Mr. Saksham Rupakheti, a 16-year-old from Kapilvastu, now based in Kathmandu, is a social entrepreneur who transformed his struggle with a stammer and anxiety into a mission to empower others. Co-founder of the ThinkNiti Foundation, he addresses educational inequality through peer mentorship and research. His initiative, Prerak, helps individuals overcome public speaking fears. As Vice President of the Junior Entrepreneurship Circle and a contributor to TEDxBaneshwor and Project Sikshya, Saksham is dedicated to creating opportunities and fostering STEAM education for underserved students across Nepal.
He leads Project BRINK at the ThinkNiti Foundation, connecting passionate older students with peers to mentor over 4,500 students in STEM clubs, coding classes, and career talks. He co-founded Prerak, training individuals to overcome speech anxiety. At the ThinkNiti Research Cell, under mentor Prajwal Bhattarai, he researches barriers to STEAM education to develop a framework for inclusive learning environments. He also organizes events like the JEC Youth Fest and Career Conclave, and leads initiatives like IT Mela and Codefinity hackathons to introduce students to robotics, AI, and programming.
Impact Created
Through Project BRINK, Saksham has mentored over 300 students, inspiring individuals like Anish from Kathmandu Vidyalaya to pursue independent research on environmental issues. Prerak has transformed the lives of 17 individuals, including Shiva Raj Lamsal, who became a university lecturer after overcoming speech anxiety. His events, including JEC Youth Fest and Career Conclave, have reached over 5,000 students across six districts, providing career guidance and tech exposure. Initiatives like IT Mela and Codefinity have introduced 330+ students to advanced fields, while his waste-to-energy project trained 20 youth in practical skills, fostering opportunity and innovation in Nepal.
