SEPTEMBER-1, LALITPUR, NEPAL :  In a landmark celebration of youth leadership, social impact, and regional solidarity, the grand finale of Golchha Group presents Glocal Teen Hero South Asia 2026 concluded on September 1, 2026, at The Plaza, Lalitpur, with Atal Dev Dhakal  of Nepal named the first-ever Golchha Group presents South Asian Glocal Teen Hero 2026. Uniting five nations: Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, on a single stage, the historic evening celebrated exceptional teenage changemakers and culminated in the presentation of the inaugural South Asian Glocal Teen Hero title.

Meet the First Glocal Teen Hero South Asia 2026 Regional Winner

Atal Dev Dhakal, a passionate climate justice advocate, environmentalist, and youth leader, has been named the Winner of Golchha Group presents Glocal Teen Hero South Asia 2026 for his remarkable commitment to climate action, environmental justice, and youth-led policy advocacy. Driven by the belief that global climate policies must meaningfully address the challenges faced by frontline mountain communities, Atal leads the Mountains and Glaciers Working Group within YOUNGO, advocating for climate finance, protection of vulnerable ecosystems, and stronger representation of marginalized youth in international decision-making. His grassroots initiatives have rapidly expanded into a growing youth network, with efforts aimed at amplifying 100,000 youth voices ahead of COP31, while his climate policy frameworks, regional climate ambassador initiatives, and advocacy toolkits have empowered young people and university environmental clubs to engage in global climate governance. Through his leadership, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to environmental justice, Atal Dev Dhakal represents the spirit of youth leadership that the Glocal Teen Hero South Asia 2026 celebrates—young people transforming ideas into meaningful action and creating impact beyond borders.

Grand Finale of Golchha Group presents Glocal Teen Hero South Asia 2026:

The grand ceremony opened at 5:00 PM as guests and delegates were seated to the soulful instrumental rendition of “Pankha Fijai.” Demonstrating solemn empathy, the formal program commenced with the national anthem, followed by a one-minute moment of silence observed for flood victims.

Opening the formal stage, Mr. Birat Singh Thakuri, Corporate Manager of Glocal Private Limited, welcomed distinguished dignitaries, diplomats, corporate leaders, and youth delegates. “Every year, we watch teenagers across South Asia move from being passive observers to becoming active changemakers who are solving real problems in their own communities. Tonight is a celebration of exactly that shift,” he said, opening the evening’s proceedings.

Representing the title sponsor, Ms. Seema Golchha of Golchha Group delivered partner remarks, emphasizing the conglomerate’s belief in empowering future leaders. “Investing in the untapped potential of today’s youth is how we build a sustainable and prosperous South Asia. These young people are not the leaders of tomorrow, they are already leading today,” she remarked, commending the extraordinary drive of the finalists.

The ceremony was further enriched by the presence of distinguished diplomatic dignitaries, who joined the stage to felicitate and encourage the national winners from the visiting delegations. Mr. Md. Showeb Abdullah, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Nepal; H.E. Ruwanthi Delpitiya, Ambassador, Embassy of Sri Lanka in Nepal; and Mr. Dorje Gyaltsen Lama, Honorary Consul, Honorary Consulate of the Kingdom of Bhutan in Nepal, took time to interact with the young winners, sharing words of encouragement and valuable insights on youth leadership, collaboration, and the importance of young voices in shaping the region’s future. Their engaging and fruitful discussions with the national winners added a meaningful dimension to the evening, motivating the young leaders to continue pursuing their aspirations and contributing positively to their communities and South Asia as a whole.

During the evening, the Alumni Excellence Award was presented to Mr. Ashish Panthi in recognition of sustained post-platform impact, supported by partners including Nabil Bank, Honda Mr.Saurabh Jyoti, Director of Padma Jyoti Group, Prisma Advertising represented by CEO Mr. Ranjit Acharya, who reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to “amplifying the voices of changemakers long after the finale lights go down” and Glocal Corporate Manager Mr. Birat Singh Thakuri.

After that Mr. Saurabh Jyoti, Director of Padma Jyoti Group, was there reflecting on the journey of 12 years as well as reflecting on the significance of bringing the region’s youth together on one stage. He emphasized the importance of collaboration, shared aspirations, and youth leadership in shaping the future of South Asia. “ When five nations bring their brightest young minds together on one stage, it reminds us that the future of South Asia will be built through collaboration, shared understanding, and collective ambition,” he remarked.

Delivering the South Asian Jury Speech, Mr. Jaco Du Toit representing UNESCO praised the regional finalists for their courage, innovation, and cross-border relevance in tackling climate action, gender rights, health, and inclusive education. “What struck the jury most was not just the ambition of these projects, but how directly they responded to the lived realities of their communities. This is what youth-led change looks like when it is given room to grow,” he said.

Mr. Asish Thakur, CEO & Chairman of Glocal Private Limited, delivered the organizational address, noting that bringing five nations together on one regional stage exemplifies how boundaries fade when youth collaborate for common global goals.reflected on the journey of Glocal Teen Hero and its growing regional impact, emphasizing the importance of creating meaningful platforms for young people to connect, lead, and create change. He remarked, “GTH is not simply a platform that celebrates young achievers; it is a movement that gives young people the confidence, connections, and opportunities to shape the future. When we invest in their ideas today, we invest in a stronger South Asia tomorrow.” “Twelve years ago, this began as one valley’s effort to recognize its own young people. Tonight, five nations stand on one stage, and that tells you everything about where this movement is headed,” he said, before calling forward Managing Director Ms. Kajol Jha and the assembled guests for the South Asia announcement.

In the evening’s defining moment,Mr.Atal Dev Dhakal,a passionate climate justice advocate, environmentalist, and youth leader was announced and crowned the first-ever winner of Golchha Group presents Glocal Teen Hero South Asia 2026, receiving the title, trophy, and an address to the assembled delegates from all five nations.

Managing Director of Glocal Pvt. Ltd., Ms. Kajol Jha, extended her heartfelt gratitude to all institutional and corporate partners through a formal vote of thanks. She remarked, “We are deeply grateful to all our partners and well-wishers whose trust, support, and collaboration have helped us empower young talents and bring this journey to life. This journey is not the achievement of one organization alone, but the result of a shared effort and collective commitment.” Following the vote of thanks, the guests proceeded to the networking dinner.

Celebrating Winner of Golchha Group Presents “Glocal Teen Hero South Asia-2026”

Celebrating Regional Excellence: Country Winners

Bangladesh — Ms. Munazia Snigdha Moon (18 | Social Entrepreneurship, Human Rights & Mental Health Advocacy)

Munazia Snigdha Moon is a social entrepreneur, human rights advocate, and youth leader dedicated to building a safer and more compassionate society. She is the founder of Survivor’s Path, a social impact initiative focused on women’s and children’s protection, gender-based violence prevention, and community safety, whose SOS App helps individuals send distress alerts and connect with trusted contacts and support networks during emergencies. She also founded the Mon Barta 24/7 Mental Health Helpline, offering compassionate listening and support for those facing emotional distress. Her work has earned international recognition including the Diana Award, the Global Changemaker Award, and a nomination for the International Children’s Peace Prize 2025.

Bhutan — Ms. Ugyen Tsheden Tobgay (14 | Youth Advocacy, Broadcasting & Inclusive Education)

Ugyen Tsheden Tobgay is a young advocate, volunteer, public speaker, and changemaker who has been engaged in youth advocacy and community service since the age of 10. Her journey began through public education and media  including playing the lead role in Pinda’s Magic Bowl, a World Food Programme initiative promoting healthy eating, and hosting educational programmes on Bhutan Broadcasting Service covering literacy, Bhutanese history, culture, and traditions. She has represented Bhutan at national and international platforms, including UN youth discussions on climate action and the We The Women campaign, and  as a member of Youth Volunteers in Action and the Young People’s Action Team contributes to environmental campaigns, child protection, and support for students with Special Educational Needs. She was recognized as Bhutan’s National English Topper in 2025.

India — Mr. Raghul R (19, Tamil Nadu | Technology, Women’s Safety & Social Innovation)

Raghul R is a young entrepreneur, innovator, and changemaker from Tamil Nadu driven by a simple belief: technology should work when people need it most. He is the founder of SheSphere, a women’s safety initiative combining a lightweight BLE wearable with motion and heart-rate sensing to detect distress without requiring the user to press a button, while its Responder Network connects registered women within 300 metres and an AI layer explores predictive crime-risk mapping. Early field testing with women commuters recorded 94% safety confidence and less than 2% false alerts. He has already introduced SheSphere to three Self-Help Groups, where 40 women registered as volunteer responders within two weeks, and has shared the technical architecture with college robotics clubs to encourage further student-led innovation, while pursuing his studies at SRM Institute of Science and Technology.

Nepal — Mr. Atal Dev Dhakal | Climate & Environment | Climate Finance, Mountain Communities & Youth Policy

Atal Dev Dhakal is a passionate climate justice advocate, environmentalist, and youth leader driven by a simple belief: global climate policy must directly answer to the frontline mountain communities bearing its heaviest impacts. He leads the Mountains and Glaciers Working Group within YOUNGO, an international initiative combining grassroots climate finance advocacy with high-level environmental diplomacy to ensure vulnerable ecosystems are protected, while his broader coalition-building connects marginalized youth to international decision-makers and explores sustainable funding mechanisms for at-risk regions. Early grassroots mobilization efforts have rapidly gained global traction, successfully building a network poised to amplify 100,000 youth voices ahead of the upcoming COP31. He has already introduced actionable climate policy frameworks to localized youth networks, where dozens of young activists mobilized as regional climate ambassadors within weeks, and has shared comprehensive advocacy toolkits with university environmental clubs to encourage further student-led participation in global climate governance, while continuing his relentless push for environmental justice.

Sri Lanka — Mr. Mohamed Amazir Mohamed Amanath (17 | Astronomy, STEM Education & Scientific Research)

Amazir Amanath is a 17-year-old astronomy educator, researcher, author, and STEM advocate who has been passionate about astronomy and science since the age of 12. Driven by his belief in “Astronomy for Everyone,” he founded Nebula Nova Academy, making space science accessible to young learners through astronomy courses, space camps, telescope observation programmes, and the Astronomy Society of Al Hira introducing more than 60 students to practical astronomy and scientific exploration. He has authored three astronomy books and contributed to cosmology research through a scientific preprint, and is currently researching Dengue Risk Mapping in Sri Lanka using spatial interpolation, machine learning, and ensemble modeling to support data-driven disease prevention.

A 12-Year Journey: From Kathmandu Valley to South Asia

Initiated in 2015 within the Kathmandu Valley, Glocal Teen Hero has evolved over twelve impactful years into South Asia’s premier teen empowerment movement. Founded by Glocal Pvt. Ltd. a consulting and education management firm guided by its “3E” formula (Establish, Enhance, and Expand) to bridge industry-academia gaps  the initiative honors leadership, innovation, and community action beyond academic performance. After successfully expanding from Nepal into India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, the 2026 edition marked its most historic leap yet, formally establishing the Glocal Teen Hero South Asia regional platform and uniting five nations under the shared pillars of “Celebrating Teens, Inspiring Change, Building Tomorrow.”

Coalition of Partners

The South Asian edition was made possible through an alliance of international agencies and corporate leaders. Golchha Group served as Title Partner. Strategic and institutional partners included the Embassy of India (Kathmandu), the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (Kathmandu), UNFPA, Plan International, UN Women, and KOICA, with Embark College as Educational Partner. Corporate and brand partners included Honda, Coca-Cola, Panchakanya Group, KFC, Toyota, and BioSphere Global, with Nabil Bank as Banking Partner. Support and service partners included Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post as Media Partners, WorldLink as Internet Partner, The Plaza as Hospitality Partner, Shangrila Blu Hotel as Hotel Partner, NepalPay as Payment Partner, Yeti Airlines as Airlines Partner, Pizza Hut and Nutriplus as supporters, Prisma Advertising as PR Partner, and Eco Network/NNQ? as an Outreach Partner.