Empower 400 Girls and Boys to be Leaders in Nepal

Following the successful completion of the 2025 Leadership Institute (LI), Women LEAD Nepal continued nurturing young women leaders through mentorship and hands-on leadership experience via the School Leadership Program (SLP), the second phase of the LEAD Course.

The mentorship journey began in December 2025 with a Mentor–Mentee Meet-up, where 26 LEADers were paired with mentors from Women LEAD Alumni community. Each LEADer was also matched with a Co-LEAD partner, forming 13 collaborative pairs that provided peer support throughout SLP. Mentorship remains a cornerstone of the program, with mentors offering guidance, encouragement, and practical advice as participants navigate leadership challenges. To further strengthen this support system, mentors participated in a dedicated training on effective coaching and mentorship.

In early December, LEADers attended a three-day SLP orientation, where they developed facilitation skills, learned session content, and prepared to lead workshops for younger students. This was followed by a school-matching period during which LEADers identified partner schools and coordinated with administrators to schedule sessions. This led to partnerships establishment with 13 schools across private, government, and community schools, ensuring participation from students of diverse educational and socio-economic backgrounds.

The SLP officially launched in January 2026, beginning with preparatory sessions for Co-LEAD partners. Soon after, LEADers started facilitating sessions in schools, with activities continuing through the end of March. Across 13 schools, the program is reaching over 300 students with approximately 70% girls and 30% boys ratio. Through interactive workshops covering personality types and teamwork, public speaking and active listening, leadership and followership, effective learning and time management, civic engagement, human and child rights, SRHR, gender stereotypes and VAW, and youth issues, LEADers act as relatable role models while simultaneously building their own confidence and public speaking skills.

Women LEAD Nepal prioritizes continuous learning and accountability throughout the program. After each session, participating students complete feedback forms to share their experiences and suggestions, enabling LEADers to refine their facilitation and keep sessions relevant and engaging. A structured debrief with Co-LEAD partners will also take place after the SLP graduation to capture reflections, lessons learned, and recommendations for future cohorts.

The program will culminate in a Graduation Ceremony on April 11, 2026, celebrating both the Co-LEAD partners who facilitated the sessions and the students who participated. This milestone marks months of preparation, leadership practice, and community engagement.

Women LEAD Nepal’s LEAD Course extends far beyond classroom learning. By combining mentorship, peer collaboration, and real-world leadership opportunities, the program creates a powerful multiplier effect: young women leaders empower younger students, who in turn gain the confidence and skills to lead in their own schools and communities.

The first module of the LEAD Course, the Leadership Institute, was successfully carried out with this year’s cohort of young women LEADers from November 1 to 12, 2025. The LEAD Course is an 8 months long leadership development program designed for young women entering Grade 12. Through structured learning, mentorship, and practical application, the program aims to build their skills, confidence, and networks so they can become active changemakers in their communities.

The Institute began with a Baseline Survey to assess each LEADer’s existing leadership strengths and areas for growth and introductory activities to build rapport. In the following days, the program then moved into a series of foundational leadership sessions on goal setting, teamwork, communication, public speaking, time management, and active listening. Alongside these core skills, the curriculum also incorporated critical discussions on social issues affecting young women in Nepal, including gender stereotypes, privilege, inclusion, media literacy, and navigating leadership within complex sociopolitical contexts. These sessions encouraged participants to reflect deeply on their own experiences, recognize structural barriers, and broaden their understanding of leadership and civic engagement. To strengthen family support for the journey ahead, an orientation session was also conducted for parents to introduce them to the program’s objectives and ensure their support.

The program also featured interactive components such as panel discussions with Alumni and women professionals, group challenges, and simulated activities designed to strengthen practical leadership skills. Participants had the opportunity to engage with real-life stories, ask questions about education and careers, and learn from the experiences of role models. Changemaker Challenge- a small project-based initiatives were introduced to encourage the LEADers to apply their learning and make a positive impact within their communities. These hands-on elements helped them build confidence and understand leadership as an action-oriented practice.

Daily debrief sessions were held throughout the Institute to help participants reflect on their learning, track their progress, and identify areas for improvement. As part of this reflective process, each LEADer also wrote a letter to their future self, capturing their goals, aspirations, and commitments for the year ahead. These letters will be looked back during the final phase of the program, allowing participants to look back on their journey and measure their personal growth and transformation.

One of our 2025 LEADers shared that, as a result of her participation in the Leadership Institute 2025, she has experienced a significant boost in confidence, particularly in speaking with others and sharing her opinions when appropriate. She also mentioned improvements in time management, expanded networking opportunities, and the development of meaningful friendships during the program.

With the successful completion of the Leadership Institute, the cohort will now move into the next components of the LEAD Course, which include School Leadership Program (SLP), Mentorship Program, Advocacy Week focused on community issues, Professional Development Week, and finally, a Graduation Ceremony. These upcoming phases will strengthen their skills further and prepare them for sustained leadership beyond the program.