19 June 2024, Kathmandu
“Priyanjali Karn and Ranjana Ramtel Lead the Charge: Young Women Graduates Ready to Redefine Leadership in Nepal”
Women LEAD Nepal celebrated the graduation of 45 young women from its prestigious leadership courses, highlighting a significant milestone in the journey towards women’s empowerment and leadership in Nepal.
Young Nepali Women Graduates Ready
Among the graduates, Priyanjali Karn, 22, from Janakpur, stood out with her powerful speech that resonated with the audience, including her proud parents. “Women leaders graduated with dedication to be change-makers in society,” she declared, reflecting on her transformative journey over the past eight months. Her father, Satyandralal Karn, noted the remarkable changes in her confidence and social skills, a sentiment echoed by her mother, Subha Suhasini.
Karn, who received the “Most Growth Award” for the Young Women’s Political Leadership Course (YWPLC) 2023/24, shared her commitment to uplifting Madheshi women through education, inspired by the challenges she observed in her community during her course-related visit to Madhesh Province.
Another standout graduate, Ranjana Ramtel, 18, from Sindhupalchwok, was awarded the “Most Growth Award” for the comprehensive year-long Lead Course. Ramtel credited the program with teaching her essential skills such as public speaking, leadership, and civic engagement, setting her on a path to becoming a societal leader.
Women LEAD Nepal’s Executive Director, Hima Bista, emphasized the program’s focus on equipping young women with the tools needed to become influential leaders and advocates for change. The Lead Course, aimed at grade 12 students, and the YWPLC, targeting women aged 18–25, are designed to instill a deep understanding of leadership, political processes, and the importance of intersectionality.
The ceremony was graced by lawmaker Toshima Karki, who emphasized the need for meaningful representation and economic empowerment of women. She encouraged the graduates to continue developing their skills to claim leadership roles across diverse sectors.
Young Women Graduates Ready
As these young women step forward to redefine leadership and challenge traditional definitions of equality and feminism, their stories of transformation and dedication serve as a beacon of hope for the future of women’s leadership in Nepal.