Our Story
About Us
The Maryada Foundation, established in 2018, is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the rights of marginalized communities, with a particular focus on Dalits, Indigenous peoples, women, youth, and children. The term "Maryada" means dignity in English, reflecting the foundation's vision to empower marginalized communities with Dignity.
Through academic engagement, innovative programs, continued advocacy, and support for human rights activism, the foundation works to uplift and empower these underserved communities. With a strong emphasis on academic contributions, the Maryada Foundation collaborates with various organizations and initiatives to maximize its impact.
Our Motives
Our Vision & Mission
Vision
Maryada Foundation envisions a world where everyone lives with dignity, where no discriminations, inequalities and injustices prevail on any basis.
Mission
Our mission is to work together to eliminate all forms of inequalities and to foster prosperous communities where everyone can enjoy freedom and fundamental human rights.
Features
Our Main Work
Co-convenor of the 16th Human Rights National Magna Meet
The Maryada Foundation served as the Co-convenor of the 16th Human Rights National Magna Meet, held in December 2024. The Magna Meet, which featured a series of activities, was inaugurated on 8 December 2024 in Kathmandu, with additional programs organized across the country.
Maryada Leadership Academy (MLA)
The Maryada Leadership Academy (MLA) is a six-months youth fellowship program designed to cultivate twelve dynamic youth leaders. The program equips participants with essential knowledge on human rights and democracy, while also empowering them with the leadership skills necessary to drive innovative change in their communities. MLA brings together individuals from both minority and non-minority groups—such as Dalits, Indigenous nationalities, Madheshis, and the LGBTIQ+ community—alongside those from non-minority groups, fostering a collaborative environment where learning is shared for a common cause. In the first phase, twelve youth fellows actively engaged in the program, gaining the tools to become transformative leaders in their communities by participating in leadership boot camp and action based projects under continued mentorship.
Empowering the Musahar Community
The Maryada Foundation supported the project titled "Empowering the Musahar Community", implemented in 2023 in Chitwan District, which aimed at supporting the marginalized Dalit Musahar community through a comprehensive awareness program. This initiative addressed critical issues, including legal awareness on birth and marriage certificate registration, guidance on filing an FIR (First Information Report), menstrual hygiene education, combating child marriage, providing free health checkups, preparing ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) with the help of medical volunteers, and raising awareness about teenage pregnancy and its consequences.
Dalit Youth Writing Workshop
The Dalit Youth Writing Workshop was a five-day campaign project designed to empower Dalit youth in Nepal through creative writing and storytelling, fostering self-determination, self-expression, and control over their own narratives. Twelve Dalit youth from across the nation participated in this workshop, which featured innovative and interdisciplinary sessions. The program culminated in the publication of a literary journal, showcasing short stories, essays, and poetry. This workshop not only empowered participants to share their stories but also facilitated important dialogues around caste, discrimination, identity, and culture.
Capacity Building for Parliamentarians of Marginalized Communities in Nepal
The "Capacity Building for Parliamentarians of Marginalized Communities in Nepal" project focused on enhancing the skills and knowledge of parliamentarians from marginalized communities. The training, conducted by experienced trainers and facilitators, was held on 7-8 August 2021 in Surkhet, the capital of Karnali Province. The program provided essential materials and resources to support the participants’ learning. On 21 August 2021, a National-Level Follow-up Interaction was held virtually to review the outcomes of the training. This event allowed participants to share their experiences and discuss the program’s impact. Approximately 40 individuals took part in the virtual interaction, where the results of the training were shared with elected representatives and a wider audience.
Our team
Chairperson - Mr. Megh Bahadur Rasaili
Megh BAHADUR Rasaili is a media professional with two decades of experience in local, national, and international media. Mr. Rasaili, is also a development worker, has gained expertise in addressing issues of marginalization, social justice, weather and climate, contemporary politics, and governance through the media. He is a passionate advocate for social justice and has authored a book and articles on the caste system.
Gita Chaudhary - Board Member
Gita Chaudhary Gita Chaudhary is a dynamic and dedicated youth activist, lawyer, and advocate for gender equality, human rights, and indigenous rights. Originally from Kanchanpur District in Nepal’s Far-Western Province, she holds an LLM from Tribhuvan University and brings over a decade of experience in advocacy and social development. She is the founder of the Maryada Foundation and currently serves as the Vice President of the Tharu Student Society. Gita has previously held key roles, including General Secretary of Youth Advocacy Nepal, Board Member of the National Youth Council, and Co-Convener of the National Human Rights Magna Meet 2024. In addition to her activism and legal practice, she is a faculty member at various colleges in Kathmandu, where she contributes to youth and legal education. Through her work, Gita continues to champion the rights of indigenous communities and youth in Nepal, fostering social justice and equality at both national and international levels.
Chet Narayan Rasaili - Board Member
Mr. Chet Narayan Rasaili is a development professional. He has been working in the field of human rights, governance and development sector for more than a decade. He has got sound knowledge on international human rights instruments with core expertise on minority related issues. He has worked for several organizations in various capacities and conducted/led numerous programs related to governance, gender and social inclusion, human rights, humanitarian assistance, and youth empowerment. Mr. Rasaili was a fellow of the Minority Fellowship Programme in 2017 at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) based in Geneva and during his fellowship he was involved in various activities and processes of the UN Human Rights bodies. Furthermore, he also served as an OHCHR Senior Minority Fellow at the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Nepal from September 2020 to September 2021. He also serves as a Consultant to the OHCHR. He was a fellow of the Professional Fellows Program (an exchange program of the U.S. State Department) and has acquired good knowledge of the Governance and Political System of the United States. Mr. Rasaili holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science and a Bachelor of Law from Tribhuvan University.
Lhakpa Lama- Board Member
Lhakpa Lama is a dedicated, self-motivated, and development enthusiast young professional working for social well-being aiming for the best value for money through improving CSO accountability and financial governance. He is working at The Asia Foundation and looking after financial and award management aspects. With over and half decade of experience in non-profit management, CSO accountability and governance, financial management, grants management, and youth participation & advocacy, Lhakpa significantly contributed to improving CSO financial governance.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Lhakpa was associated with multiple international and national development organizations leading the financial and award management.
Besides his mainstream profession, Lhakpa engaged in and volunteered in many youth movements to advocate youth empowerment and greater participation in the country. Through his six-year service at YUWA, a youth-led organization, as an executive member and Secretary-General of the Board, he made a meaningful contribution to improved corporate governance of the organization. Moreover, he has served two years as Youth Coordinator at Kathmandu Youth Network and Panelist at the Youth Advisory Panel of Amnesty International Nepal.
Sumitra Khadka- Board Member
Ms. Sumitra Khadka, originally from Dolakha, is a young professional. A young, enthusiastic, energetic and optimistic in nature, Ms. Khadka has been actively contributing to gender, human rights and social issues through her efforts. Trained with several leadership training, she is a confident young leader. Equipped with strong analytical skills, she also expresses her thoughts through possible platforms. Besides her profession, she is a vivid traveler having strong interest into adventures.
Dipak Soni - Co-founder/Strategic Adviser
Your Heading
Puja Chaudhary - Finance Officer
Riban Mangrati- Program Consultant
