Empowering Nepali Youth to Become Moral and Innovative Leaders

Robin McDonough

August 30, 2024

The values-based approach to peacebuilding, grounded in our shared humanity and based on acceptance and inclusivity regardless of faith or background, is core to Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Nepal’s Youth Leadership Program. Motivating youth to dream big and become moral and innovative leaders in a world that frequently offers contradictory and divisive messaging is key to empowering young people to engage in community service and civic engagement.

Several Moral and Innovative Leadership Workshops (MILWs) were held in Nepal during May encompassing various activities designed to teach the young participants the importance of character and service in leadership development. On May 9 and 12, workshops were held at Shree Paropakar Adarsha Higher Secondary School and Baleshwari Secondary School. Following their introduction to the Global Peace Values Framework, the 116 attendees participated in several interactive exercises emphasizing the power of values-based leadership centered on living for the greater good.

A group of people are standing outside, smiling and clapping. Some are raising their hands, and they appear to be celebrating or participating in a joyful activity together. Among them stand Nepali youth, embodying the spirit of innovative leaders shaping a brighter future.

Youth get to know each other during ice breaker activities.

Likewise, a two-day leadership program was conducted on May 14 and 15 where 47 young people, including the Global Peacebuilders Leadership Program (GPLP) Cohort IV fellows and new volunteers, participated in the workshop. Moral and innovative leadership was the focal point of the workshop, where the participants engaged in activities designed to help them discover their values and leadership styles while working collaboratively.

Guest speakers included Sabin Lamichhane, an international expert on youth engagement and peacebuilding, and Rajan Koirala, the founder of Mindset Cube. On the first day of the workshop, Mr. Lamichhane discussed the importance of young people’s contribution to peacebuilding: “Peacebuilding is characterized by the meaningful involvement of young people as agents of change to foster peace, social cohesion, and sustainable communities. Attending this Moral and Innovative Leadership Workshop, which incorporates civic engagement and dialogue, is significant for peacebuilding.”

A group of innovative leaders, including Nepali youth, sit around a table discussing various points written on a large pink sheet of paper.

Group discussions engage youth in peacebuilding.

On the workshop’s second day, Mr. Koirala emphasized the importance of civic responsibility to the young attendees. He commented, “If you want to make positive impact for Nepal, take pride of your identity as Nepali and love this soil. Moral and Innovative Leadership Workshop for instilling civic responsibilities is the right platform for young people. Attending this workshop is already the first step that you are taking to be a leader as leadership is a step-by-step process.”

The participants also discussed the importance of environmental sustainability in honor of the International Day of Families. Taking a leadership role, they actively presented their ideas on how to address the negative impacts of climate change and the role of their families in reducing their carbon footprints.

Six GPLP fellows and volunteers attended a similar workshop on May 22 and 23. Further, eight GPLP fellows and volunteers exemplified the power of community service when they engaged in a mural painting at Trimurti Academy on May 24.

Several MILW attendees expressed their gratitude to GPF Nepal for the workshops and the leadership knowledge and skills they gained. Lalita stated, “I used to believe leadership is just an inborn trait. However, today, I learned that it is built with the hard work of developing ourselves for the better.” Taskeen commented, “My major takeaways are that we must work from the heart, serve others, build a good character, and have self-discipline.”

A young woman, an inspiring voice among the Nepali Youth, speaks into a microphone while standing in a room with blue chairs and several people seated around her.

Nepal youth asks question during GPF Nepal leadership program.

In addition to the MILWs, several GPLP and School-Based Learning Achievement Enhancement Program (SBLAEP) events were held during May. Collaborating with Community Action Aid Education, Kenya, GPLP fellows informed 13 online participants how to collectively fight the dangers of antimicrobial resistance. In her mini project on Building a Path for Organic Community on May 20 and 21, GPLP Fellow Sudna Panthi presented information on natural farming and crop management to the 36 participants from Maibal, Tanahu.

As part of the SBLAEP, GPF Nepal conducted Capacity Building Training from May 10 to 14. The event, which was requested by Gorkha district teachers and the local government, supported the dissemination of the Nepal government’s Integrated Curriculum. Thirty-one teachers from 15 schools were trained with the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to implement the curriculum approach effectively.

Values-based education is critical to paving the way for young people to become moral and innovative leaders and peacebuilders. This is evidenced by the success of the Youth Leadership Program events sponsored by GPF Nepal in its quest to support today’s youth in their journey to become tomorrow’s leaders.

This overview of the busy month of May is just a sample of the many ongoing youth leadership programs GPF Nepal organizes and has continued to carry out throughout the year. Learn more about our programs in Nepal and donate to GPF to help us raise more peacebuilding leaders around the world.