Teach For Nepal and Teach For All jointly hosted the APAC Program Design and Learning Conference in Kathmandu from 5th to 7th June 2023! Education leaders 10 countries in the Asia Pacific region gathered for three immersive days, driven by the shared goal of transforming education and empowering students.

With the pandemic and other challenges urging a reevaluation of training support systems for Fellows, programs are now placing a stronger emphasis on fostering student leadership. In this conference, partners at various stages of their program design journey came together to explore the 'Teaching As Collective Leadership' framework, reflect on program strengths and gaps, enhance training and support, and embrace the power of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL).

The event offered partners a unique opportunity to share their innovations in training design and coaching, as well as measuring impact. Teach For Nepal, as the host, showcased their purpose-aligned program model that revolves around developing collective leadership and student empowerment for a better future.

The APAC Program Design and Learning Conference was a vibrant hub of energy, enthusiasm, and commitment, where education leaders connected, collaborated, and learned from one another. We are incredibly grateful for everyone's active participation, which made this event a resounding success. The insights and experiences gained here will undoubtedly shape the future of education across the Asia Pacific region.

During the opening event, the participants were honored to have Shailendra Jha, Associate Expert at the Kathmandu City Planning Commission, grace them with a captivating insight into the history of education in Nepal. This was followed by a warm and inspiring welcome speech by Swastika Shrestha, Co-founder and CEO of Teach For Nepal. She delved into the ten-year-long history of their work in education in Nepal and shared TFN's vision for the future, emphasizing where they aspire to see their students. Swastika Shrestha clarified the student vision of Teach For Nepal, setting the stage for an impactful and purpose-driven event.

The conference also featured an engaging Alumni panel, where esteemed alumni shared their remarkable journeys post-TFN Fellowship and shed light on their current endeavors in the education sector. The panel included distinguished alumni such as Shirijung Hang Rai (Member Board of Directors at Samaanta Foundation), Niharika Mainali (Co-founder of Changing Stories Nepal), Sristi Shrestha (President of Teach For Nepal Alumni Association), Dependra KC (Founder and CEO of Dostel Living Learning Center), and Rajan Maharjan (Co-founder of Collaborative Schools Network). Their insights and experiences added depth and inspiration to the event, showcasing the incredible impact Teach For Nepal alumni are making in the field of education.