Youth Empowerment

The youth are the backbone of society, but Nepalese youth have limited civic engagement and role in the decision-making process at the local and national levels. They remain at the margins of the political, social, and economic spheres. Youth from marginalized groups face numerous challenges, ranging from discrimination and exclusion to unemployment, inequalities, and even climate change and pandemics. Marginalized young Muslim and Madheshi girls face further hurdles with the traditional roles of women and girls limited in a patriarchal society that privileges men and boys. Limitations placed on girls affect their ability to voice their needs and opinions and reflect a pervasive lack of civic engagement from young Muslim and Madheshi girls.

NMWWS aims to develop young leaders to carry out a movement to improve the situation of marginalized Muslim and Madheshi youth in Nepal. NMWWS works to provide youth a platform where they can discuss their issues with each other and find solutions to their problems, particularly regarding gender equality, human rights, democracy, political participation, climate change, and the exchange of ideas and skills to strengthen their networking. We provide leadership, gender, human rights, and mass media training to develop young leaders. NMWWS works to increase youth’s civic engagement and participation at the decision-making level.

South Asia Young Women’s Leadership and Mentoring Initiative (2017-2020)

NMWWS launched the South Asia Young Women’s Leadership and Mentoring Initiative with support from the Global Fund for Women. The project aimed to increase school enrolment and improve educational environments for girls. Key achievements included:

  • The project trained 10 young women leaders who played a crucial role in increasing girls’ admissions to Madarsas.
  • These leaders received training in feminism, leadership, and mass media, equipping them to advocate for gender equality.
  • The project successfully lobbied for better quality education in Madarsas, enhancing learning conditions for students.

Strengthening Feminist Movements (2020-2021)

Following this, NMWWS implemented the Strengthening Feminist Movements project with support from Women Fund Asia. This initiative focused on:

  • 25 young girls from marginalized communities were trained in human rights, leadership, and advocacy.

  • The project included policy dialogues and training sessions with religious and social activists, empowering these young leaders to drive change in their communities.

These initiatives have empowered young women to become advocates for their rights and leaders in their communities, paving the way for a more just and equitable future.