Glocal announces top six finalists for 'Golchha Group Presents Glocal Teen Hero Nepal 2026'
KATHMANDU: Glocal announced the top six finalists for 'Golchha Group Presents Glocal Teen Hero Nepal 2026' on Tuesday. Recognised as Nepal's dedicated national platform honouring outstanding teenagers, this year's edition received 791 applications from across all seven provinces.
Bagmati Province recorded the highest share of applications at 26.27%, followed by Koshi Province at 20.34% and Madhesh Province at 19.49%. Male applicants accounted for 66.95% of the total, while female applicants comprised 33.05%. Focus areas spanned Youth Empowerment and Leadership, Education and Skill Development, Environment and Climate Action, Community Development, Technology and Innovation, Gender Equality, Health, and Civic Engagement. Initiated in Kathmandu Valley in 2015, the platform has grown over twelve years into a trusted stage for teenage changemakers. This year marks a major expansion as Golchha Group presents Glocal Teen Hero South Asia 2026, extending participation beyond Nepal to India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
The top six finalists selected for the national honour include 15-year-old Aarjan Chaudhary from Biratnagar (Koshi Province), a STEM and technology innovator in cybersecurity; 19-year-old Atal Dev Dhakal from Achham (Sudurpashchim Province), a climate and environment advocate; 18-year-old Jasmine Bohora from Pokhara (Gandaki Province), a STEM and tech innovator; 17-year-old Kishor Neupane from Surkhet (Karnali Province), a climate activist; 17-year-old Manjil Basnet from Bardibas (Madhesh Province), a civic engagement and governance innovator; and 19-year-old Sabnam Sunar from Nawalpur (Gandaki Province), a gender and social justice advocate.
Aarjan Chaudhary founded Nepal's largest teen tech community, Arniko Hack Club, which counts more than 400 active members while developing technology solutions with global scope. Atal Dev Dhakal leads the Mountains and Glaciers Working Group within YOUNGO and helps amplify 100,000 youth voices ahead of COP31. Jasmine Bohora has introduced over 400 students to STEM and space technology while developing an artificial intelligence forest-fire detection application. Kishor Neupane has reached over 20,000 students, supported planting more than 3,230 trees, and organised Karnali's first Trash Collection Race. Manjil Basnet established Youth Civic Launchpad to assist students in engaging directly with local governments, influencing municipal policy decisions. Sabnam Sunar champions girls' leadership, gender equality, menstrual health, and social justice, having represented South Asia at platforms like Women Deliver and contributing to UNICEF's Global Girls Leader Advisory Group.
Shortlisted from Glocal's Top 20 under 20 based on initiation, achievement, and impact of work, the finalists were evaluated by a three-member jury panel comprising Sneh Rajbhandari, Public Affairs, Communication & Sustainability Director at Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal; Vijay Sharma, Country Manager of KFC and Pizza Hut; and Jeffrey Xu Jian, Senior Education Specialist at the Asian Development Bank. From August 27 to August 31, the finalists will participate in a Self-Competency Workshop featuring visits to corporate houses and partner organisations to broaden their knowledge and networks.
The jury panel will interview the finalists individually on August 31, 2026. SMS voting is active from 5:00 pm on August 18 until 5:00 pm on August 30, allowing public participation to assist in determining the winner of South Asian Glocal Teen Hero Nepal 2026. Votes can be sent to 35001 using specific finalist codes: GTH2026 AC for Aarjan Chaudhary, GTH2026 AD for Atal Dev Dhakal, GTH2026 JB for Jasmine Bohora, GTH2026 KN for Kishor Neupane, GTH2026 MB for Manjil Basnet, and GTH2026 SS for Sabnam Sunar.
The winner of Golchha Group Presents Glocal Teen Hero Nepal 2026 will be announced and honoured at the grand finale on September 1 in Lalitpur. All six finalists will be honoured during the ceremony alongside national winners from India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, concluding with the crowning of the first South Asian Glocal Teen Hero.
