KATHMANDU: Project Abhaya, in collaboration with Civil Outlook, executed the ‘Governance Fellowship 2025’ from January 10 to January 25, 2025.
The fellowship consisted of 67 fellows, including 37 males and 20 females from 22 districts across all seven provinces of Nepal.
Aimed at enabling youth in governance and leadership, the program included six thematic sessions, each lasting two hours and featuring six dignitaries from various fields as speakers.
The fellowship kicked off with an introductory session on “Governance Foundation,” delivered by Sachin Timalsena, Former National Coordinator of Youth Congress Nepal.
The second session focused on “Legislation and Policymaking” and was led by Mr. Ashish Regmi, Executive Chief of the Policy and Research Academy, CPN UML.
Shreya Sanjel, Judicial Officer at the Supreme Court of Nepal, hosted a session on “Judicial Processes and Access to Justice,” providing valuable insights into Nepal’s legal framework.
The fourth session centered around “Inclusive Governance: Promoting Transparency and Understanding Rights and Responsibilities.”
It was hosted by Shishir Khanal, former Education Minister and Member of Parliament from Kathmandu-6.
On January 24, 2025, two sessions were held: “Feminist Politics: Historical Movements and Grassroots Activism,” hosted by Dr. Binda Pandey, Former Member of the Constituent Assembly and Parliament, and “Civic Engagement and Social Accountability,” facilitated by Milan Pandey, Civil Engineer and member of the Bibekshil Sajha Party.
Reflecting on the success of the fellowship, Ishika Panta, Founder of Project Abhaya, emphasized the importance of empowering young people in governance. She stated, “At Project Abhaya, we’ve always believed that real change starts with empowering young people, and this fellowship was a step towards making that belief a reality.”
“Having witnessed the untapped potential of youth across Nepal, I felt deeply inspired to create a space where they could gain the tools, knowledge, and confidence needed to lead with purpose,” she added.
Panta further shared her pride in the participants, noting, “It’s been amazing to see these fellows dive into the complexities of governance and leadership—not just as future policymakers, but as passionate changemakers ready to lead with integrity, compassion, and inclusivity.”
“This work is close to my heart because I believe a strong democracy relies on an informed, engaged, and empowered youth. I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved together and excited to see where these bright minds will take us.”
The Governance Fellowship 2025 serves as a significant milestone in fostering inclusive leadership and strengthening democratic practices among Nepal’s youth, paving the way for a brighter and more engaged future.
Civil Outlook is a team of law graduates dedicated to various civic engagement programs, including access to justice, women in the judiciary, media literacy, and facilitating public libraries to strengthen cultural institutions.
Given its background in law and governance, it has wanted to develop a fellowship model to inform and educate young minds on law, governance, and digital literacy to create a larger civic impact.
Project Abhaya, with their impressive initiatives in gender activism, was a natural partner for organizing this fellowship.
Its collaboration aligns with our shared vision of empowering youth, especially women, to actively participate in governance and policymaking.
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