tackling social issues like bullying, mental health, dignified menstruation and gender stereotypes. 

Witnessing their journeys first-hand, I am so proud and inspired by the confidence, strengthen and ambition these young women. I truly believe they will go on to become powerful and strong leaders across all sectors of our society and I can't wait to see where their journeys will take them.

Reflecting on what she has learnt throughout the year, our 2018 LEADer Timila says, "A real leader is someone who not only steps up but is also comfortable stepping down. At Women LEAD, I learned that leadership isn't only about holding a position, but how we work with a team  by incorporating different ideas, uplifting each other, and growing together in diversity!"

Thank you for your support for building the next generation of leaders in Nepal.

We can't wait to introduce you to the next batch of changemakers as the next iteration of our LEAD Course begins next month.

Warm Regards,

Hima Bista (Women LEAD's Executive Director)

Links:

• Watch our 2018 LEADers' year-long journey!