From Margins to Changemakers: Girls Empowered through Leadership Training and Travel
Organized by the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace &
Girls Empowered by Travel – Nepal; co-sponsored by the
Permanent Mission of Mexico to the UN and the Major Group for Children and Youth
Event Date: 5 February 5 2025 13:15-14:30
Location: 4 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036
Format: Hybrid, off-site
The 2025 ECOSOC Partnership Forum Side Event, From Margins to Changemakers: Girls Empowered through Leadership Training and Travel, highlighted the transformative role of travel-based leadership programs in advancing gender equality, economic empowerment, and sustainable community development. Co-organized by the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP) and Girls Empowered by Travel (GET-Nepal), with co-sponsorship from the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the UN and the Major Group for Children and Youth, the event brought together experts and grassroots leaders to discuss the power of community-driven initiatives.
Panelists shared real-life examples of how travel and intercultural exchanges equip young women with leadership skills, confidence, and opportunities to create lasting change in their communities, aligning with SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The discussion also emphasized the success of the Hitaishi program, a rural-urban skills-sharing initiative engaging over 4,000 community members and fostering women’s empowerment through literacy, leadership training, and sustainable tourism.
The event underscored the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in scaling grassroots initiatives and ensuring long-term impact. Representatives from IAYSP, GET-Nepal, and the UN Major Group for Children and Youth emphasized the need for inclusive education, gender-responsive policies, and increased institutional support for young women’s empowerment programs. Speakers also addressed challenges such as community skepticism, sharing strategies for trust-building and local engagement to enhance program sustainability. The session concluded with a call to action, urging governments, civil society, and private sector stakeholders to invest in travel-based leadership programs as a proven model for empowering marginalized girls and fostering sustainable development.
Objectives
Showcase Innovation: Demonstrate how travel-based leadership programs can serve as powerful tools for education, empowerment, and sustainable community development.
Highlight Collaboration: Present the successful partnership between IAYSP and GET-Nepal as a model for creating ripple effects of empowerment through grassroots initiatives.
Advance SDGs: Illustrate measurable impacts on SDG 5, SDG 8, and SDG 17 through targeted empowerment strategies for marginalized women and girls.
Inspire Action: Encourage multi-stakeholder commitments to support similar programs globally by fostering innovative and inclusive partnerships.
About the Organizations
The International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP) is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth to become agents of positive change. Through educational programs, service projects, and leadership training aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), IAYSP seeks to foster a culture of peace and innovation among young people worldwide.
Since achieving ECOSOC Special Consultative Status in 2022, IAYSP has strengthened its efforts to collaborate with the United Nations and other stakeholders, amplifying youth voices in addressing global challenges. One of its flagship programs, Peace Designer, equips participants with the skills to design and implement impactful, community-driven projects, fostering practical solutions to local and global issues. With chapters in over 50 countries, IAYSP bridges cultures, communities, and generations to promote sustainable development and build a peaceful future.
Girls Empowered by Travel-Nepal (GET-Nepal) is a youth-led nonprofit organization founded in 2017 that empowers women through travel, leadership, and community engagement. Based in Kathmandu, GET-Nepal provides safe, supportive spaces for women to connect, learn, and lead while contributing to the sustainable development of their communities.
Through its flagship initiatives—such as Hitaishi, a rural-urban skills-sharing program, and the Sustainable Tourism Initiative—GET-Nepal connects diverse groups of women to foster intercultural exchange and promote sustainable practices. By combining travel with leadership development, GET-Nepal inspires participants to create transformative change in their personal lives and communities, addressing challenges such as literacy, gender-based violence, and environmental sustainability.
As of 2023, over 4,000 individuals benefited from GET-Nepal’s programs, which continue to have a ripple effect in empowering marginalized women and fostering community-driven solutions. GET-Nepal’s motto, “Travel Can Make a Difference,” reflects its commitment to using meaningful travel as a tool for education, empowerment, sustainable change, and creating fun and memorable experiences for youth.
Contact Information
International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP)
Email: [unoffice@iaysp.org]
Website: [www.iaysp.org]Girls Empowered by Travel-Nepal (GET-Nepal)
Email: [girlsebyt@gmail.com]
Website: [https://girlsempoweredbytravel.org/]
