New Updates from Saptari District

We’re thrilled to share that our Caste Equality Project team is currently constructing a sixth and final Community Learning Center (CLC) in the last ward of Tirhut Municipality. Once construction is completed in June, every single ward in Tirhut will have its own CLC! This marks a significant milestone for NYF. It demonstrates equity across all communities, illustrates full buy-in from NYF, and proves that a scalable model can be replicated in other municipalities across the region.

Every day, these Community Learning Centers are alive with activity, serving the children, girls, and women of Saptari District. Our impactful programs include Adult Literacy Classes, Early Childhood Daycare, After School Tutoring, Bridging Courses, and more.

We launched a new pilot program with student teachers!

As these programs have grown, so has one of our most persistent challenges: finding enough qualified teachers. Staffing all 13 local schools and each of our CLCs on a tight budget in a rural area of Nepal is no small feat. So, our team got creative with a new pilot program. We’re recruiting recent NYF college scholarship graduates to serve as student teachers.

Each teacher receives a monthly stipend to cover basic expenses like housing and meals. At the end of their commitment, student teachers may be eligible to earn a scholarship for a master’s program at any public university in Nepal. Along the way, they also gain hands-on teaching experience and invaluable life lessons. Several teachers are working in their teaching positions already, and we’re so excited to see this pilot program take off.

Let’s keep this momentum going!

Each of NYF’s CLCs costs $25,000/year to run. A wonderful foundation has stepped up to fund three this year. As we work towards fully resourcing all six of our CLCs, we’d love your help spreading the word. If someone in your network comes to mind (a foundation, a company, or a generous individual who might be inspired by this work), please put them in touch with us. We’d be so grateful for the connection. 

Stories of Impact in 2025

2025 was a year marked by both hardship and hope. Nepal faced tremendous social unrest, shifting political landscapes, and economic uncertainty. But because of continued and steadfast support from the NYF Community, NYF did not just withstand these challenges—we grew stronger together.

Thank you to all those who generously supported NYF’s work in 2025. We hope the impact stories below highlight how your support is more than just a donation, but a direct investment in brighter futures.

Harkaman
Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

Meet Harkaman, a determined young scholar from Baglung who is proving that resilience and ambition know no limits. After losing both of his arms in an electrical accident at a young age, Harkaman moved to Kathmandu to continue his education and pursue new possibilities.

Today, Harkaman is a Grade 12 student studying computer science. At the same time, he is a dedicated para swimmer, training under the National Para Swimming Association. In 2025, Harkaman made his international debut at the World Para Swimming Competition in Japan. He was proud to represent Nepal on a global stage. He is now training toward his next goal: competing in the 2026 Para Asian Game.

With support from NYF’s Scholarships for Students with Disabilities program, Harkaman is able to balance his studies, training, and daily life in Kathmandu. His journey reflects the power of opportunity paired with determination—and the belief that every young person deserves the chance to pursue their dreams.

Girls’ Education in the Balami Community
Kinship Care

In 2025, NYF’s enriched Kinship Care program supported 18 girls (and 3 boys) in grades 5 through 12 from the Balami community in Kagati Gaun, Nuwakot—where early marriage has historically limited girls’ access to education. The program has helped these students delay early marriage. It also contributed to stronger academic performance and improved school attendance.

Scholarship support covers essential needs such as uniforms, school supplies, shoes, snacks, and extra coaching classes in subjects like English, Math, and Science. With these resources, students were able to attend school regularly, prepare for exams, and build confidence in the classroom.

As one student shared, “If I had not received this scholarship, I would not have been able to continue my education. My sister was married at a very early age. I, too, would have been married off by now if I had not received this support.”

By keeping girls in school, the program is strengthening protection, opportunity, and long-term change across the Balami community.

Anita
NYF’s New Life Center

Three-year-old Anita is from a remote village in Kalikot, where access to specialized medical care is extremely limited. In 2025, her family traveled to Kathmandu for a health checkup. At this checkup, Anita was diagnosed with a serious heart condition. Unable to afford surgery at the time, her family returned home. They carried the weight of uncertainty with them.

Anita’s condition worsened, and her family made the difficult journey back to Kathmandu so she could receive the care she urgently needed. Anita successfully underwent heart surgery. She then stayed at the New Life Center with her mother for 20 days, where she received post-surgery care and support. After making a full recovery, Anita returned home—healthier, stronger, and surrounded by renewed hope for the future.

Sudina
Scholarship Program

Sudina is a dedicated young athlete from Itahari in eastern Nepal. She is receiving a scholarship through Nepal Youth Foundation’s sports scholarship program. The daughter of a tempo driver and a homemaker, she grew up in a hardworking family with two younger siblings. Her discipline and talent in taekwondo earned her a competitive selection as a trainee with the National Taekwondo Association. She lives in a modest hostel in Kathmandu as she trains and competes at the national level.

In November 2025, Sudina placed third in the National Taekwondo Association’s General Tournament. She continues rigorous training with the goal of competing in major national events, including the 10th National Games, the IGP Cup, and the Presidential Running Shield. She aspires to join the Nepal Army through its sports program.

Alongside her athletic pursuits, Sudina remains committed to her education and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Her story reflects how targeted support helps a talented young woman from a working-class family pursue excellence, independence, and a future filled with possibility.

Rakshya
Day School Scholarship & College Scholarship Program

Originally from Gorkha, Rakshya moved to Kathmandu at a young age with her mother and two sisters so she could continue her education. NYF began supporting her in 2007, when she was just in Grade 1, through a Day School Scholarship. From the start, Rakshya stood out as sincere, disciplined, and academically gifted. She consistently excelled in her studies and topped her class from Grades 5 through 10.

She went on to study science in Grades 11 and 12. Rakshya then successfully navigated Nepal’s highly competitive medical entrance exam on her first attempt. This earned her a government scholarship seat in the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program at Lumbini Medical College under Kathmandu University. NYF continued to support Rakshya through our College Scholarship Program, covering living expenses so she could focus on her studies. By the end of 2024, she completed her final MBBS exams and began her year-long internship at her medical school’s hospital.

In 2025, Rakshya passed the Nepal Medical Council licensing exam and officially became Dr. Rakshya Tiwari. In December, she was awarded her MBBS degree with a Gold Medal at Kathmandu University’s 31st Convocation. Today, Dr. Rakshya is committed to serving her community. She remains closely connected to NYF—embodying the lasting impact of education, perseverance, and donor support across nearly two decades.

Roman
Vocational Education and Career Counseling (VECC)

Roman is a 20-year-old from Hetauda who grew up determined to build a future in Nepal. As a child, Roman watched his older brother leave the country in search of work, only to face instability, low wages, and mounting debt that prevented him from returning home. Witnessing these challenges firsthand shaped Roman’s resolve to pursue a different path—one rooted in dignity, skill, and opportunity at home.

Financial hardship forced Roman to stop his education after Grade 10, leaving him with few employment options in his village. Everything changed when he learned about Olgapuri Vocational School’s free training programs, which also provide food and accommodation. In August 2024, Roman traveled to Kathmandu and enrolled in the six-month welding training program. Through hands-on instruction, discipline, and mentorship, he developed practical skills that quickly translated into real-world opportunity.

After completing his training, Roman secured employment in Kathmandu with support from Olgapuri’s job placement services. Today, he works as a welder, earning a steady monthly income and moving confidently toward financial independence. Roman’s story reflects the power of vocational education—showing how access to skills and support can help young people build sustainable futures in Nepal, on their own terms.

Sita
Industrial Tailoring, Vocational Education and Career Counseling (VECC)

Sita is a 23-year-old from Kanchanpur District in Nepal’s far-western region. When she was in the 8th grade, she was forced to leave school to help support her family by working as a domestic laborer. She worked for nine years.

Sita then learned about training opportunities at Olgapuri Vocational School through a local cooperative. Determined for more independence and a better life, she applied for NYF’s Industrial Tailoring training program.

In June 2025, Sita completed the training. She was employed immediately and is now earning a good income. Most importantly, she is proud of her own journey.

This past fall, Sita was able to return to her hometown with gifts for her family during Dashain. She’s also looking forward to enrolling her younger sister in the same training.

“I can now get a job anywhere I want,” Sita shares proudly with the NYF team.

Jitendra
Vocational Training & Career Counseling, Caste Equality Project

Jitendra, from Tirhut Rural Municipality, became the sole provider for his 87-year-old mother, his wife, and his young son after his father passed away. With no formal skills and very little income, life was extremely difficult, and many people doubted his ability to succeed.

That changed in 2023, when Jitendra enrolled in NYF’s Building Electrician Training program in Tirhut Rural Municipality. After 390 hours of training, he graduated with a certificate and a brand-new toolbox—giving him the confidence to begin a new journey, not just for himself, but for his family.

Jitendra started by taking small electrical wiring and repair jobs in his village, working in homes and village temples. For the first time, his community had a trained electrician of its own. His dedication and skill quickly earned trust, and demand for his work grew into neighboring towns.

As his work expanded, so did its impact. Jitendra began hiring other trained youth, many of whom are graduates of NYF training programs. Today, he runs his own electrical contracting business with nine employees and has worked on nearly 90 sites, including government school buildings and offices, village temples, and private homes. I am especially proud that he recently completed the electrical wiring at NYF’s new Community Learning Centers built as part of the Caste Equality Project.

With a stable monthly income of NPR 35,000 to 40,000, Jitendra now provides a comfortable life for his family—including his son, who now attends a good private school. Just as importantly, he has earned dignity and respect in his community, and has become an example of what is possible when opportunity is shared.

“I am grateful to NYF for changing my life,” he says. “I encourage all young people to join skill-based training. It can truly transform your future.”

Jitendra’s journey reflects what is possible when young people are given practical skills, confidence, and the chance to build a future close to home. In a time when many young adults and families in Nepal face uncertainty and unemployment, his story offers hope rooted in action.

Maya
New Life Center

The New Life Center (NLC) is a temporary recovery home for rural families who must travel to Kathmandu for critical medical treatment and surgery—and who have nowhere else to turn while recovery begins.

Maya is one of the children the NLC exists to support. Diagnosed with eye cancer, she traveled to Kathmandu with her mother to undergo chemotherapy at a hospital. During her treatment, Maya and her mother stayed at the NLC. They had a safe place to sleep, nutritious meals, and attentive care during an exhausting and frightening time. With stability and support, Maya could focus on healing, and her mother could stay by her side.

Saugat
College Scholarship Program

In 2025, NYF College Scholarship support helped Saugat take a major step forward in his education and career. With an NYF scholarship, Saugat completed his Master’s Degree in Sustainable Development at Kathmandu University, graduating this year with the skills and confidence to pursue meaningful work serving his community.

Today, Saugat has begun a new role as a Monitoring & Evaluation Officer with the Rural Development Center. The Rural Development Center is a UN-funded organization working in Rautahat District in Madhesh Province. In this position, he supports programs focused on community development and long-term progress. He also ensures that resources are used effectively and that efforts reach the people who need them most.

Thank you for creating stories of resilience and hope. While we celebrate our accomplishments in 2025, we know our work is far from finished. Social and political challenges in Nepal will continue into the new year. In 2026, our team will remain laser-focused on our mission, securing safety, education, nutrition, and more for the children and families in our care. We look forward to sharing many more stories of transformations and accomplishments in this new year.

2025 Highlights

Thank you for your dedication and commitment to our shared mission in 2025. During the 2025 fiscal year, your support has helped us reach 22,000 individuals, with 5,200 of them receiving long-term, in-depth support. The 2025 highlights listed below are just a few of the many wonderful accomplishments you helped to make possible. Dhanyabad!

Celebrating 147 diplomas in 2025

This year, we celebrated 147 diplomas! Pictured on the left is Ashmi, who grew up at Olgapuri Children’s Home, and has been in NYF’s care for over 18 years. In 2025, she completed her bachelor’s degree in Community Development from Kathmandu University.

Rate of malnutrition dropped by 30% in 2025

In 2023, children in Wards 1 & 3 of Tirhut Rural Municipality faced an extremely high malnutrition rate of 83.46%. By 2025, the rate had fallen to 53.22%, thanks to NYF’s ongoing work through the Caste Equality Project. This includes free lunch programs at schools and Community Learning Centers, as well as other community nutrition programs.

First Educating Dalit Lawyer graduated

NYF celebrated an important milestone this year when Pradip BK became the first graduate of our Educating Dalit Lawyers Program. He completed his BALLB degree, finished his internship at Bhusal Law Associates, and is now preparing for his licensing exam and upcoming community service.

3 new Community Learning Centers constructed

In September 2025, three new Community Learning Centers were constructed as part of our Caste Equality Project in Saptari District, bringing the total number of NYF’s centers in the district to five. Of the five, two are fully operational with programs like Peer Counseling, Early Childhood Daycare, and Adult Literacy Classes running every day.

Success at Olgapuri Children’s Village!

In 2025, eleven children at Olgapuri took part in Nepal’s nationwide Secondary Education Examination (SEE). This exam is a critical gateway to higher secondary education in Grades 11 and 12. With dedication and months of preparation, ten of these students passed the exam and successfully became eligible to continue on to Grade 11—an important milestone that opens the door to future academic and career opportunities.

New vocational training school in Dhangadi

With the financial support from a generous group of supporters in the UK, NYF built a new vocational school in the city of Dhangadi in Western Nepal. Electrical, welding, and plumbing trainings are currently being run by 6 trainers.

One-Day Nutrition Training in Saptari District

Through the Caste Equality Project in Saptari District, we completed a one-day nutrition training in March 2025 at a Community Learning Center (CLC) for school teachers, cooks and caregivers. The training was conducted by nutrition experts from NYF’s nutrition programs, and over 100 people participated. This included twenty-six school teachers and cooks from all 13 schools in Tirhut Rural Municipality, as well as six CLC staff members and cooks, and 78 mothers.

More Community Learning Center success!

• After-School Support Classes: In 2025, over 100 children participated in after-school support classes, with up to 50 students attending at a time in each Community Learning Center—strengthening learning, confidence, and consistency beyond the school day.
  
• The Early Childhood Care Program: 120 toddlers participated in the early childhood care program in 2025. They were provided a safe, nurturing environment where young children received nutritious meals, learned personal hygiene, and engaged in creative play designed to support early cognitive development.
  
• Back-to-School Bridging Classes: 35 girls attended NYF’s bridging classes in 2025. 33 of them transitioned back to school in the current academic session—an encouraging step toward continued learning and opportunity.

These 2025 highlights were all made possible because of support from the NYF Community. We hope it offers a glimpse into how your kindness directly impacts the individuals we serve every day.

Happy Holidays from Nepal!

NYF President Som Paneru sends his holiday wishes to you! This letter was featured in an email sent to NYF supporters on December 23, 2025 about the impact of skill-based training. If you’d like to receive messages like this in the mail, please subscribe to our email list here. 

Dear NYF Community,

As the year comes to a close, I am reflecting with both gratitude and resolve. Like many communities around the world, Nepal faced challenges in 2025. Yet even in moments of hardship, our shared commitment to children, families, and young people never wavered. Together, we carried hope forward and persevered, continuing to expand access to education, skills, and opportunity where it is needed most.

The work you support at Nepal Youth Foundation (NYF) continues to shape lives in quiet but powerful ways. One story that has stayed with me this year is that of Jitendra Kumar Yadav, a graduate of one of NYF’s skill-based, vocational training programs.

Jitendra is from Tirhut Rural Municipality. After his father passed away, he became the sole provider for his 87-year-old mother, his wife, and his young son. With no formal skills and very little income, life was extremely difficult. Many people doubted his ability to succeed.

But that changed in 2023, when Jitendra enrolled in NYF’s Building Electrician Training program in Tirhut Rural Municipality.

After 390 hours of training, he graduated with a certificate and a brand-new toolbox—giving him the confidence to begin a new journey, not just for himself, but for his family.

Jitendra started by taking small electrical wiring and repair jobs in his village, working in homes and village temples. For the first time, his community had a trained electrician of its own. His dedication and skill quickly earned trust, and demand for his work grew into neighboring towns.

As his work expanded, so did its impact. Jitendra began hiring other trained youth, many of whom are graduates of NYF training programs. Today, he runs his own electrical contracting business with nine employees. He has worked on nearly 90 sites, including government school buildings and offices, village temples, and private homes. I am especially proud that he recently completed the electrical wiring at NYF’s new Community Learning Centers built as part of the Caste Equality Project.

With a stable monthly income of NPR 35,000 to 40,000, Jitendra now provides a comfortable life for his family—including his son, who now attends a good private school. Just as importantly, he has earned dignity and respect in his community, and has become an example of what is possible when opportunity is shared.

“I am grateful to NYF for changing my life,” he says. “I encourage all young people to join skill-based training. It can truly transform your future.”

Jitendra’s journey reflects what is possible when young people are given practical skills, confidence, and the chance to build a future close to home. In a time when many young adults and families in Nepal face uncertainty and unemployment, his story offers hope rooted in action.

As we enter this holiday season, I am deeply grateful for you and the NYF Community. Your generosity allows opportunity to ripple outward to families and communities. From all of us here in Nepal, thank you for standing with us this year.

We wish you and yours a warm and joyful holiday season, and peace and prosperity in the year ahead. Together, we look forward to making an even greater impact in Nepal in 2026.

“It feels like I’ve conquered the world” Adult Literacy Classes empower women in Saptari

A news article about NYF’s Community Learning Center (a program under our Caste Equality Project) was recently published in Gorkhapatra, Nepal’s national government daily newspaper. The piece highlights the inspiring stories of women from the Musahar community in Saptari District who are gaining literacy and confidence through the Adult Literacy Classes. Below is the English translation of the original Nepali article.

Written by Sudha Dev | Bhardaha (Saptari), October 25 | Click here to read the original article in Nepali

Women from the Sada (Musahar) community of Piprahi, Ward No. 3, Tirhut Rural Municipality, are excited to become literate. Despite their busy lives, local women have been taking time out of their daily routines, bringing along their young children, and attending literacy classes at the local Community Learning Center, veiled in traditional attire.

Thirty-year-old Rekha Kumari Sada shared that although she remains occupied with household chores all day, she attends the Community Learning Center daily from 1:00 to 3:00 PM with her two children to learn reading and writing. “I had always wanted to study since childhood,” she said. “No one from our community used to send their children to school. When I saw others reading books or writing their names, I used to feel inspired. Now that I can write my own name and read simple words, I feel as if I’ve conquered the world.”

“It feels like I’ve conquered the world after learning to read and write.”

She added, “My two children, aged six months and three and a half years, also come here. They get to sit in a clean environment and eat nutritious food. What more could we ask for? I sincerely thank Nepal Youth Foundation (NYF) for supporting us and giving us a new life by paying attention to our condition and problems.”

Similarly, 33-year-old Buchi Kumari Sada from the same area said that after joining the Community Learning Center, she has learned the importance of education and realized that education can empower people to win the world. “Not only me,” she said, “but most women of my age in our community now take time out from various household chores every day to come and study. The daughters-in-law from most Musahar families in the ward are happy to have this opportunity to learn.”

According to Lalit Gahatraj, Program Coordinator at Nepal Youth Foundation, a total of 50 women—25 each from Piprahi and Goithi—are currently attending literacy classes at the Community Learning Centers.

He explained, “Through these centers, the foundation is running five major activities: women’s literacy programs, literacy classes for out-of-school adolescent girls with the goal of reintegrating them into formal education, tuition classes for SEE (grade 10) students, nutrition, hygiene, and recreation programs for children aged six months to three and a half years, and savings group activities to develop saving habits among mothers.”

He added that by prioritizing the Musahar community—one of the most marginalized Dalit groups—the foundation has seen enthusiastic participation of women eager to become literate. Most women enrolled in the literacy program can now write their own names and read simple texts.

NYF’s Adult Literacy Classes

Adult Literacy Classes offered at our Community Learning Centers is part of a six-months long course. Participants meet for two hours a day, six days a week. Classes cover legal, financial, and Nepali language literacy. We’ve already seen tremendous results from women completing the course, including increased participation in the workforce and more engagement with local government!

Community Learning Centers

NYF’s Community Learning Centers, which is part of our broader Caste Equality Project, serve as vital hubs for children and adults in their respective villages in Saptari District. They offer a wide range of programming in addition to the Adult Literacy Classes, including afterschool tutoring, childcare, early childhood education, and more.

Summer updates from the Caste Equality Project

Building Equity from the Ground Up

This summer, NYF’s Caste Equality Project (CEP) is continuing to drive generational change across Dalit communities in Saptari District. Thanks to your continued support, we’re expanding access to education, improving infrastructure, and empowering families to break free from systemic exclusion. We hope you enjoy reading our summer updates below!

A Surge of Hope: Classrooms Filling Up Again

Following a successful school enrollment campaign in 2024 that brought more than 820 Dalit students back to the classroom, NYF immediately began expanding school infrastructure to meet the growing demand:

New furniture & ceiling fans installed to improve learning conditions

New classrooms (and one small kitchen) built at a school

Free lunches served daily to support health & boost attendance

In 2025, NYF launched a second School Enrollment Campaign to build on that momentum. So far, over 90 students who had dropped out previously have officially re-enrolled. One school has already requested additional classrooms due to the influx!

NYF is also working closely with the local government to help another 150 children without birth certificates enroll into school. This is part of a larger challenge that Dalit communities currently face in Nepal. In addition to being denied admission into school, not having a birth certificate affects a child’s ability to acquire a citizenship certificate at age 16. It ultimately denies them fundamental rights as citizens, including the ability to open a bank account, register a phone SIM card, own property, access government services, and more. While our team in Saptari District works with the local government to resolve this challenge at a local level for these 150 children hoping to attend school, budding law students in NYF’s Educating Dalit Lawyers program will tackle issues like this on a larger scale from a legal and public policy standpoint.

Toilets constructed at four schools!

Until recently, many girls left school mid-day to use the restroom at home—disrupting learning and sometimes preventing them from returning.

This year, NYF constructed safe, sanitary toilets at four schools across the region. Each facility includes flush systems and running water, creating a more supportive environment for all students, especially girls.

Lighting the Way: Community Learning Centers (CLCs) in Action

Since their inauguration in Fall 2024, two Community Learning Centers have become vibrant hubs of activity, with three more on the way. These centers are creating real academic and social opportunities every day through after-school tutoring and bridging courses, exam prep classes for students hoping to pass the national Secondary Education Exam, and early childhood care programs to support toddlers and ensure older siblings can stay in school.

In addition to student-focused activities, Community Learning Centers also host tons of programming for community members, including workshops and trainings for teachers, counselors, and more. In fact, this year, counselors from NYF’s very own Ankur Counseling Center facilitated a Psychological Support Skills Training for 24 educators, equipping them with trauma-informed approaches and tools to better support student mental health.

70 women have also completed NYF’s six-month Adult Literacy Program, meeting for two hours a day, six days a week. The course covers legal, financial, and Nepali language literacy. This enables women to participate more in the workforce, engage more fully with local government, strengthen their knowledge of their legal rights, and ultimately join the fight against caste discrimination. When girls and women reclaim education, they uplift entire communities—sparking change that echoes across generations.

33 girls who had dropped out of school are now back in the classroom, thanks to NYF’s bridging courses!

NYF staff, parents, and local leaders regularly meet at our CLCs to plan, review, and strengthen community-wide efforts.

120 students from preschool to Grade 12 received after-school tutoring at our CLCs.

With enrollment rising, classrooms expanding, and community programs thriving, NYF is helping build a more just and inclusive future in Saptari. These milestones are only possible because of supporters like you. Thank you for helping us create lasting change. Dhanyabad!

Between July 2025 & June 2026, it will cost NYF $135,000 to run all of our Community Learning Center programs in Saptari District. We hope you’ll consider making a gift to ensure more children can build a future filled with dignity and opportunity.

Educating Dalit Lawyers Program Fall 2024 Update

The Nepal Youth Foundation is thrilled to share the latest developments in our Educating Dalit Lawyers (EDL) scholarship program. This transformative initiative is supporting 31 aspiring lawyers from Nepal’s Dalit community as they pursue legal education and work to break barriers of caste-based discrimination.

Since our last update in Spring 2024, the EDL program has continued to grow. Students are excelling both academically and in extracurricular activities. Many are now focusing on specialized areas such as child rights, women’s rights, and policy development. These are fields that urgently need Dalit representation.

Read on to learn more about the incredible strides being made by these determined future leaders!

*Please note that our team has received permission from each of these students to use their real names in updates moving forward.

Program Highlights

This fall, the EDL program reached significant milestones. This included the Mentorship Initiative, where students get paired with mentors working in legal professions. All second-cohort students were paired with their respective mentors, who will offer practical advice, constructive feedback, and emotional support to guide the students in their legal journeys.

Student Achievements:

• Sarita Mijar participated in a Moot Court Training Session, focusing on International Criminal and Commercial Law, where she honed her skills in research, advocacy, and parliamentary procedures.

• Amrita Darji, a 5th-semester student, attended a Law, Politics, and Justice conference, exploring the interplay between legal frameworks and social justice.

• Pradip Nepali engaged in a Mock Parliament Simulation, developing his legal research and argumentation skills through immersive practice.

Leadership and Advocacy:

On July 27th, 2024, Dalit law students in the Kathmandu Valley formally established the Dalit Law Students’ Society, a groundbreaking initiative providing support and resources to Dalit students pursuing legal education. Nine of the 14 founding members are NYF’s very own EDL scholarship recipients, highlighting the profound impact of the program. EDL superstar Shishir Bishwakarma was elected as president, Rudra Bahadur Sarki as secretary, and Tara Bishwakarma as joint secretary!

This society, supported by Dignity Initiative, aims to:

• Coordinate caste-related fieldwork and human rights programs.
• Facilitate leadership training and networking opportunities.
• Build a fraternity-style network to assist final-semester students with internships and career placements.

As a result, by organizing this society, our EDL students are paying forward the generosity they’ve received, creating pathways for future Dalit law students to succeed and advocate against caste-based oppression.

Additionally, EDL students eagerly participated in the global event, “Breaking the Caste Bars: Sustainable Development Goals Framework for Justice and Inclusion of Dalits.” This high-level virtual discussion featured speakers from Nepal’s government and a global network of civil society organizations addressing caste-related issues.

In short, the program explored the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from a Dalit perspective, highlighting how caste influences a wide range of international challenges. It also provided opportunities for students to build global connections.

Spotlighting Excellence:

Ghanashyam Bishwakarma, 19, received the prestigious Glocal Teen Hero award for his advocacy efforts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghanashyam used radio broadcasts to share safety information with remote communities. Since his tween years, he has shown remarkable leadership, in issues including child protection, climate justice, and ending child marriage.

Shishir Bishwakarma, a third-semester EDL scholar and president of the Dalit Law Students’ Society, was elected to Nepal’s Youth Sounding Board, an EU initiative amplifying youth voices in global policy. From August 2024 to September 2025, he’ll work with 30 young leaders to advise the EU office in Nepal on youth-focused programming.

Looking Ahead

Your support is enabling Dalit students to thrive in Nepal’s competitive law programs and to advocate for justice and equality. As they advance in their studies, these students are emerging as advocates for child rights, women’s rights, and policy development. Their work is driving efforts to dismantle caste-based oppression at systemic levels.

Dhanyabad!

Thank you for standing with us and these courageous students as we create pathways to justice and empowerment. We look forward to sharing more updates in Spring 2025!

Two Community Learning Centers inaugurated!

On September 25, 2024, NYF officially inaugurated two new Community Learning Centers (CLC) in Saptari District as part of our Caste Equality Project. These centers will serve as vital hubs for children and adults in their respective villages with a wide range of programming available. Programs include afterschool tutoring, childcare, early childhood education, adult literacy & skills training, and more.

We’ve already started operating out of these two centers, and we have plans to build three additional spaces in villages throughout Saptari District.

Programs have started in the Community Learning Centers!

Our Peer Counseling Program, which launched in the spring of 2024, is now fully operating out of the Community Learning Centers. In April, 30 young women (aged 13-19) from Tirhut Municipality traveled to Kathmandu to receive peer counseling training at Ankur Counseling Center. Now, these trained women are leading monthly support groups with 70 attendees (so far!)!

Reliable Childcare & Early Childhood Education

These two Community Learning Centers offer play-based & educational Early Childhood Care all day to toddlers under the age of 3.5. This empowers parents, particularly moms, to access stable job opportunities, allowing them to nourish their children, to save and invest in the future, and to participate more actively in their communities. While parents work, preschoolers spend their days in a safe, social, learning-rich environment provided by local experts trained by NYF. This also benefits older sisters who often miss class to provide childcare, allowing girls to stay in school, too.

After-School Tutoring & Bridging Courses

Older students who visit the centers can receive after-school homework help and tutoring. Those who wish to re-enter school after a long gap can receive special “bridging courses.” This would help them catch up to their peers and thrive in school. Bridging courses provide a rapid foundation in mathematics, Nepali, English, science, social studies, and health sciences, all based on the government curriculum for each grade.

Nutritious Meals

Children receive hot, nutritious meals prepared on-site using proven Nutritional Rehabilitation Home principles. This ensures local kids receive at least one nutrient-rich meal per day.

Other CEP programs planned for these spaces include:

• Adult Literacy Classes (covering reading, home finance, and legal literacy).
• Town meetings where teachers, parents, and local leaders build community-wide, unified strategies.
• Nutrition-focused home cooking classes for mothers, applying NRH principles.
• Disaster preparedness programs.
• Peer counseling and support groups (these are already underway).
• Women’s empowerment and co-op groups.
• Teacher training.

Spring Updates from Saptari District

NYF’s long-term Caste Equality Project (CEP) is our most ambitious and daring undertaking yet. Our goal is to empower Dalit communities in Nepal to access the opportunities and resources they need to build towards the futures they envision for themselves and their children.

In order to meet these goals, NYF launched two phases of the Caste Equality Project. Phase I was the Educating Dalit Lawyers (EDL) initiative, which we launched in the summer of 2022. (You can read more about EDL here). Phase II of the Caste Equality Project takes place in Saptari District. The project is led by NYF’s very own Lalit Gahatraj, and it officially launched in the summer of 2023. We’re anticipating the work in this phase to be a decades-long project in order for us to truly build a transformative and sustainable movement.

Almost a year into the launch of the project in Saptari District, we’re thrilled to share some exciting updates!

Education Advocacy

At the end of April, NYF officially launched the School Enrollment Campaign for students in Saptari District in Tirhut Rural Municipality. In collaboration with the local government, NYF set into motion a vibrant initiative aimed at boosting school enrollment in the region. Our dedicated team, alongside enthusiastic students and teachers, began spreading the word across communities with energizing rallies and personalized home visits to promote the value of education.

On May 3rd, NYF kicked off the campaign by taking to the streets. Community members and students made posters and marched through their communities while chanting inspirational slogans like, “Send all children to school/leave no one behind!” & “Quality education is our right!”

Our team also made door-to-door visits to encourage parents to enroll their children in school. At the same time, they addressed concerns and answered any questions parents may have.

Then, in mid-May, NYF distributed hundreds of school uniforms and bags to children in the region. These uniforms were handmade by our industrial tailoring students enrolled at Olgapuri Vocational School. You can read more about this unique, cross-program detail in a recent blog post, here.

The School Enrollment Campaign ran until May 10th. Lalit Gahatraj, CEP Coordinator, shared that the early signs are very promising, with an uptick in school attendance already noted! This surge is partly attributed to the community buzz around NYF’s scholarships and nutritious mid-day meal programs, which are drawing more and more families to enroll their children into school.

Peer Counseling Program

In mid-April, thirty girls (aged 13 to 19) from the rural municipality of Tirhut in Saptari District, traveled with our staff to Olgapuri Village to participate in a five-day Peer Counseling training at our very own Ankur Counseling Center. The training began April 23rd.

For many of these girls, it was their first time leaving their village, a journey that brought both excitement and apprehension. Our staff dedicated a lot of time to earn and maintain their trust while supporting them every step of the way.

Building peer counseling skills within individuals will help empower young leaders to make an impact in their own communities. This is a prime example of NYF’s approach to addressing the “felt needs” of communities over “observed needs,” which includes recognizing community members as experts of their own experiences, successes, and challenges. This community-centered approach is a cornerstone of NYF’s strategy to ensure sustainable, far-reaching social change!

We’re excited to see the impact this peer counseling program will have on the wider Dalit community.

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Street Drama Campaigns

In February 2024, over 100 people gathered to watch ten girls from Tirhut Rural Municipality, Saptari District, perform their first street drama. Their play tackles various scenarios related to child marriage. This included dowry negotiations by the groom’s family and self-serving middlemen, the squandering of dowry funds on alcohol, a daughter’s stand against her forced marriage, and harmful consequences for girls experiencing early marriage.

The audience, including men, women, children, and elders, responded positively. During a guided discussion following the play, one man observed, “We often engage in certain practices without fully comprehending the consequences. This play was an effective eye-opener.”

New Community Centers in Saptari District

Construction begins with a groundbreaking ceremony

In early April, NYF hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of two new community centers in Saptari District. The ceremony was completed in collaboration with village members, and a respected elder named Chebli Sada performed a “jag puja,” or foundation blessing, to purify the land. The blessing was an important start to the construction of the ceremony because it allowed a connection to the spirits of the land and the ancestral deities of the people we’re serving. She also led a prayer to ensure a smooth progression of construction, free from hindrances and misfortune. Offerings of sweets, betel nuts, betel leaves, and incense were buried beneath the foundation, symbolizing a blessed new beginning.

Since the ceremony, construction on the two community centers have been underway, with a tentative completion date for June.

Community Centers will serve as vital hubs for Caste Equality Project programs

These two community centers in Saptari District will house most of our programs in the Caste Equality Project, holding spaces for education, childcare, and other important initiatives like:

• Adult literacy classes (reading, home finance, legal literacy)
• Town meetings where teachers, parents, and local leaders build community-wide, unified strategies
• Nutrition-focused home cooking classes for mothers, applying NRH principles
• Disaster preparedness programs
• Peer counseling
• Women’s empowerment and co-op groups
• Teacher training

The plan is to hire staff for the centers from within the communities served, to build sustainable local capacity. Each center (and we hope to build more!) aids NYF’s sustainability in Saptari District, expands and enhances regional impact, and resources NYF to pursue its vision for meaningful change for the communities served. The more centers we fund, the more strongly we can scale while maintaining existing momentum.

The enthusiasm from the community in response has been heartwarming. We’ve seen widespread eagerness to engage, a testament to the importance of community involvement in bringing sustainable changes. Our late founder Olga Murray’s vision is alive and well, manifesting visibly in the strides we are making in Saptari District.

These initial campaigns have been made possible by several generous friends in the NYF Community. But we still need wider support to continue our work within (and beyond) the Caste Equality Project. Please click here to make a donation if you’re able to!