Securing Democracy's Future: Supporting Youth Where They Are

Young civil society leaders in Nepal and Bangladesh are contributing to democracy through locally relevant ideas and creative strategies. They often lack resources, networks and necessary structures, but with the right support, they have been able to build their initiatives and make an impact. In this episode Accountabilitea host Kibo Ngowi speaks to three incredible young people who are working to make  an impact in their communities through initiatives ranging from anti-corruption to gender equality: Manish Pokhrel is an accountapreneur of AL Nepal’s Accountability Incubator programme and has worked to weave education on transparency, accountability and governance into grade 9 and 10 school curriculums.  Two of our guests Fariha Aumi and Tamima Nasrin are participating in the Manusher Jonno Foundation’s Youth Engagement and Democracy project in Bangladesh. Fariha asks the question ‘Why should youth whose futures will be most affected by climate change not be at the forefront of forming climate policies?’. Her work focuses on involving young people in climate decision making  through activism and capacity building. Tamima works to advance the rights and protections of women and girls with She Equal. The organization aims to mobilize youth volunteers, and provide psychosocial support to survivors to get legal remedies and healthcare services. Soni Khanal, AL Nepal’s Learning Manager, shares the overlapping concerns of the youth in Bangladesh and Nepal that inspired a collaboration agreement between MJF and AL Nepal. She also highlights how the two organizations are working to build a network of changemakers within the countries and regionally.  These exceptional young people remind others who are as moved by social issues the importance of just starting – no matter how small the initial contribution.  They also share the skills and networks they’ve gained by participating in youth-centric programs that have brought them together across borders to share insights and learnings.