Gender and Entrepreneurship in Nepal

ANUGYA KUNWAR, Daayitwa Fellow 2021

“Economic equity is an enormous empowerment of women. Having jobs that provide income means that women can be a more effective force, a more equal force, in the political process. Women with income take themselves more seriously and they are taken more seriously.”-Betty Friedan 

An inclusive and sustainable socio-economic transformation of the nation cannot be imagined without the equal participation of half of its population. Comprising 51.5% of the populati..

Breaking Down the Culture of Change

SATISH BAJRACHARYA, Daayitwa Fellow 2021

Throughout history, change has been difficult. Breaking the shackles of normalcy and going against the well-established norm has always been a continuous struggle. Despite the presence of these antecedent conditions in history, our culture, values, and norms have continuously evolved. We have to agree that change is difficult but it is a process of making things better, not for oneself but for the betterment of the society in itself. In Adam Smith’s words, the progress of society has been made by the ingenuity of philosophers or people of speculation. I..

My Learnings so far as a Daayitwa Public Policy Fellow

RUPESH THA, Daayitwa Fellow 2021

Applying for the fellowship was a journey of self-discovery that led me to deeply reflect on my personal experiences and scientific interests that guided me to pursue a career as a researcher. Daayitwa Nepal Public Policy Fellowship is a growing roster of merit-based professional fellowship opportunities that provide entry into a first job or career change, work experiences, and cultivate emerging leaders and change-makers, and social enterprises. Therefore, I was very concerned about my application. I was having a difficult time putting into words how..

Journey of a Self Proclaimed Advocate for the Himalayas

TASHI GURUNG, Daayitwa Fellow 2021

Inundated with thoughts, my mind wandered around and across dimensions while I forcefully tried to fall asleep. Continuously rolling right and left, exercising breathing techniques I learned from watching youtube, and even trying to count imaginary white sheep with long circular horns failed me. After several failed attempts to fall asleep, I get a notification on my cell phone that is placed strategically upside down next to my pillow. I resisted reaching out for the phone to avert the risk of insomnia. After a whole 13 seconds of irresistible strug..

Daayitwa Fellowship: A Journey of Self-Acceptance

ANUGYA KUNWAR, Daayitwa Fellow 2021

Hopscotching between the dual identities of an Indian mother and a Nepali father, 7-year-old me never truly felt that I belonged in either of the countries. The Indian-accent laced Nepali that tumbled through my mouth often led my Nepali friends to call me dhoti. As a defense mechanism, I found my solace in English and accepted the identity of always being the ‘other’ in Nepal. The years from seven to seventeen were spent here trying to perform ‘Nepali-ness’ without fully feeling that I was accepted. The undergrad journey rolled in and soon I found m..

Living in a world where success is measured in numbers

SNEHA AGRAWAL, Daayitwa Fellow 2021

My career and the journey in finding the purpose of my life have been a roller coaster ride. Similar to many of my friends and millions of people, I have switched my career and aspirations multiple times. When we are 15/16, we are expected to know what will be good for us or our life’s purpose. This is hurled on our faces by placing three options in front of us- Science, Commerce, and Humanities. What will a 15-year-old know about these, especially when there is so much to explore in the world and within ourselves? Meanwhile, Commerce and Humanities are frowned upon by our families, relatives, and society. 

Chaos is Beautiful

SATISH BAJRACHARYA, Daayitwa Fellow 2021

The quest to understand life itself seems to be a bit difficult. One tends to often question themself: Why am I here? What is my purpose? Why am I so useless? Am I doing the right thing? Beneath these questions lies the ultimate reality, which is the conflict that each and every one of us is facing in everyday life. Chaos, ambiguity, and conflict seem to be a part of everyone’s life. With chaos, conflict and distress come pain, and with pain comes growth and progress. When I came back from India in 2015 after the earthquake, I was agonized by ..

COVID, coming home, and crafting our place

LIZA PAUDEL, Daayitwa Fellow 2021

I saw it first on Instagram – post after post filled with outrage from people I follow. It was hard to understand what was going on. As I pieced together the news, I felt a succession of emotions: first confusion, then anger, finally settling into a sense of deep sadness. “New rule requiring women under 40 to take approval from family, local ward office to go abroad proposed”. I am under 40 and I live abroad, and I have lived on my own for more than 10 years. Yet, somehow, the government, my government, still only sees my father or m..

Breaking Shackles, Building Aspirations

RAJ KHAREL

Have you ever experienced a feeling where hearing a piece of single news completely drains you out of energy and makes you think ‘WHY’? I felt that way when I read about this 16-year-old girl who was found hanging on a tree one day after her wedding, just because she had fallen in love with and had married an (also underaged) boy from an ‘upper’ caste. I know this incident isn’t unique and is not even the worst among tragic stories that we find every day in our newspapers, but there was something about thi..

Prelude: Beginning a Journey as Daayitwa Public Policy Fellow

MANISH JUNG PULAMI

Many of us have seen the difficulties and shortcomings of society. And, we know that the emotions of a person are stirred more quickly than a person’s intelligence. I think my journey also starts like such. My grandfather used to tell me, "Being a human, the true essence of life is in altruism, and only simple creatures aim to survive… there is more than surviving". But I used to question myself, is helping the needy is the permanent solution? But the proper aim is to try and reconstruct society on such a basis that difficulties in human life ..

Taking One Step at a Time at Daayitwa

SMRITI JOSHI

The question about who I am has always bothered me. My life has always been revolving around fulfilling the roles and titles that other people have given me. Perhaps, it is because nobody asked what I wanted, and I complied and did what I was told to do. I thought to be obedient would assure my conformity in society, but the vicious circle of expectation never stopped. I get questioned, get patronized about my choices and dreams. This feeling of being trapped changed something inside me. For the first time, I want to devise social constructs and follow my heart. I wanted ..