Building Futures of Youth: Graduates Transform Lives Through HHN Skills Training

Biratnagar, Morang District— In a landmark celebration of resilience and empowerment, Helping Heart Nepal (HHN) marked the graduation of 20 youths from its pioneering job-oriented electrician and plumbing training program, designed in collaboration with the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT). The ceremony, held in Morang District, not only showcased the graduates’ technical prowess but also shattered societal stereotypes by including five differently abled trainees who defied barriers to emerge as skilled professionals.

Breaking Barriers, Building Futures

These trainings equipped unemployed youths, aged 18–30, with hands-on skills in electrical systems and plumbing, aligned with Nepal’s market demands. Remarkably, almost all graduates have already secured employment or started independent ventures and started earning more than Nepal’s gross national income (GNI) per capita.

Crucially, the cohort included five differently abled youths—a rare measure in rural Nepal. For persons with disabilities, finding work is exceptionally difficult here. Studies note that Nepalis with disabilities “struggle to find work and remain unemployed or underpaid, and one analysis found 95% of disabled youth in Nepal are unemployed. By enrolling and graduating five disabled participants, HHN directly challenges those grim statistics. The organization’s inclusive approach confronts deep-seated prejudices, showing that deaf or wheelchair-bound graduates can master technical trades and earn a living just as their able-bodied peers do. Among them was Raghunandan Mehta, a 22-year-old with hearing impairments, who shared, “This training gave me dignity. Today, I’m not ‘disabled’—I’m a plumber supporting my family.”

A Vision to Eradicate Poverty

For HHN’s General Manager, Mr. Areef Ansari, stories like these bring the NGO’s mission into focus. “We’re not just teaching skills—we’re rebuilding hope,” he said. “Every trainee who becomes self-reliant is a step toward eradicating poverty in Nepal.” Ansari emphasized that HHN’s goal is to empower Nepal’s most vulnerable youth—including those with disabilities—by giving them sustainable livelihoods. He notes that the training instills not only technical know-how but also ethical “soft” values, molding graduates into “dynamic, ethical leaders” for their communities.

Government and Community Backing

Local officials and activists at the graduation echoed this gratitude. Biratnagar-06 Ward Chairman, Mr. Harishchandra Sahi thanked HHN for its focus on marginalized youth. “This is a milestone in community development,” Sahi said, praising the course’s inclusive approach. Community organizers and social activists in Morang likewise lauded the initiative, calling it a model for grassroots empowerment. One local social worker remarked that HHN’s program has “shown everyone that our differently abled young people can be just as productive and proud with the right support.”

Why It Matters:

In a nation where 20%+ of youth are underemployed, HHN’s model offers a replicable solution. By turning “liabilities” into skilled assets, the organization is reshaping narratives around disability and unemployment—one graduate at a time.

“These youths aren’t just earning wages,” concluded Mr. Ansari. “They’re rewriting their destinies.”

Join the Cause:
To support Helping Heart Nepal’s mission or volunteer, visit www.helpingheartnepal.org/donate.