KATHMANDU, Jan 22: Kathmandu-based Leadership Academy and US-based Kroc School & Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice (IPJ), University of San Diego, have launched a year-long program aimed at strengthening the leadership capacity of youth leaders from across the country. Titled ‘Nepali Emerging Leaders Program 2018, the project will groom 28 young leaders – 14 men and 14 women- selected from the 14 zones of the country. The participants are aged between 25 and 40 and represent various political parties and organizations from the hills, mountains and the tarai region.
A team comprising seasoned politicians and experts in various sectors will train and mentor the 28 ‘emerging leaders’ of the country for the next one year.
Kojagrat Poornima being observed today
Speaking at the function organized to launch the year-long program on Monday at the capital-based Hotel Radisson, former Prime Minister and one of the mentors, Lokendra Bahadur Chand said that the program which is aimed at enhancing the leadership capacity of the young emerging leaders from across the country is a good initiative. “There were no such programs and organizations when I began my political career. The young leaders who have been selected for the program are lucky to get such an opportunity. I hope they will be able to work for the country’s development more effectively after completing the course,” said Chand.
Santosh Shah, President of Leadership Academy, expressed hope that the program will be effective in strengthening the leadership capacity of the youth leaders selected for the program. “The first phase of training has already been organized and now the second phase of three sessions – one each in the hills, mountains and the plains - will be organized,” Shah told Republica.
Nepali Congress leader and former deputy speaker Chitralekha Yadav, CPN (Maoist Center) lawmaker and former sports minister Kamala Rokka, CPN-UML leader and former lawmaker Ratna Gurung, UN Women Nepal chief Wenny Kusuma, program officer of IPJ Daniel Orth also addressed the function.
Former ministers, former and sitting lawmakers, representatives of various political parties and representatives of various UN organizations participated in the program.