WOW Kathmandu Programme Schedule

Women and Power 

What is women's relationship to power and is it different from men's? Four women from South Asia in diffent fields discuss. 

Speakers: Ambassador Nasim Ferdous, Nidhi Goyal, Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala and Honourable Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla 

Moderated by: Jude Kelly, Founder of WOW and Artistic Director, Southbank Centre  

Breaking Boundaries

What will it take to end gender based violence? Hear from people defying culture, social and religious traditions to break cycles of violence.

Speakers: Dr. Renu Adhikari, Kapil Kafle, Sulakshana Rana and Durga Sob

Moderated by: Saguna Shah 

Taking Over Tech 

Women are changing South Asia's growing tech industry. Come and find out why tech is not just for the boys with panelists from across South Asia. 

Speakers: Jehan Ara, Sonia Bashir Kabir, Gayatri Buragohain and Amuda Mishra

Moderated by: Sumana Shrestha

Forced to Move

Trafficking and forced labour migration are a huge problem in Nepal. Meet the woman who are fighting it.

Speakers: Saraswati Adhikari, Sunita Danuwar, Anuradha Koirala and Bijaya Rai Shrestha

Moderated by: Shreejana Pokhrel Siwakoti

Pick of the festival 

It is impossible to see all the amazing stories at WOW. So here's a pick of the festival just for you.

Jude Kelly, Malvika Subba and Word Warriors 

read full profiles of all the speakers from talks here

• Surya Kunwar on breaking all the stereotypes as a tempo driver
• Dr. Paleshwan Joshi Lakhey on how women can be surgeons too
• Barsha Basnet on the joys & challenges of stunt-bike riding
• Charimaya Taman on surviving being trafficked, and how 'Impossible spells I'm possible'
• Loonibha Tuladhar on being a female theatre actor in Nepal 

• Sophie Sunuwar on being Nepal's first transgender make-up artists
• Vishnu Magar on leading her family as a single mother
• Nidhi Goyal on on gender, sexuality, and disability rights in India and beyond
• Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala on making it to the top of the world as a mountaineer 

• Rakshya Singh Rana on being technically sound, creatively gifted & encouraging women's empowerment through film
• Dr. Bijaya Panta on being a botanist with a passion for orchids
• Sabita Mahat on surviving a burn acttack- and working with fellow survivors
• Payal Thapa on spinning tunes and being Kathmandu's first professional female DJ
• Achala Dahal on why Nepal should be ready for the next disaster & how women are disproportionately affected
• Kripa Joshi on creating Miss Moti: a comic character with a difference that captures hearts across Nepal

 Find full profiles of all the speakers from the BITES here

A-Z Start UPs 

Hosted by Nikita Acharya (Urban Girl)

Bodily Integrity: Myths & Facts 

Hosted by Jyotsana Maskey and Shiwa Karmacharya (Loom Nepal)

Under 10s Feminist Corner 

Hosted by Punjita Pradhan (gather at workshop space)

Dance Movement Therapy

Hosted by Gomawati (Srijana) Pun

Read more about workshops here

• Manushi
• Kala Guthi
• Teach for Nepal
• Ujyalo Foundation
• Himalayan Climate Initiative
• ERSVP (Ensuring Rights Through Skills Voice Project)
• Mandala Book Boint
• BBC Media Action
• Women Lawyers Joining Hands
• Makerkt 
• Paila Shoes
• Blue Diamond Society
• Loom Nepal
• Hope Hermitage Nepal
• Drishti Nepal
• Janakpur Women Development Centre
• ROKPA Women's Workshop
• SAATH
• Burns Violence Survior
• Marie Stopes Nepal
• Jamarko
• Didi Bahini Sahakari
• Bungmati Kasthakala
• Seeing Hands
• Epsa Unjanya Nepal

Share challenges, chat and meet with a range of mentors. Registration for mentoring was managed at the entrance*

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm (Garden)

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm (Garden)

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm (Garden)

6:00 pm - 8: 00 pm (Mainstage)

• Abhaya and The Steam Injuns
• The Kathmandu Killers

All day

• Live art from ArtLab
• People in Polaroid
• Nirtya Aagan Indian Classical Dance
• Yeti Taekwondo Dojang demonstration
• Sarangi performance from Minu Waiba
• Wheelchair dance
• Milan Rai
• B-Boying
• Circus Kathmandu