Girls Wanna Run! Training Nepal's Generation Next!

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.

As we continue to empower young women with the skills and confidence needed to engage in politics and advocacy, the Fellows have taken significant strides inn applying their learning through hands-on advocacy projects, collaborative initiatives, and peer-led knowledge sharing.

From January 27 to 31, the YWPLC Fellows participated in Advocacy Week, where they received a series of intensive training sessions designed to strengthen their understanding of advocacy strategies, project design, M&E tools, e.t.c. These sessions provided the foundational knowledge needed for the Fellows to develop their own advocacy initiatives, equipping them with tools to drive meaningful social and political change.

To launch a collaborative, Fellow-led advocacy project, all Fellows participated in a pitch session on February 27th, presenting their project proposals. This session was the first step in refining their ideas, gathering feedback, and preparing for implementation.The Fellows put theory into practice during March, recognized globally as International Women’s Month. In a unified effort, they executed the project as one team to conduct a workshop on citizenship. The session aimed to educate young students on the importance of citizenship while raising awareness of the challenges faced by those without access to legal recognition. Along with strengthening their teamwork, this experience also demonstrated the power of collective action in advancing women’s leadership. 

Building on the momentum, the Fellows divided into four groups to execute their advocacy projects independently. From 1st April till 25th, each group implemented distinct initiatives—from organizing workshops on women in politics, manifesto writing, and political literacy for women, to facilitating discussions on media representation of women leaders. These projects allowed them to apply their training in real-world contexts, engaging with communities, policymakers, and stakeholders. These projects allowed them to engage with communities, policymakers, and stakeholders, further honing their leadership and advocacy skills.

On 28th May, the Fellows reconvened for a day-long collective sharing and learning exchange. This session provided a space for reflection, where they discussed their project outcomes, challenges, and key takeaways. The exchange reinforced the importance of peer learning and collaboration, leaving the Fellows inspired and better prepared for future advocacy work.

The past few months have been transformative for the YWPLC Fellows, marking their transition from learners to active change-makers. Through advocacy training, project execution, and peer collaboration, they have deepened their leadership capabilities and demonstrated the impact of young women in shaping Nepal’s political and social landscape. The YWPLC Fellows will wrap up this transformative year with a graduation ceremony in June, celebrating their achievements and marking the beginning of their continued journey as leaders and advocates for change.