Hi, I'm Margaret, the CoFounder of Australian social enterprise, Young Change Agents.

I'm asking for help to support Ajay with a local stipend so he can continue his work with young people in Nepal.

Late in 2024, I was introduced to Ajay Yadav from Nepal. He was being funded by Rotary to complete a study tour of Australia and requested some time with our social enterprise. Fortuitously, it coincided with the launch of our E3 Global Scholarship Program and we were able to link him into that initiative and support him through participation in our national E3 (Entrepreneurial Educators Exchange) Unconference in Tasmania and Professional Development in Brisbane.

Ajay and I have become lifelong friends with a shared vision for helping young people see problems as opportunities though design thinking and social entrepreneurship. I am so impressed with Ajay - he has such big hopes and dreams for his people and is dedicated to uplifting his country through youth agency.

Although I have never set foot in Nepal, thanks to Zoom etc, I have now been able to continue supporting Ajay and his team with online professional development over a series of weekly sessions.

Ajay then did all the translations of the Young Change Agents' Explorer program into Nepalese!

Since then, Ajay has used a small stipend from Young Change Agents of AU$2500 to cover the local costs of running 4 pilot programs. Already, the impact has included:

It's been wonderful to hear what the Nepalese students have been working on. They have developed ideas to solve issues including:

1. Unemployment: A homestay business offering visitors authentic village experiences including local food, agricultural activities and traditional festivals

2. Environmental pollution: A nursery that sells plants at affordable prices and offers training programs in plant care. Funds will help subsidise awareness campaigns on environmental conservation.

3. Waste management: A waste management vehicle service offering affordable waste transportation and training in waste segregation and how to create organic fertiliser.

4. Pollution at water sources: Multi-use cloth bags featuring creative environmental messaging that educate people on plastic water pollution.

Along the way, they are honing their design thinking skills, building confidence, creativity and critical thinking.

If you follow the news, you will know the challenges facing Nepal - especially for its young population. It's so important that Young Change Agents programs are accessible to all young people and are championed locally and contextualised in this way.

The demand for the workshops is high with a number of local public schools requesting support. They can sometimes cover local things like transport but it doesn't cover Ajay's living expenses. This money would provide him with the basics and cover the costs of printing and transport as well.

We have a longer-term plan to support Ajay with securing grant funding, but in the meantime, we don't want to lose momentum!

AU$3000 will help Ajay continue these programs over the next 2-3 months!

Can you chip in $50 or even $100?

Thank you for your support

Margaret