Ms. Pooja Mainali, an 18-year-old from Jorpokhari, Panchthar, now based in Kathmandu, is a dynamic changemaker who overcame social anxiety and societal barriers to become a leader in youth empowerment. From a family facing financial hardship, she defied cultural norms to pursue education, moving to Jhapa and later Kathmandu. As Program Coordinator at the Junior Empowerment Circle (JEC) and coordinator at the Nepal Center for Political Leadership (NCPL), she organizes events to connect youth with leaders and mentors.
She coordinates NCPL’s Leaders’ Lounge, facilitating dialogues between youth and prominent leaders to foster civic engagement. At JEC, she serves as Program Coordinator, organizing events like Next Gen AI, a panel discussion with tech experts, and JEC IT Mela, a tech-focused event introducing 300+ students to AI, cybersecurity, and robotics. As National Coordinator for Global Young Entrepreneurship Society (GYES) Nepal, she designs mentorship-driven entrepreneurship events. She also contributes to outreach for TEDxBaneshwor, engaging colleges to promote youth leadership and innovation across Nepal.
Impact Created
Through JEC, Pooja’s events have reached over 20,000 students and directly impacted 5,000+ high schoolers in the Kathmandu Valley, providing mentorship and exposure to technology and leadership. JEC Youth Fest and IT Mela connected 650+ students with industry leaders, sparking interest in emerging fields. Her work with GYES and NCPL has empowered youth through mentorship and networking, fostering entrepreneurial thinking.
