By: Samanata Thapa
Impact Hub Kathmandu is thrilled to be working in the Lumbini and Madhesh provinces of Nepal as a grantee of The Asia Foundation for Scoping, Mapping and Design Program for the Local Impact Makers and Civic Actors through the generous support of USAID– Civil Society and Media program.
For the past six months, Rachana Khatri and Samanata Thapa from Impact Hub Kathmandu have been working in Madhesh and Lumbini province, scouring every nook and cranny of Bhairahawa, Butwal, Kapilvastu, Dhanshadham, Janakpur, Sarlahi, Sainamaina and Saptari to identify and establish connection with passionate and dedicated local civic actors to help drive lasting change. The program aims to empower and build the capacity of youth, women and marginalized civic actors in the provinces.
We are proud to have selected a diverse cohort of 16 civic actors from the two provinces. The civic actors will be attending monthly workshops intending to build their capacity to extend their network, increase their visibility, establish and practice an emotional community of support, explore access to direct funding and design sustainable organizational models.
Similarly, eight local experts have been identified as mentors to provide civic actors diversify their network and knowledge. These mentors bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, and they are committed to helping our cohort expand their networks and deepen their understanding of the issues they care about.
Our cohort and mentors are inclusive of people from all walks of life, including those with disabilities, youth, women, and individuals from Muslim, Dalit, Janajati, and LGBTQIA+ communities. Together, they are focused on addressing critical issues such as gender and sexuality, human rights, women’s rights, and the right to quality education. Many of these individuals have been providing legal advice and aid to those in crisis, and we are honoured to have them as part of our program.
Join us on this incredible journey as we support the civic actors who are working tirelessly to create positive change in Lumbini and Madhesh provinces. We are committed to providing a platform for these individuals to showcase their work and gain the recognition they deserve, but we can’t do it alone!
We need your help to amplify their voices and spread the word about the critical issues they are addressing. Whether you’re in the media looking to cover their stories or an individual who wants to connect and support these incredible change-makers, we invite you to reach out and get involved.
Stay tuned to get to know our civic actors in Lumbini and Madhesh Province!
