KATHMANDU, AUGUST 13
The European Union Delegation to Nepal marked International Youth Day 2026 with a series of events focused on education, digital skills, innovation, entrepreneurship and youth leadership.
The full-day programme at Hotel Malla in Kathmandu brought together students, Erasmus scholars and alumni, entrepreneurs, civil society representatives, private-sector partners and youth leaders.
EU Ambassador to Nepal Véronique Lorenzo felicitated 42 Nepali students who secured Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree scholarships to study at universities across the European Union. The recipients, comprising 22 women and 20 men, will study subjects including public health, cybersecurity, journalism, renewable energy and sustainable construction.
More than 1,500 young people participated in EU Youth Fest 2026, where they received mentorship and guidance on emerging fields including animation, robotics and artificial intelligence. Participants also took part in hands-on activities such as 3D modelling and printing, drone simulations and AI-powered games.
The EU also announced two new grants worth a combined EUR 1.91 million aimed at expanding opportunities for Nepali youth in the digital economy.
The Creating Opportunities for Youth in Digital Economy (CODE) and Unleashing Digital Acceleration and Ambition of Nepali Youth (UDAAN) initiatives will operate across all seven provinces, focusing on digital skills, employability, entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly among young women, rural communities and vulnerable and marginalised groups.
CODE will be implemented by Swisscontact, Restless Development and the Robotics Association of Nepal, while UDAAN will be implemented by Youth Innovation Lab, Women in Animation, Heifer Project Nepal and the Nepal Applied Mathematics and Informatics Institute for Research (NAAMII).
“One of Nepal’s greatest resources is its youth,” Ambassador Lorenzo said, stressing the need for greater investment in skills, opportunities and employment to help young people realise their potential.
The EU also held EU Youth Alumni Day, bringing together EU Youth Alumni, youth organisations and partners to showcase youth-led initiatives in areas including the circular economy, green growth, education, climate action and youth participation.
The events underscored the EU’s continued engagement with young people in Nepal through education and mobility programmes, digital skills and employment, innovation, entrepreneurship and civic participation.