Women LEAD Nepal: Educating our future women leaders

Established in 2010, Women LEAD Nepal provides the skills, support, and opportunities to young women to become leaders and change-makers in their schools, communities, nation, and world. It also believes that to create peaceful and inclusive societies, the participation of women is fully needed.

It is one of the first organisations in Nepal which specifically focuses on empowering adolescent girls to be leaders. They not only invest in a selective group of young women but also ensure permanent and sustainable changes.

Throughout the year, Women LEAD conducts flagship programs like the Lead course, Young women’s political leadership institute (YWPLI), and OWN It Nepal, through these signature programs, Women LEAD Nepal aims to build a better world where women leaders co-create a future.

Women LEAD Nepal’s yearly LEAD course program provides an intensive experience-based practical hands-on learning and personal growth. Each leader is personalised with a mentor and a co-leader so they can work with support and guidance the whole year.

 2018 leader Nisha Baruwal shares her experience of new networks through the LEAD course, “Women lead Nepal has played an important role in my life. I’ve learned to challenge my comfort zone and respect myself.”

“The program also helped me find support inside a network of ambitious and empowered women. Joining this program has been one of the best decisions of my life and if I had not been part of this program then I wouldn’t be who I am today”, she adds. The program is designed specifically for 12th-grade women and to equip them with leadership, professional development, and advocacy skills.

Likewise, the Young Women’s Political Leadership Institute (YWPLI) is an eleven-month program designed to enable young women to understand the basics of politics and equip them with public service knowledge.

Kavita Tamang, the program and government affairs coordinator from Women LEAD Nepal says, “With a platform like YWPLI, I believe fellows will be able to understand and analyse the status of Nepali women across political and socio-economic spheres.”

“It is high time our youths realise the role of women’s meaningful participation in decision making from local to national level. It is equally important for youths to have enhanced skills, amplify their voices, and find their allies”, she adds.

OWN IT Nepal is a leadership summit for young women. It seeks to bridge the gap between female leaders and young women who aspire to be like them by producing accessible events for young women from all. The very first OWN IT Summit was organised at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

The program features main stage panels that discuss major cultural, environmental, entrepreneurial, artist, legal and social issues with prominent female figureheads in the field.

Women need guidance and support as they craft and forge into the future, such a future that is inclusive and intersectional. Training the women of today helps create a sustainable and strong pillar for the country and the world. WomenLEAD sharps young women in fields such as leadership, politics, and ownership as they trust their motto are, “Building a better world where women co-create the future”