Meet UNICEF Nepal’s Next Gen Council!

Growing up, Baby has witnessed how child marriage and gender discrimination continue to limit the education, opportunities and futures of many adolescent girls. She is also aware of the growing risks children face online and believes that greater awareness of online safety and the responsible use of social media can help protect children.

As a member of her school's Child Club and Municipal Youth Network, Baby actively advocates for the rights of children and young people while engaging her peers on issues affecting adolescents. 

Garima is passionate about empowering young people to protect the environment and create positive change. Through her initiative, Green Youth, Green Future, she promotes tree plantation, waste management and climate education while encouraging her peers to take practical action for a healthier planet.

With the Next Gen Council, Garima hopes to show that every young person has the ability to create positive change: one small action at a time.

Originally from Kalikot District in western Nepal and now studying in the country’s capital Kathmandu, Jayanti believes that young people should be at the forefront of climate action. Having experienced firsthand how climate-related disasters such as flooding can disrupt children's education and daily lives, including through school closures, she identifies flooding as her foremost climate concern.

As President of her school's Eco Club, Jayanti leads activities including tree plantation, waste management and environmental awareness campaigns. Through the Next Gen Council, she hopes to amplify children's voices in climate discussions and inspire more young people to become leaders for a greener and more resilient future. She is also UNICEF Nepal’s Youth Advocate for Climate Action. 

Growing up in Karnali, Karishma has witnessed how stigma and harmful beliefs around mensuration affect girls' education, health and self-confidence. Passionate about ending stigma and discrimination around menstrual health, Karishma is committed to ensuring that every girl can experience safe and dignified menstruation.

Through her involvement in youth and adolescent girls' networks, Karishma has led initiatives on leadership development, child rights and menstrual health. 

As a member of the Next Gen Council, she hopes to challenge harmful social norms, promote accurate information and create supportive environments where adolescent girls can reach their full potential.

A young activist from Karnali, Kisan believes meaningful change begins when children and young people are given the opportunity to participate.

As the Secretary of the Provincial Child Club in Karnali and a member of the National Adolescent Boys Network and the Child Advisory Committee of Collective Campaign for Child Rights (CCR) Karnali, Kisan works closely with local and provincial governments to promote child rights, education and climate action.

Through the Next Gen Council, Kisan hopes to strengthen youth participation and encourage more young people to become leaders who help shape a more inclusive future.

For more than six years, Matrika has been advocating for child rights, child protection, meaningful child participation and the prevention of child labour. As President of the Provincial Child Network in Sudurpashchim, he works to ensure children's voices are reflected in decisions that shape their lives.

Passionate about climate action, he leads initiatives to reduce plastic pollution in schools and communities. His project “Climate-Friendly Schools” promotes eco-clubs, plastic audits and sustainable practices to inspire student-led environmental change. Through the Next Gen Council, he hopes to inspire more young people to become leaders for both children's rights and environmental protection. 

Growing up in Madhesh, Ragani has witnessed how child marriage continues to limit the education, opportunities and futures of many girls. Passionate about ending child marriage, she believes every girl should have the chance to stay in school, pursue her dreams and make her own choices.

As a member of The Next Gen Council, Ragani hopes to raise awareness about the harmful impacts of child marriage through school campaigns, community discussions, street dramas and engagement with parents, teachers and mother groups.

She is particularly excited to aware children about their rights and inspire more young people to become advocates for change in their own communities.

As a young climate advocate from Madhesh, Roshani is passionate about tackling plastic waste and promoting sustainable environmental practices in her community. She also serves as a member of the Mithila Youth Network and Climate Change Potential Madhesh (CCPM) and is the President of her school's Eco Club.

Driven by the growing challenge of plastic waste in her community, Roshani hopes to work closely with her municipality, young people and local communities to promote sustainable solutions and inspire collective climate action.

As a member of the Next Gen Council, Roshani is excited to learn, grow as a young leader and amplify children's and young people's voices on climate issues while encouraging others to become active changemakers in their communities.

As a child club peer educator, Sikha leads awareness programmes on girls' safety and menstrual health while engaging both girls and boys in open conversations that challenge stigma and promote understanding.

Inspired by young leaders in her community, she hopes to create environments where girls feel respected, supported and empowered to participate fully in school and community life.

Growing up in Nepal's far-west, Swarnima has seen how harmful gender norms and practices such as Chhaupadi (a deeply rooted tradition in rural western Nepal where menstruating women are deemed impure and banished to cattle sheds) continue to affect the lives of adolescent girls. These experiences inspired her to become an advocate for girls' rights and gender equality.

A Grade 10 student and President of her municipality's Child Club, Swarnima leads discussions on girls' education, gender equality and child rights while encouraging other young people to become leaders in their communities. In her time as a Next Gen Council member, she is committed to creating safe spaces where girls can speak up, build confidence and influence the decisions that affect their lives. She is also UNICEF Nepal’s Youth Advocate for adolescent girls’ empowerment.