Ujyalo Foundation

The application for our One-day Feminist Conference 2024 is now OPEN! 🎉

This year's theme is 'Feminist Agenda: Tools and Strategies for Change.' 💪

Head to the link shared below to apply and join us for a day of learning, networking, and action. ✊

Kindly visit this link to apply: https://linktr.ee/ujyalofoundation

Don't miss out! Apply by July 20th. ⏰

Our incredible young changemakers of EmpowHER Junior (EJ) 2024 are officially graduates! So proud of the EmpowHER Junior Cohort of 2024.

Picture 1 - 13: One of the Mentors of this year's EmpowHER Junior (EJ) who is also an alum of EmpowHER Junior (EJ) program, Stuti Shrestha, distributing Graduation certificates to this year's cohort of EmpowHER Junior (EJ) changemakers.

Picture 14 - 16: Our Founder & Executive Director Amuda Mishra, distributing Certificates of Appreciation to the mentors of this year's cohort of EmpowHER Junior (EJ) 2024 namely: Sanskriti Phuyal, an alum of EmpowHER Junior (EJ) as well as the Vice Presdent of Ujyalo's BOD, Stuti Shrestha, an alum of EmpowHER Junior (EJ) as well as one of the board members of Ujyalo, and Sajana Khadka, an alum of EmpowHER Junior (EJ).

Picture 17: Ujyalo's Founder & Executive Director, Amuda Mishra handing over Token of Appreciation to Milan Ma'am, a representative from Aksharaa School, our collaborating partner for this year's EmpowHER Junior (EJ).

Picture 18: Amuda Mishra, our Founder & Executive Director, distributing Tokens of Appreciation to changemakers who emceed the graduation program, namely: Samriddhi Sanjel and Sunayana Khatiwada.

Picture 19: Ujyalo's Finance and Operations Lead, Reshu Mali giving her closing remarks in EmpowHER Junior (EJ) 2024's Graduation Program.

Picutre 20: Our changemakers of EmpowHER Junior (EJ) 2024 are now Girls with Grit who have Graduated from the program!

"Here are some more pictures from the graduation day of EmpowHER Junior (EJ) 2024, lets relive these moments together!

Picture 1: A glimpse of EmpowHER Junior (EJ) 2024's Impact Video! Stay Tuned!

Picture 2: Our Founder and Executive Director, Amuda Mishra, giving her welcome remarks to everyone in the ceremony.

Picture 3: Our Vice President from the Board of Directors (BOD), Sanskriti Phuyal, sharing her remarks with everyone.

Picture 4-6: Time to celebrate with some amazing performances by our changemakers!

Picture 7-8: Some glimpses of our changemakers being inducted which signifies that they are officially part of Ujyalo's Alumni Network!

Picture 9: A mandatory group picture with the recent graduates and all of our attendees in the ceremony!

Picture 10: This picture speaks louder than thousand words.

Applications for our Program Assistant position have been closed on June 23rd, 2024 (NST 5 PM)!

Thank you to everyone who submitted their interest. We're currently reviewing applications and will be in touch with the shortlisted candidates shortly.

EmpowHER Junior (EJ) 2024 Changemakers Have Graduated!

Our incredible EJ 2024 cohort graduated on June 8th! They showcased their amazing Service Impact Idea (SII) projects through poster presentations, highlighting their themes and achieved outreach. ✨

The ceremony featured fun performances by the changemakers themselves, along with an induction ceremony to signify that they've officially joined Ujyalo's Alumni Network!

Here's a peek at their special day!

Picture 1-4: Our EmpowHER Junior (EJ) 2024 Changemakers presenting the poster presentations of their respective Service Impact Idea (SII) projects.

Picture 5: Ujyalo's Program Coordinator, Aagya Shrestha, inagurating the graduation ceremony and welcoming all the attendees.

Picture 6: One of the EmpowHER Junior (EJ) changemakers of this year, Mehek Joshi, introducing this year's cohort of changemakers!

Picture 7-8: Samriddhi Sanjel and Sunayana Khatiwada, two of our EJ 2024 changemakers, showcased their talents as the event's emcees.

Picture 9: Encouraging words from Milan ma'am, a representative of Aksharaa School, our valuable collaborator for this year's EmpowHER Junior (EJ) program.

Picture 10: A glimpse of the Girls with Grit' Cup!

Our EmpowHER Junior (EJ) 2024 changemakers, namely: Angel Tandukar, Sunakshi K.C., and Sunayana Khatiwada, under the project name ‘You are a Girl', combatted gender stereotypes among girls aged 12-16 at Aksharaa School. Their project recognized the limitations imposed by the phrase ‘You are a girl’ and its deep-rooted connection to societal norms.

Through a dynamic four-hour session, they employed a range of engaging activities and empowered 57 number of girls to recognize and challenge these stereotypes. Audio clips, games, discussions debunking myths, problem-solving exercises, and an essay competition formed the core of their initiative. By actively participating, the participants gained valuable awareness and the tools to break free from limiting beliefs.

The ‘Super Girls’ group, consisting of Sumiran Pandit, Samriddhi Sanjel, Binisha Moktan, and Swikriti Khadka, prioritized raising awareness and fostering understanding of gender identity as well as self-love for their Service Impact Idea (SII) Project. They executed their Service Impact Idea (SII) project in three different schools namely Aksharaa School (28 students), Darshana School (16 students), and Vidhya Bikash School (35 students), with a total outreach of 79 students.

Their project offered a comprehensive exploration on the topic of understanding different gender identities, the importance of self-love and affirmations. They incorporated fun activities in their sessions including quizzes regarding gender identities as well as poster-making activities to encourage the students to practive self-affirmations

The ‘Powerpuff Girls’ group of changemakers, comprising of Mehek Joshi, Sazda Adikari, Shirsty Acharya, and Arpana Manandhar, chose a cause close to many girls' hearts: participation in sports. Their Service Impact Idea (SII) project materialized as an inter-school girls' football tournament for ages 13-16 where a total of 24 girls had participated. This project bravely challenged societal stereotypes that discourage girls from pursuing football.

The tournament addressed the critical issue of limited physical activity opportunities for girls, impacting their self-confidence and perpetuating gender biases. By fostering a supportive environment dedicated to girls' football, the Powerpuff Girls aimed to dismantle these stereotypes and empower participants to pursue their athletic interests with full confidence.

Attention! There are only 10 days left to apply for the Program Assistant position. Don't miss this chance!

Are you a highly organized individual with a passion for supporting program success? Do you thrive in a collaborative environment and want to make a real impact? Then we want to hear from you! Apply today and join our Programs Team in making our programs the best they can be.

To apply, kindly email us your resume along with a cover letter to [email protected].

For a detailed ToR of the position of Program Assistant, kindly refer to this link here: https://tr.ee/n3zx8bEQCK

From 24th-26th May 2024, our EmpowHER Junior (EJ) changemakers carried out their respective Service Impact idea (SII) projects.

One of the groups of changemakers carried out their Service Impact Idea (SII) project with the theme of 'Raising Awareness on Bullying and their detrimental effects on adolescents', spearheaded by Niyati Neupane, Rajshi Panthi, Marine Thokar, and Aakriti Kushwaha. Their project targeted students aged 12 to 15 at Aksharaa School and Gateway Academy, encompassing 37 students in total from the two sections of grade 7.

Calling all organized and detail-oriented individuals! We're looking for a Program Assistant to join our team.

Applications are open until June 20th, 2024 (NST 5 pm). Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity!

Kindly send in your resume and cover letter to [email protected].

To refer to the detailed TOR, visit the link here: https://tr.ee/n3zx8bEQCK

"

EmpowHER Junior (EJ) 2024 Immersion Visit: Day 2

Day 2 of the EmpowHER Junior (EJ) 2024 immersion visit was all about sustainable style and social impact! Our young changemakers were introduced to Rekriti, a local brand that champions upcycled products. This visit aimed to ignite their creativity and empower them to think critically about fashion's environmental footprint and the potential for positive change.

Let's Recap Day 2 with Photos!

Pictures 1-4: Our EJ 2024 changemakers reflect on the learnings from Day 1 of the immersion visit.

Pictures 5-6: Nasana Bajracharya, Co-founder of Rekriti, demonstrating an upcycled product and explaining the production process to our EJ 2024 changemakers.

Picture 7: Amuda Mishra, our Founder and Executive Director, facilitated a fun and insightful reflection session, helping our EmpowHER Junior (EJ) 2024 changemakers reflect on their experiences and celebrate their achievements.

Picture 8: Our EmpowHER Junior (EJ) 2024 changemakers presenting a token of appreciation to Nasana Bajracharya.

EmpowHER Junior Immersion Visits: Day 1 Recap

On May 17th and 18th, we hosted the immersion visits for the EmpowHER Junior (EJ) 2024 program. The first day provided a chance for our young changemakers to visit Bhaktapur Municipality and the European Union Office in Nepal. This immersion aimed to connect our changemakers with inspiring women leaders and empower them to take the lead.

Let's revisit some captivating moments from Day 1!

Picture 1: This year's EmpowHER Junior (EJ) changemakers gather for a group photo.

Pictures 2-4: Aagya Shrestha, Ujyalo's Program Coordinator, prepares the EmpowHER Junior (EJ) 2024 changemakers for the immersion visit.

Picture 5: Rajani Joshi ma'am, Deputy Mayor of Bhaktapur Municipality, inspires our changemakers by sharing her leadership journey and insights.

Picture 6: A group photo featuring our EmpowHER Junior (EJ) 2024 changemakers with Rajani Joshi ma'am, Deputy Mayor of Bhaktapur Municipality.

Pictures 7-8: Eloisa Astudillo Fernandez, the Deputy Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation (EUD), interacts with our changemakers.

Picture 9: A group photo captures our EmpowHER Junior (EJ) 2024 cohort with Eloisa Astudillo Fernandez, the Deputy Head of Cooperation at EUD, and the Ujyalo team.

Shhh! We've got something big brewing...

Stay tuned for more news on the One-Day Feminist Conference 2024. You won't want to miss it!

The fight for equality continues!

We're gearing up for the One-Day Feminist Conference 2024! The theme for this year is 'The Feminist Agenda: Tools and Strategies for Change.'

We'll be revealing the speakers, panelists, and facilitators for the One-Day Feminist Conference 2024 soon!

Get ready to be empowered with tools and strategies to make a difference.

Applications for the Ujyalo Foundation's annual One Day Feminist Conference are opening SOON!

Join us for a day of inclusive dialogue, knowledge exchange, and empowerment ✊ This year's conference brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds to spark meaningful conversations on feminism. ️

Stay tuned for the application opening date and get ready to be a part of this inspiring event! ✨

Day 3 of the WLF 2024 meet-up was all about refining and streamlining!

Our WLF 2024 fellows delved deeper into their Community Advocacy Intervention (CAI) projects, collaborating extensively. The day culminated in another group presentation, receiving valuable feedback from Kripa Basnyat ji, National Project Coordinator of Empowered Women, Prosperous Nepal (EWPN), ILO Country Office For Nepal as well as Ujyalo's Founder and Executive Director, Amuda Mishra.

Let's look at these pictures to rewind to a productive day!

Day 2 of the Quarterly Meetup was all about refining the frameworks for the Community Advocacy Intervention (CAI) Project.

Let's take a trip down memory lane with these pictures and see what transpired that day.

Pictures 1-3: Our WLF 2024 fellows presented their individual CAI project proposals.

Pictures 4-5: WLF 2024 fellows presented tokens of appreciation to Kripa Basnyat ji and Sanjog Manandhar ji, our esteemed external consultants for the Quarterly Meetup.

Picture 6: A group photo with WLF 2024 fellows, Kripa ji, and the UF team to capture the spirit of collaboration!

Day 2 of the WLF 2024 Quarterly Meet-Up: Empowered and Equipped!

Our incredible facilitator, Kripa Basnyant ji, National Project Coordinator of Empowered Women, Prosperous Nepal (EWPN) in ILO Country Office For Nepal, provided invaluable insights into Care Work and the Care Economy.

Kripa ji led our WLF 2024 fellows through an insightful revision of Care Work and the Care Economy, ensuring a strong foundation for their respective Community Advocacy Intervention (CAI) projects.

The session didn't stop there! Our fellows received invaluable guidance on crafting their proposal frameworks and navigating the process of coordinating with the government for their Community Advocacy Intervention (CAI) projects.

Day 2 in Pictures!

Kripa ji's Session on CAI Projects (Picture 1): In this session, Kripa ji facilitated a discussion on the Care Proposal framework and how to coordinate with the local government on CAI projects.

WLF 2024 Core Values (Picture 2): Let's take a moment to reflect on the core values that guide WLF 2024.

WLF 2024 Fellows at Work (Picture 3-7): Our dedicated WLF 2024 fellows were hard at work developing their Community Advocacy Intervention (CAI) project proposal frameworks.



WLF 2024 Fellows at Work (Picture 3-7): Our dedicated WLF 2024 fellows were hard at work developing their Community Advocacy Intervention (CAI) project proposal frameworks.

Our Women's Leadership Fellowship (WLF) 2024 fellows were brought back together for our action-packed Quarterly meet-up from May 3rd to 5th, 2024!

After reuniting since the incredible 8Day residential institute, the first day was all about catching up and diving back into refining the Community Advocacy Intervention (CAI) projects. The fellows sharpened their skills with an SIOC analysis, ensuring their Community Advocacy Intervention plans are even more impactful!

Let's take a look at some highlights from Day 1!

Reconnecting and Reflecting (Pictures 1-4)
The WLF 2024 fellows started the day with an interactive activity where they created bracelets with words that resonated with them. Sharing their chosen words helped everyone get to know each other better.

Setting Goals for Growth (Pictures 6-9)
Amuda Mishra, our Founder and Executive Director, introduced the Strengths, Improvement, Opportunity, and Challenges (SIOC) technique to help the WLF 2024 participants develop their Personal Development Plans (PDPs).

Understanding Community Advocacy (Picture 10)
Aagya Shrestha, our Program Coordinator, presented on how Community Advocacy Intervention (CAI) projects work and explained the role of mentorship in CAI projects.

Shoutout to our amazing sponsors thanks to whom our annual fundraiser event of ‘Canvas & Cocktail’ was possible after a hiatus of 5 long years. 🎉✨

We would like to take this opportunity to thank

Thank you for your commitment to empowering women in leadership! 🙌⚡️

Let’s hear it one more time for our amazing sponsors! 🙌✨

Their incredible support made ‘Canvas & Cocktails’ on April 20th an evening to remember! Thanks to you, we raised a phenomenal amount to help us empower more women in their leadership journeys. 💫

A huge thank you to .collection .lifestyle .grub .np .np

Your generosity truly made a difference! 🫶🏼✨

Let's give a round of applause to our incredible sponsors of 'Canvas & Cocktail' fundraiser event, namely: .np

We're still buzzing from the wondrous evening of 'Canvas & Cocktail' fundraiser on April 20th! A massive thank you to our amazing sponsors who helped turn this event into a masterpiece.

Your support makes a real difference!

Thanks to your generosity, our April 20th fundraiser was a smashing success! We couldn't have done it without your support!

We express our heartfelt gratitude to the following sponsors: .nepal .standard.nursery

Your partnership made a real difference. Let's raise a glass (or paintbrush!) to you!

Reveal time!

The answer is... Quarterly Meet-up!

These meet-ups are a crucial part of the Women's Leadership Fellowship (WLF) 2024 experience, providing a platform for our fellows to network, collaborate, and stay motivated to plan for their respective Community Advocacy Intervention (CAI) Projects.

Can you guess what the word is? This word is key to unlocking your full potential!

Here's a hint: It is a crucial aspect of our 8-month-long flagship program of Women's Leadership Fellowship (WLF) 2024.

Leave your answers in the comments below! ⬇️

From April 3rd to 5th, the Ujyalo Foundation orchestrated a Community Stakeholder Engagement meeting in Panchkhal Municipality, Kavre. The gathering convened a diverse array of stakeholders, including elected women ward leaders, school principals, EmpowHER program changemakers, members from youth clubs, and various committees.

Some glimpse into the event:

Picture 1: Group photograph capturing all the involved stakeholders.

Picture 2: Images capturing the essence of community interaction.

Picture 3: Moments marking the active participation of attendees.

Picture 4: Nirijana Bhatta passionately addressing the issue of child marriage to community members.

Picture 5: Engaged participants jotting down their reflections.

Picture 6: Sharing pivotal points discussed during the meeting.

Picture 7: Ujyalo team members alongside women ward leaders and select EmpowHER program changemakers.

Picture 8: Another moment captured, bureaucrats alongside Ujyalo team.

Picture 9: Our Program Coordinator delineating ground rules for the session.

Picture 10: Prompting participants to pose for the camera.

Together, we raised a glass (and a paintbrush!) for women’s leadership at our incredible Canvas and Cocktails fundraiser on April 20th!

Your contributions will fuel programs that empower women to reach their full potential. Thank you immensely for making a difference!

We couldn’t have done it without YOU! Thanks to everyone who supported our Canvas and Cocktail fundraiser event on April 20th.

Let’s rewind back to the funfilled evening again!

Picture 1-3: Our attendees partaking in the ‘Silent Auction’ segment of the event where a few lucky individuals were successful in taking the goodies home!

Picture 4-10: More colors, the merrier! 🌈✨