Girls Wanna Run! Training Nepal's Generation Next!

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!

The Young Women Political Leadership Course (YWPLC) is Women LEAD Nepal’s flagship program designed to prepare young women for leadership in governance, politics, and civic engagement. The internship program under YWPLC is an essential part of WLEAD’s mission to nurture capable and confident young women leaders. By combining training with real-world exposure, the program ensures that participants not only learn about leadership but practice it, whether in offices, newsrooms, or communities. Through this structured internship component, participants are connected with real-world institutions such as government offices, media houses, and civil society organizations. These placements give them the opportunity to apply what they have learned about leadership, governance, and advocacy in practical settings, see how institutions function, engage with professionals, and experience what leadership looks like in action.

After finishing the theoretical part of the course, participants are matched with organizations that fit their interests. Some choose to work in local government offices, others in the media or development organizations, while some fellows completed independent projects such as research and articles. Internships typically for a month, during which each intern works closely with a supervisor at their placement organization while also receiving guidance by their mentor from Women LEAD. 

In government offices, fellows supported policy research, documentation, and community outreach. At media houses, they practiced reporting and writing on social and political issues. In development and private-sector organizations, they assisted with data management, advocacy campaigns, and business research. 

A YWPLC fellow who was placed in Bagmati and Karnali Provinces shared that her work on governance and gender issues helped her see “how political influences and power dynamics often limit women’s ability to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes.”

Another fellow, who interned at the Social Welfare Division of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, reflected, “I learned how closely local governance impacts people’s everyday lives and how a female leader can make a difference in her community.”

Another fellow placed at a media house explored journalism’s role in shaping public understanding. “Interviewing people from different backgrounds widened my perspective and helped me understand the political climate through stories that matter,” she said.

Each placement provided a unique learning environment but a shared result, greater confidence, stronger communication skills, and a deeper understanding of leadership from a feminist perspective.

Through their internships, fellows developed practical skills in communication, teamwork, research, writing, event coordination, and problem-solving. They learned how to navigate new environments, manage time effectively, and adapt to challenges. Many also gained a clearer understanding of how local institutions shape people’s lives and how policies translate into action. Several were invited to continue contributing to their host organizations, showing the value and professionalism they brought as fellows.

Mentorship played a central role throughout the process. Host supervisors guided interns in their daily work, while WLEAD mentors helped them reflect on their experiences and connect them to broader leadership lessons. This ongoing support ensured that the internships remained both meaningful and transformative.

The internship component of YWPLC builds practical leadership skills and helps young women step into spaces of influence. Fellows not only witnessed how governance and social systems operate but also began imagining their own roles within them. Through these experiences, the 19 YWPLC fellows demonstrated curiosity, courage, and commitment, the very qualities that define the next generation of Nepali women leaders.