The buildup to the latest local level elections has seen political parties in full publicity swing, bouncing from street corner to street corner chanting their manifesto operatives. May that be promises of better garbage disposals, water plans, or community service strategies: the vying parties are out pandering to the common people promising them what should be their birthright in a functioning society. While these promises are far-reaching and generally have a rather wide mandate, one crucial aspect seems lax in almost every other manifesto presented by our community leaders: the lack of youth representation and general ignorance of the youth agenda.

“The simple matter of fact is that involving the youth in as many levels of administration as possible is the way to move forward,” says Asmita Thapa, the Election and Civic Projects Manager at the Association of Youth Organizations Nepal(AYON). The youth today face a plethora of problems, the more common national agendas of electricity, water, and basic needs shall always persist but the need to address the growing ignorance towards issues pertaining to the youth is palpable.