WOW Kathmandu Programme Schedule

Women and Power - 11:00 am - 12:00 pm (Mainstage)

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 / 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm (Mainstage)

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 / 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm (Mainstage)

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 / 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm (Mainstage)

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 / 5:00 pm - 6: 00 pm (Mainstage)

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

12:30 - 1:30 pm (Auditorium)

• Surya Kunwar on breaking all the stereotypes as a tempo driver
• Dr. Paleshwan Joshi Lakhey on how women can be surgeons too
• Mari Akrami on how the Afghan Women Skills Development Centre is transforming lives
• 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

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

• Negin Khpalwak on conducting the Afghan Women's Orchestra Zohra
• 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

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

• 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 / 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm (Workshop room)

Hosted by Nikita Acharya (Urban Girl)

Bodily Integrity: Myths & Facts / 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm (Workshop room)

Hosted by Jyotsana Maskey and Shiwa Karmacharya (Loom Nepal)

Under 10s Feminist Corner / 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm (Workshop room)

Hosted by Punjita Pradhan (gather at workshop space)

Dance Movement Therapy / 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm (Workshop room)

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 at the extrance*

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

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

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

* For these sessions, space is limited 

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