Girls Wanna Run! Training Nepal's Generation Next!

Following the successful completion of the 2025 Politics Institute (PI), Women LEAD Nepal continued investing in the growth of young women leaders through a structured series of mentorship, experiential learning, internship placements, and advocacy initiatives under the Young Women’s Political Leadership Course (YWPLC). These post-PI engagements were designed to deepen fellows’ understanding of political systems, strengthen their leadership skills, and provide practical opportunities to engage with governance, public institutions, and social change efforts.

The mentorship journey began in December 2025 with the pairing of 19 fellows with mentors from Women LEAD’s alumni community. These mentor–mentee have relationships provided a supportive space for guidance, reflection, and personal growth as fellows are navigating their leadership journeys. To further strengthen these connections and foster sisterhood among participants, Women LEAD organized mentor–mentee gatherings during Galentine’s Day celebrations in February and at OWN IT Nepal 2026 in April, creating opportunities for meaningful exchanges, peer learning, and community building.

On January 2026, YWPLC conducted its first post-Politics Institute follow-up session, titled Women, Power, and Electoral Politics. Facilitated by a YWPLC alumna and technology policy specialist working at the intersection of governance and politics, the session explored Nepali electoral politics through a feminist lens. Fellows examined the structural, institutional, and social barriers that continue to limit women’s political participation while discussing concepts such as electability, campaign dynamics, political representation, and the role of political parties as gatekeepers. Through critical discussions on Nepal’s electoral systems, grassroots mobilization, and women’s leadership in politics, participants gained a deeper understanding of how advocacy and civic engagement can translate into formal political power. The session also encouraged fellows to critically reflect on contemporary trends and persistent gaps within Nepal’s political system.

Building on this foundation, fellows participated in internship placements designed to provide hands-on exposure to governance, democratic processes, and public service. Internships were implemented in two phases. During Nepal’s General Election in March 2026, several fellows were placed with electoral candidates and worked directly from campaign secretariat offices. In these roles, they supported campaign activities, community outreach, coordination, communications, and voter engagement efforts, gaining firsthand experience of electoral politics and democratic participation. Several of the candidates they supported were successfully elected, providing fellows with a unique opportunity to witness the electoral process from campaign planning through to election outcomes.

Following the elections, the remaining fellows were placed and are continuing their internships across a range of institutions, including the National Women Commission, Nepal Heritage Documentation Project, ward offices in Kathmandu and Lalitpur Metropolitan Cities, the Office of the Controller of Examinations at Tribhuvan University, Dalit Women Network, and AI and Society Governance Lab. These placements exposed fellows to diverse aspects of governance, public administration, policy implementation, social justice advocacy, research, and community engagement, helping them connect classroom learning with real-world practice.

To further strengthen fellows’ ability to drive social change, Advocacy Week provided a four-day experiential learning opportunity focused on advocacy as a tool for influencing systems and creating more inclusive communities. Through interactive workshops, practitioner and alumni sharing sessions, reflection exercises, and activities such as the Human Library, Advocacy Wall, Idea Lab, and Idea Marketplace, fellows identified community issues, developed advocacy goals, mapped stakeholders, and designed strategies for change.

By the end of the week, fellows were well equipped on transforming their ideas into advocacy project proposals while building practical skills in project design, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, communications, and public engagement. The experience strengthened their confidence and equipped them to move from identifying challenges to implementing solutions in their communities.

Following Advocacy Week, fellows began implementing their own advocacy initiatives focused on issues they identified within their communities. These projects address a range of pressing social concerns, including promoting bodily autonomy and consent education to prevent child grooming, strengthening awareness and access to information on abortion rights among urban youth in Kathmandu, increasing awareness around menopause and women’s health, and addressing digital violence through improved safety practices, reporting mechanisms, and support systems. Fellows are currently finalizing their projects and will present their outcomes and learning in the coming weeks.

Together, these mentorship, learning, internship, and advocacy experiences have enabled fellows to move beyond theoretical understanding and actively engage with democratic processes, public institutions, and community-led change. Through this continuum of support, Women LEAD Nepal is nurturing a new generation of informed, confident, and socially conscious young women leaders who are equipped to influence decision-making and contribute to a more equitable and inclusive society.

The Young Women’s Political Leadership Course (YWPLC) began with the Politics Institute (PI), marking the start of an intensive leadership and political education journey for young women. Conducted from 15 November to 26 November 2025, the Politics Institute brought together young women from diverse backgrounds to engage deeply with Nepal’s political system, leadership, and social realities. Designed as a foundational component of the course, the Institute aimed to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and critical perspectives necessary to understand politics and envision their role within it.

The Politics Institute opened with Foundation Day, bringing participants together to align on shared values, clarify expectations, and establish an inclusive and reflective learning environment. An alumni panel, “Politics Unplugged,” featured former fellows who reflected on their personal journeys, challenges, and growth, illustrating how political awareness and civic engagement can shape leadership pathways. This was complemented by a communications orientation.

Over the course of the Institute, participants explored Nepal’s political landscape through sessions on the constitution, democracy, federalism, governance structures, elections, and political ideologies. These sessions were facilitated by a diverse group of speakers, including subject-matter experts, Members of Parliament, a Deputy Mayor, and experienced in-house facilitators, who offered both theoretical knowledge and real-world insights into Nepali politics and leadership. Fellows were encouraged to critically examine Nepal’s democratic journey, the role of citizens in shaping governance, and the opportunities and challenges within the current political system.

The program placed strong emphasis on self-reflection, inclusion, and feminist leadership. Through guided discussions and experiential activities such as the Privilege Walk, reflected on personal and social advantages, building awareness of how privilege shapes participation in society and politics. Debate sessions on topics including democracy, revolution, and feminist leadership created space for critical thinking, respectful dialogue, and engagement with diverse perspectives. These activities helped participants build empathy, strengthen collaboration, and deepen their understanding of inclusive leadership.

Gender and women’s leadership remained central themes throughout the Institute. Sessions explored women’s agency in both public and private spheres, women’s representation in politics, the impact of conflict on women, and the role of media and the Right to Information in shaping public discourse. By engaging with women leaders, journalists, and activists, participants gained valuable insights into the realities of leadership and advocacy in Nepal.

The final day of the Politics Institute coincided with the second day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Activities were centered on the year’s campaign theme, enabling participants to meaningfully connect political learning with activism. Through skits addressing sexual harassment and online bullying, documentary screenings by young women filmmakers presented by VOW Media, and interactive activities facilitated by Story Kitchen, participants explored gender-based issues creatively and critically, reinforcing the link between political awareness and social action.

Stay tuned for more updates from our 2025-26 YWPLC in the upcoming months!