Lalita’s day as Norwegian Ambassador
Lalita, a bold 17-year-old from rural Nepal, leads her community in advocating for girls’ rights. Taking on the role of "Norwegian Ambassador for a Day" fuelled her passion to create lasting change. Join Lalita as she shares her takeover story.
Namaste! My name is Lalita, a 17-year-old from Kalikot. Recently, I was given the most wonderful chance to be the Norwegian Ambassador for a day. It was a day filled with inspiration, learning, and hope for a better future for girls like me. I arrived with a simple goal, “I am ready to learn and lead.”
My first impressions
At the Norwegian Embassy, I was warmly welcomed by H.E. Torun Dramdal. She shared stories of Norway’s commitment to gender equality, free education, and women’s leadership. Hearing her talk about her journey inspired me and made me think of my own path. Growing up, I faced many challenges, especially with menstrual health. Attending school was hard due to the lack of awareness and facilities. Eventually, I joined a training programme where I learned to make reusable pads and about menstrual hygiene. That was my start in social activism, and I now lead our District Youth Network, working to end child marriage in our ward, which is now recognised as “child marriage free.”
Visiting UNICEF Nepal
After our Embassy meeting, Ambassador Torun and I visited UNICEF Nepal. We discussed child rights, education, and health, including mental health. They talked about their work supporting children in need, and I shared my concerns about children who still can’t attend school in Nepal. I told them, “Children are our future, and it’s inspiring to see UNICEF working to address their needs.” This visit gave me hope and reminded me of how much more we need to do.
Meeting inspiring leaders
Later, I met two inspiring ambassadors—H.E. Torun and Nepal’s Ambassador to the Nordic countries, Ms. Sumina Tuladhar. Ms. Sumina shared stories of rescuing child labourers from carpet factories, which deeply moved me. She encouraged me to keep going, saying, “Young people are true trailblazers.” I felt proud to talk about my work against child marriage and left feeling motivated to continue my efforts.
Sharing my voice through poetry
At this meeting, I shared a poem I wrote about girls and leadership:
“We are blooming buds, full of fragrance.
If nurtured, we will brighten the world.
We want to lead, to change the society,
And bring a new face to our community.
Invest in us, in our education,
And watch us transform into leaders.”
The ambassadors appreciated my poem, making me feel even more confident in my role as a young leader.
Advocating for menstrual health
Ambassador Torun asked me about menstrual health challenges in my community. I explained the practice of Chhaupadi, where girls and women stay in separate huts during menstruation. Though advocacy efforts are gradually changing this, there’s still a long way to go. It felt empowering to share how we’re working to normalise these conversations to bring dignity to all girls.
Learning from KOSHISH Nepal
Our day ended with a visit to KOSHISH Nepal, an organisation supporting mental health. Seeing their emergency wards, counselling rooms, and pharmacy, I realised how important mental health support is. Young people in my community face stress too, but mental health often goes ignored. This visit gave me hope for more mental health resources in our communities.
A day to remember
At the end of the day, I thanked Ambassador Torun for this unforgettable experience. I learned that embassies don’t only handle international relations but also work for empowerment, education, and equality. Ambassador Torun encouraged me to continue my studies and aim for a leadership role someday. Her kind words made me even more determined to pursue my dream of becoming a woman development officer.
This experience showed me that no matter where you come from, with hard work and belief, you can make a difference. I can’t wait to see where my journey takes me, and I’m more determined than ever to make a positive impact in my community and beyond.
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