Thames School of Social Sciences and the Social Work Club proudly present the annual celebration of insight and impact — the Nepal Social Work Symposium. This two-day event is set to take place on June 19 and 20, under the theme: "Strengthening Intergenerational Solidarity for Enduring Wellbeing."
Leading up to the main event, a series of engaging pre-symposium activities will run from May 14 to June 18, curated by the School of Social Sciences and the Social Work Club at Thames International College. These events are full of creativity and thoughtful conversations, serving as the perfect lead-up to the symposium.
For external registration, click here.
Day 1 (June 19):
Documentary Screening & Talk with the Filmmaker (Time: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm)
Film: Padne Umer with Shuvangi Khadka
About the Filmmaker:
Shuvangi Khadka is a writer and documentary filmmaker based in Kathmandu, Nepal. She has worked as researcher and writer for organizations like Samriddhi Foundation, Heinrich Böll Foundation, Stories to Action, Feminism In India, The Third Eye, etc. Her work has received support from British Council Nepal, Plan International Nepal, Nepali Female Filmmakers, Body & Data, FRIDA Young Feminist Fund, etc. She is also co-founding editor for The Pomelo, a digital platform exploring Himalayan voices from the South Asia region.
About the Film:
Shuvangi's second short documentary film "Age of Learning" was made during EduLog Fellowship 2023 by The Third Eye, an Indian digital publication. This film follows two indigenous women in two different villages of Nepal, Bishnumaya Gurung, 48 and Palhamu Sherpa, 66. After struggling all their lives due to illiteracy, these women are now making their way back to primary school along with their grandchildren. The film explores what drives these women and what they hope to accomplish in the future.
Theatre Performance (Time: 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm)
Play: Muktighat by Thames Theatre Club
Day 2 (June 20):
Panel discussions 1 – Journey from Community Radio to TikTok: Generational Shifts in Communication, News Consumption and Storytelling (Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm)
About the Panelists:
Aakriti Ghimire
Aakriti Ghimire is a writer and an initiator of @howtodeshbikas, an online platform that aims to shift the policy & political conversation from "what" to "how to." Currently, she works as the Chief of Staff to Member of Parliament Sumana Shrestha and has also worked as a journalist at the Kathmandu Post, covering stories on gender and climate change. She earned her BA in Legal Studies from New York University Abu Dhabi.
Sita Mademba
Sita Mademba has worked as a researcher at Social Science Baha, Kathmandu. Her research work primarily focuses on gender, gender-based violence, migrant workers, identity politics, caste, and ethnicity in Nepal. She is also a journalist who worked on various media houses including BBC Nepali News for over fifteen years. She is an MPhil in anthropology and an MA in Political Science.
Deepesh Tripathi
Deepesh Tripathi is a content creator at The Nepali Comment, specializing in producing engaging explainer videos on history and politics on YouTube. With over seven years of experience in filmmaking, writing, and content development, he is passionate about transforming complex topics into clear, accessible narratives through visual storytelling.
Suraj Subedi (Moderator)
Suraj Subedi is a writer, playwright, poet, and cultural critic from Nepal. He is the founder of The Asian Writers, a creative writing platform nurturing new literary voices from Asia. Subedi has authored and adapted several plays for the Nepali stage, including Palpasa Café, based on Narayan Wagle’s war novel; The Confessions, co-adapted from Jagadish Ghimire’s Sabitri; and Private is Political, a local retelling of The Vagina Monologues.
Panel discussions 2 – Rooted and Rising: Queer Lives, Collective Care (Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm)
About the Panelists:
Raji Manjari Pokhrel
Raji Manjari Pokhrel (they/she) is a mental health worker based in Kathmandu. They are the co-founder and co-creator of a mental health "not just a podcast" called Utar Chadhav. It is centered on creating narratives by and for those who believe in mental health as a social justice pursuit. Raji graduated from Columbia University School of Social Work in 2013 and is a certified somatic body work practitioner.
Rukshana Kapali
Rukshana Kapali is a queer rights activist, writer, and researcher known for her advocacy on the LGBTQ+ rights, indigenous identity, and linguistic justice. Rukshana began her activism during her teen years, using writing, public speaking, and social media to raise awareness about issues affecting transgender individuals and indigenous people. Her work has focused on legal reforms, including the right to self-identify one's gender and the importance of inclusive citizenship as well as legal documentation.
Sushobhan Chimoriya
Sushobhan Chimoriya (any pronouns) is a development professional, educator, and community organizer. They currently work as the Project Coordinator at the Office of Safe and Respectable Learning (OSRL) at King's College. They are also starting their journey as the Institutional DEIA coordinator at King's, and have previously led the "Tech for Trans" project at Women Leaders in Technology (WLiT).
SJ (Moderator)
SJ (they/them) is a soon-to-be graduate of Thames International College. They strongly advocate for mental health, LGBTQIAP+ rights, community engagement, and women's leadership in technology. They have been involved in the queer movement in Nepal for the past six years through their work with Queer Youth Group and Queer Rights Collective.
Join them for an inspiring journey of storytelling, self-expression, and shared wisdom. Let's listen, share, and grow together across generations.
