Taniya entered the Hands in Outreach girls’ scholarship program as a bright-eyed 5th grader in 2015 (above). Taniya’s deep curiosity for science and interest in preserving Nepali culture peaked after her poor family’s home in the eastern hills of Nepal was nearly destroyed by earthquakes. She stretches beyond her comfort zone to learn about her country’s most pressing humanitarian issues.

Today, ten years later, she is preparing for entrance exams for a bachelor’s program in Public Health. Taniya serves as “Youth Ambassador for the Network for Emergent Socio-Scientific Thinking” (NESST) housed at the Smithsonian Science Education Center. She meets virtually from Kathmandu with students and teachers from around the world to focus on sustainable development. This fall she attended the conference in Washington D.C. in person.

Gendercide Awareness Project proudly parters with HIO – supporting girls using their gifts of education to transcend gender, economic and socio barriers in Nepal.