Grantee

Ashim Pandey is a Computer Engineering student at Lumbini Engineering College in Balwari, Rupandehi, Nepal. He is the founding president of Literacy of Finance for All Butwal, an initiative dedicated to enhancing financial literacy among youth in the region, and the founder of “Mero Mahinawari App,” Nepal’s first period-tracking application. He has collaborated with organizations such as Gift for Girls and Rastriya Kishor Sanjal to advance menstrual health in rural Nepal. As a Global UGRAD grantee, he is placed at Minnesota State University Mankato to study Computer Engineering.

During his +2 level studies, Ashim made two provisional asteroid discoveries through the Asteroid Search Campaign organized by the National Astronomical Society of Nepal (NASO). He is also participating in the Aspire Leaders Program, an initiative by Harvard Business School. Through the Global UGRAD program, Ashim aims to connect with experts at U.S. universities to explore technology-driven innovations to improve the transportation system in Butwal.

Prerana Paswan, a BA student in Social Science at National College, Kathmandu University, is a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment within Nepal’s Madhesi Dalit community. Her dedication lies in uplifting marginalized groups, focusing particularly on documenting and amplifying the voices of Dom community women, who are socially excluded Dalits. Prerana’s research encompasses a broad spectrum, from studying the impacts of urbanization in Khusibu and Balaju to analyzing socio-economic patterns in Jiri and Bandipur. As a Global UGRAD grant recipient, Prerana will be placed at Cottey College in Nevada. 

Education plays a central role in Prerana’s work, as she views it as a powerful catalyst for societal change. She actively participates as a resource person in various facilitation programs and recently took the lead in the Y4Y: Allies for Feminist Leadership Course in Lamjung. This initiative, part of Women LEAD’s expansion efforts, successfully empowered 25 girls at Shree Sanskriti School, nurturing leadership skills and advocating for gender equality. Prerana integrates research, community engagement, and mentorship to empower underrepresented groups and promote education. Her mission is to break societal barriers, amplify women’s voices, enable leadership roles, foster financial independence, and drive positive societal change in Nepal. 

Bijay Regmi is a dedicated educator and community advocate currently pursuing a BSc in Mathematical Physics at the Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University. As a Global UGRAD grantee, he is placed at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. 

 Currently, Bijay is actively involved with Accountability Lab Nepal, contributing to initiatives centered on democracy, good governance, human rights, and youth-friendly local governance. He has also served as a Personality Development trainer in several community schools as part of Kathmandu Metropolitan’s Book Free Friday project, demonstrating his dedication to fostering personal growth and development in youth. 

Similarly, Bijay is the founder of the popular YouTube channel “Being Social,” where he mentors students preparing for class 10 SEE and NEB +2 board exams. Over three years, he has grown the channel to 70,000 subscribers, providing digital educational resources that have benefited over 400,000 students. His vision extends to supporting rural education in Nepal, aiming for greater educational empowerment and inclusion.