Shreesti’s ambassadorial ascent
Shreesti's journey from a small town in Nepal to become an Ambassador for a day in Kathmandu is an inspiring story of empowerment and dreams realised. This transformative experience revealed her leadership potential and ignited her path to empowerment.
In 2022, Shreesti, a law aspirant from Bardiya, embarked on a memorable journey to Kathmandu, marking her first visit to the capital as part of the Girls Takeover programme, where she assumed the role of Ambassador of Finland.
A transformative experience
The Girls Takeover programme, initiated by Plan International, is a global campaign that empowers young girls to step into the shoes of influential stakeholders, providing them with leadership experiences. Last year, 107 girls in Nepal stepped into roles such as mayor, vice-mayor, and ambassador, raising their voices for #EqualPowerNow. Shreesti’s participation in this programme was a life-changing opportunity.
Reflecting on her memories in Kathmandu and the lessons she gained from the Girls Takeover programme, Shreesti composed a heartfelt note to the Ambassador of Finland, expressing her gratitude for the transformative experience.
“I felt like an ambassador of Finland when I took over the position and sat in H.E. Rina Reikka Heikka’s chair. I shared about my work, activities, experiences, and challenges faced while advocating to end child marriage in my community. I represented all adolescent girls from Baridya. This programme helped to uplift my confidence and present our views.”
Empowered to advocate for change
Shreesti’s takeover experience allowed her to step into the role of Ambassador of Finland, where she fearlessly shared the work, activities, and challenges of advocating to end child marriage, representing the voices of all adolescent girls. Such programmes empower girls to present their views and advocate for change confidently.
During her time as an ambassador, Shreesti engaged in insightful conversations about the workings of the embassy and the ambassador’s role. This experience broadened her understanding of the significance of embassies and the crucial role played by ambassadors in international relations.
“Before taking over the position of ambassador, my understanding of the works of the embassy was only limited to issuing visas to foreign workers, students, and tourists. However, after visiting the embassy in person and getting informed about the help Finland has been providing to Nepal, I understood the importance of the embassy and the role of the ambassador. I had only studied about the embassy before and was happy and excited to see it in real.”
“I was inspired to see the ambassador in such a big and respectable position looking after international relations. I wanted to know more about her as we are both law students and her journey from being a law student to an ambassador was inspiring. From our interaction, I learned that one can be an ambassador by studying law rather than just a lawyer and judge, which broadens my understanding of what I can become in the future.”
Empowering communities
“I remember my first trip to Kathmandu, visiting the Plan International Nepal country office and meeting the staff of Plan International, United Nations, ambassador of Norway, and taking over your role as ambassador of Finland. Girls Takeover programme brought us closer, and I met H.E. Rina Reikka Heikka in person. Without this programme, I would not have met an inspirational person like her, and I am grateful to Plan International Nepal for this opportunity.”
Shreesti’s journey continued as she participated in the “Champions of Change” programme, where she and her friends developed their activism, conducted campaigns against child marriage, organised awareness street dramas, and engaged in discussions about gender equality and critical topics like menstruation.
“As a participant in the ‘Champions of Change’ programme, my friends and I have developed our activism, ran campaigns against child marriage, conducted awareness street drama, discussed gender equality, and discussed and learned about behavioral topics like menstruation.”
Through her participation in the Girls Takeover programme and interactions with Ambassador H.E. Rina Reikka Heikka, Shreesti’s determination to pursue a career in law was fortified. As she embarks on her journey to become a law officer, she carries with her the experiences and lessons learned from her journey in the programme.
Campaigns, Activism, girls' leadership
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