2025 will be remembered as a year when public frustration met political unaccountability—and when young citizens refused to remain silent.
It began with anger, distrust, and disappointment in political leadership and governance. But as the year unfolded—particularly after September and the Gen Z movement—despair slowly transformed into dialogue, questioning, and collective civic action. The year carried dilemmas and confusions, yet it also reopened a critical democratic possibility: hope rooted in participation.
For Tanneri Chaso, 2025 reaffirmed our core belief—that democracy is strengthened when citizens, especially young people, are informed, engaged, and empowered to question power and demand accountability.
Next Generation Leadership Program: Investing in Tomorrow’s Democratic Stewards
In 2025, we launched the Next Generation Leadership Program (NGLP)—our flagship initiative of the year. Designed for youth under 22, the fellowship provided space, mentorship, and institutional support to young people with ideas but limited access to platforms and networks.
Three next-generation leaders emerged through this program. Rooted in their interests in federalism, parliamentary practice, and national political discourse—and guided by their digital-first approach—their ideas took shape as three innovative civic platforms:
- Province in Reels
- Inside The House
- Gen Z Debate
Within three months, the fellowship produced:
- 18 episodes of Province in Reels
- 18 episodes of Inside The House
- 6 episodes of Gen Z Debate
These contents reached nearly 10,000 people, demonstrating how youth-led digital storytelling can translate complex political processes into accessible public conversations. More than outputs, NGLP strengthened our engagement with Gen Z and expanded our ecosystem of young civic leaders.
Mero Bidhayak, Mero Chaso: Bridging Youth and Representation
Building on our decade-long work in political accountability—from advocating timely elections to strengthening citizen–representative connections—Tanneri Chaso launched Mero Bidhayak, Mero Chaso in 2025.
Implemented in Bagmati, Madhesh, and Lumbini Provinces, the program focused on:
- Youth orientation workshops on legislative literacy and democratic engagement
- Direct dialogues between youth and elected representatives
The impact was immediate and encouraging. In Bagmati Province, youth participants independently initiated dialogues with more than 10 federal MPs, signaling reduced distance, increased confidence, and renewed democratic engagement. The initiative directly responded to the growing gap between young citizens and elected leaders—demonstrating that accountability begins with conversation.
Tanneri Dabali: Defending Dialogue in Shrinking Civic Spaces
A space for dialogue is essential in a democracy. At a time when civic spaces are increasingly perceived to be shrinking, Tanneri Chaso revived Tanneri Dabali—a dialogue platform first initiated five years ago.
Following the Gen Z movement, Dabali became a space for youth-led reflection and critical debate. In 2025, we expanded it beyond studio conversations through Travelling Dabali, taking dialogue outside Kathmandu to engage with grassroots realities and local voices.
This year alone:
- Over 15 dialogue sessions were conducted
- Around 200 youth participated in conversations across regions
Our intention was clear: to decentralize narratives and strengthen democracy through dialogue.
Youth Meet-Ups: Listening Beyond the Capital
While media attention often centered on a few Kathmandu-based voices, the Gen Z movement was sustained by youth across the country. Recognizing this, Tanneri Chaso organized youth meet-ups nationwide.
We engaged with around 200 young people, listening to their aspirations, anger, confusions, and expectations from leadership, elections, and governance. The most consistent response we heard was simple yet powerful:
“We feel heard.”
Inform. Engage. Empower.
“Inform, Engage, Empower” defined our work in 2025. We strengthened our digital advocacy through:
- Inform Series explaining contemporary political developments
- Political Literacy Series simplifying political jargon
- Reels and graphics connecting governance with accountability
With over 100 digital contents produced—and Gen Z actively involved in creation—we continued our legacy of using information as a democratic tool and social media as a space for civic engagement.
Collaboration, Networks, and Collective Strength
2025 was also a year of meaningful collaboration. Tanneri Chaso partnered with three key organizations and connected with over 50 youth groups, individuals, and civic initiatives, reinforcing our belief that democratic change is collective, not solitary.
Elections and Democratic Responsibility
As long-time advocates for free, fair, and clean elections, we adapted our strategies in 2025 following the political shifts triggered by the Gen Z movement. With elections approaching earlier than expected, our focus turned to first-time voters.
We encouraged young people to:
- Register for voter cards
- Understand the electoral process
- Transform street-level protest into institutional democratic participation
As we repeatedly emphasized:
voices raised on the streets must ultimately be reflected at the ballot box.
Moving Forward
2025 reminded us that democracy is fragile—but also resilient when citizens refuse apathy. At Tanneri Chaso, we move ahead with deeper conviction that youth are not future leaders alone—they are present democratic actors.
The questions raised this year will continue to shape Nepal’s democratic journey.
And we remain committed to ensuring those questions are asked—boldly, critically, and collectively.
