leadership training for Indigenous Women and youth
2026-04-16
On 16 April 2026, the National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) successfully conducted a leadership training for Indigenous Women and youth of Sahidbhumi Rural Municipality–7, with support from the Satoyama Initiative, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the GEF Small Grants Programme, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Participants from three community groups established by NIWF—IPM, Water Source Revival, and Forest Restoration actively engaged in the training. The session was facilitated by NIWF Vice Chairperson Ms. Yasso Kanti Bhattachan, who shared valuable insights on Indigenous identity, culture, traditions, knowledge systems, and the strong relationship Indigenous Peoples maintain with their land and nature.
NIWF Chairperson Ms. Suni Lama led an interactive session on leadership, focusing on the qualities of effective leaders, pathways to becoming one, and the importance of taking proactive roles in advocating for Indigenous rights and community well-being.
The program also included group work with all three groups to reflect on their ongoing project activities and discuss pathways for sustainability beyond the project period ending in September 2026. This exercise strengthened ownership, accountability, and collective leadership among participants. The training concluded with reflections from two participants, who shared key learnings and takeaways from the session.
