Dr. Tshering Lama, PhD, Country Director of Childreach Nepal has been selected as one of the Young Global Leaders, alongside Constituent Assembly member Gagan Thapa by the World Economic Forum.

Dr. Tshering is one of 187 entrepreneurial leaders who were chosen because of their innovative and committed approach to making a positive impact on society. Being a Young Global Leader for 2015 will give Tshering and Childreach International an even bigger platform to do what we do best - being ambassadors for the rights of children and making sure that the voices of children are listened to by leaders around the world.

“This is an amazing achievement, not just for Dr. Tshering and Childreach Nepal, but for every fundraiser of Childreach International who has shaken a bucket on a cold winters day, every one of the over 6,000 fundraisers that have climbed mountains and trekked across deserts to support us, and every volunteer who has given their time and talent to enable us to reach out to more than 235,000 children in Nepal and almost a quarter of million children worldwide since Childreach International was founded in 2006,” said a press release issued by Childreach Nepal.

Dr. Tshering graduated from Northumbria University, UK with a BSc (HONS) in Health Development Studies, a Masters in Public Health, and a Ph.D. in Telemedicine. He was awarded with the first ever Lord Glenamara International Scholarship in recognition of his efforts in improving public health and the environment through volunteering. In 2006, Tshering won the International Student of the Year 2006 in the UK. This award was honoured by the university establishing the ‘Tshering Lama Northumbria University Scholarships’, which provide 20 scholarships a year for Nepali students. In 2010, Tshering returned to Nepal to found Childreach Nepal – an independent, locally registered charity that works in partnership with local communities to improve children’s access to healthcare, education, and child rights and protection.

Dr. Tshering is a strong believer in bringing the right people together to find new and innovative ways of changing the lives of young people. Launched last year, in partnership with UNICEF Nepal, Childreach Nepal, Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM) and Meeting Point, the Idea Studio (www.ideastudionepal.com) has created a platform for Nepalis with enterprising ideas to change society by providing them with mentoring at KUSOM, investment to turn promising ideas into viable businesses, and giving them exposure by showcasing them on National television.

“Childreach Nepal strongly believes that all children in Nepal should have access to education, health care, protection, and most importantly an opportunity for meaningful participation. It uses holistic development approaches where children are not objects of development but active agents in their own development, not just being listened to but also involved in decision-making, encouraging them to take an active role in finding solutions to their issues,” said a press release.

 “This is a well-deserved and timely acknowledgement of Tshering’s hard work and dedication towards changing the lives of the people and children of Nepal,” Firoz Patel, CEO of Childreach International. “It has been a privilege and honour to work with Tshering and I hope that this award will provide a global platform for Tshering to share Childreach’s approach to removing the barriers that prevent children from achieving their potential in life.”

Two Nepali people have been honoured as YGLs this year. They are Gagan Thapa, Member of the Constituent Assembly, and Dr. Tshering Lama, Country Director of Childreach Nepal. They join two previous YGL honourees: Aashmi Rana (2008), and  Ashutosh Tiwari (2011) who is the CEO of Sherpa Adventure Gear.