Annual Education Symposium 2020

Director of Inclusive Education Section at Centre for Education and Human Resource Development (CEHRD), Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
Tank Prasad Gautam has more than 20 years’ experience in Inclusive Education planning and implementation being at various roles under Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. He has facilitated and attended various trainings and workshops around Inclusive Education management and written academic articles in national journals.

Indian Rehab Professional and Special Educator.
Dr. Kumar is presently the Principal of Dr. Gouri Brahmanand Teacher’s College and a member of Senate, L. N. Mithila University, Darbhanga (Bihar). He is a visiting expert (Intellectual Disabilities) of Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) and Peer Team member of NAAC. He has contributed in more than 25 papers on Inclusive Education in national and international research journals. He is the chairperson of Indian Education Foundation and editor of a biannual journal - Educational Science Review. He is credited with four books:

• Understanding Needs & Interests for Adjustment of Adolescents 
• Vishishtha Shiksha
• Pratiyogita Shiksha Shastra
• Bihar Mein Schooli Shiksha ka Vikas

Executive Director, Campaign for Change, Co-Chair Intersex Asia, Intersex Human Rights Activist
Born in the remote mountainous district of Bajura in the far western region of Nepal, Esan is an intersex man. He opened out in society with intersex identity in 2011 and is the first intersex human rights activist of Nepal. Since then, he’s been advocating for intersex rights and has organized workshops for intersex communities. He’s the Executive Director for Campaign for Change and also the Co-Chair of Intersex Asia.

Vice spokesperson at Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
Dr. Divya Dawadi holds a Doctorate degree in  Philosophy, Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Development from Flinders University South Australia, and has more than 17 years experience in planning, implementing and monitoring programmes on gender, inclusive education and early childhood education being at various roles under MoEST.  Additionally, she has more than 13 years experience of teaching inclusive education in schools and colleges. 

Independent Facilitator, Trainer and Education Adviser
Sian has focused on inclusion throughout her career in education as a teacher in inner London Secondary Schools, District Education Officer, and Freelance Advisor and Training Facilitator. Siân’s international freelance work has focused on the inclusion of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).  She works with governments wishing to improve inclusion for children with SEND, writes resources for both initial and continuing teacher professional development, and runs workshops for policy makers and educators focusing on inclusive education. Siân’s first – and only other - visit to Nepal was twenty years ago and she is delighted to be back.

Programme Manager, English for Education System, British Council
Bhogendra Lamichhane is the English for Education System (EES) Programme Manager at the British Council. He is also the Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), which is an important value area for the British Council. In his role he’s responsible for embedding EDI in the country strategy and the action plans for all activities of the Nepal Office. He has a keen interest in the area mainstreaming gender and takes measures to ensure that this is factored in all activities.He has a Master degree in English Language Teaching a Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA).

Mayor, Birgunj and Parsa
Mr. Bijay Kumar Sarawagi is the mayor of Birjung Metropolitan city, Birjung, Parsa and the managing direct of Sarawagi Group (An Industrial & Trading House).  Mr. Sarawagi has done bachelor’s in business studies. He also has very long contribution in education and social development. As a mayor of Birjung Metropolitan city, he has brought very tangible systemic level in education sector. One of the most successful initiation is quality monitoring through digital platform in all over the metropolitan city.

Head of Special Need Education Department, Sano Thimi Campus, TU
Mr. Khagendra Baraily is the Head of pecial Education Needs (SEN) Department at Sanothimi Campus, Tribhuwan University. Khagendra made key contributions in starting a Bachelor Degree Course on Special Education Needs at the Sanothimi Campus. He is an expert on pre-service teacher development on Special Education Needs and has made significant contributions to the sector through researches and published articles. Khagendra has a Master of Education degree from Tribhuwan University, Kathmandu.

Team Leader, ENGAGE Corps
Shruti is the Team Leader of Engage Corps. She coordinates six peers serving in three organizations involved in teaching children with learning and intellectual disabilities. Shruti herself serves and supports the intellectually disabled students in Nirmal Bal Bikash Vidhyalaya, the oldest community school targeting children with intellectual disabilities.

Co-Founder, ENGAGE, Inclusive Change Through Volunteering
Simone is passionate about the power of volunteerism to bring change in society and believes in the importance of building relationships between youths with and without disabilities as one of the best ways to break down the walls of isolation and discrimination. He enjoys writing, jogging and loves sports, especially the Raptors, Juventus and Olimpia Milano basketball team.

Member, National Spinal Cord Injury Association
Laxman Rana (Magar) is a young activist from Dhading and a Board Member of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, a leading national not-for-profit organization promoting sports opportunity for people with disabilities. Laxman, himself has spinal cord injury and is a testimony of the power of sports for personal development and social inclusion. 

President, National Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Laxmi is the President of the National Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.   She is also a sign language teacher and conducts various vocational training programmes and classes on Nepali Sign Language for deaf and hard of hearing people. Laxmi is also working to prepare curriculum for deaf schools and develop awareness through audio-visual programmes to change the long rooted wrong attitude of the society towards the deaf people.

Executive Director, Ability Development Society of Nepal
Nirmala Gyawali was born blind in a remote village in Gulmi. Despite her disability, she successfully completed college also winning a scholarship from Partnership for Learning Undergraduate Studies (PLUS) to study in USA for thirty months. She is the Executive Director of Ability Development Society of Nepal (ADSoN).  The organization works to develop, rehabilitate, and enhance the overall well being of children and persons with disabilities. Nirmala has been recognised with many awards, including “Prabal Janawashree” from the President of Nepal in May 2010.

Secretary, Nepal Paralympic 
Chhultim Gyalzen Sherpa holds several posts with the National and International Councils of Wheelchair Cricket. He organised the world’s 1st Wheelchair Cricket Triangular series in 2017 which was won by Nepal. He is now planning the World Cup of Wheelchair Cricket in Nepal.Chhultim is also actively involved in supporting disabled communities around the country and has helped to build two centers for disabled people in Goldhunga.

Para Athlete
Nirmala lost her right leg in an accident when she was a child.She is today a successful para athlete and para powerlifter having represented Nepal in the Asian Games 2018. She is an active athlete with memberships in amputee football society Nepal and National wheelchair basketball society. She is also the winner of the Solo Women Travel Challenge 2019 Swo Yatra – travelling in a four-wheeler scooter from Ilam to Mahendranagar.

Peer Group Leader, English and Digital for Girls' Education project
Alisha is currently studying in eighth grade in Jana Kalyan Secondary School, Lamjung. She is an active Peer Group Leader under our English and Digital for Girls’ Education (EDGE) project under Girls’ Education Challenge. Alisha leads club sessions for many young girls like her, where the girls facilitate and learn English, digital and social skills required for making life-decisions. She also built her confidence and leadership skills after enrolling herself in the EDGE club.