AakarNepal

2023 Fellows

Dhiraj's interest in promoting girls' education stemmed from his observations of the contrast between efforts to create a more inclusive education system and the pre-existing gender roles and expectations that hinder girls from receiving proper secondary education. Over the course of three months, he worked at a local school in kathmandu where he collaborated with both internal and external speakers, organized discussion sessions, and shared success stories of women who pursued education against all odds. In addition, he maintained personal efforts to stay in touch with SEE graduates in his hometown, providing them with high school entrance and scholarship resources.
Dipisha experiences both the benefits and drawbacks of social media platforms in her daily life. Recognizing the pervasive nature of social media use, which often leads to social isolation and negatively impacts the mental health of teens, she organized discussion sessions for upper-secondary students at three schools in Kathmandu. Through this experience, she learned various tools to help moderate social media usage and shared them with the students she worked with.
Gyanmaya focused her efforts on combating the myths and superstitions surrounding menstruation and menstrual hygiene. Recognizing that these misconceptions discourage young girls from social engagement and place a negative emotional burden on them during a critical period of their reproductive and psychological development, Gyanmaya, with the help of a local nurse, provided relevant information about menstrual products and hygiene to girls in Sindhupalchowk. She conducted baseline and post-session surveys to assess the topics the girls learned during the sessions.
Karsang's interest in health education inspired her to take on a project aimed at raising awareness about cervical and ovarian cancer. While these conditions typically affect women aged fifty and older, understanding the early symptoms and the importance of screening programs is crucial for everyone during their reproductive years. Karsang recognized that her primary audience would be young girls and boys, who could not only benefit from the information for themselves but also share it with their mothers, who may be at an age where screening becomes necessary. She conducted two sessions in Koteshwor and gathered feedback from the attendees through surveys.
View full presentations here
ParticipantMentorProject
Dhiraj TharuRikesh PoudelEducation for All
Dipisha BishwakarmaPramesh BhattaraiSocial Media Addiction
Gyanmaya TamangSlesha ShresthaMenstrual Hygiene and Justice
Karsang LamaSukirty KhadkaCervical and Ovarian Cancer
Leeja TamangParwati MahatoChild Marriage
Nirajan ShahiSantosh ThapaCaste Discrimination and Mental Health
Prashan PariyarDipen BhusalFighting Caste Discrimination
Rabin NeupaneSabina ShakyaFrom Roots to Canopy
Sabina GhaleArchana GiriMental Health Awareness
Saugat GautamMaryada NeupaneEarly Start: Adding Pages to Parenthood
Sujita ParajuliSamikshya DhamiWaste Management
Susan BhattaParikshit ChaliseSTEMify Nepal