Glocal Pvt. Ltd. announced the names of the top six finalists for Golchha Group presents Glocal Teen Hero Nepal 2026 today. Glocal Teen Hero is the only national platform in Nepal to recognize and honor outstanding teenagers. This year’s competition received 791 applications from teenagers across all seven provinces, with Bagmati Province contributing the highest share at 26.27%, followed by Koshi Province at 20.34% and Madhesh Province at 19.49%. Of the total applicants, 66.95% were male, and 33.05% were female, spanning focus areas including Youth Empowerment & Leadership, Education & Skill Development, Environment & Climate Action, Community Development, Technology & Innovation, Gender Equality, Health, and Civic Engagement.

What began in the Kathmandu Valley in 2015 has grown, over twelve years, into a trusted platform for recognizing exceptional teenage changemakers across Nepal. This year marks the program’s most significant transformation yet, as Golchha Group presents Glocal Teen Hero South Asia 2026, expanding the search beyond Nepal to include India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Five nations, one stage: the platform now connects young leaders across borders, reflecting a shared regional commitment to honoring leadership, innovation, and social impact beyond academics.

The top six finalists of Golchha Group Presents Glocal Teen Hero Nepal 2026 are:

1. Aarjan Chaudhary — 15, Biratnagar (Koshi Province), STEM & Tech Innovator (Cybersecurity)
2. Atal Dev Dhakal — 19, Achham (Sudurpashchim Province), Climate & Environment Advocate
3. Jasmine Bohora — 18, Pokhara (Gandaki Province), STEM & Tech Innovator
4. Kishor Neupane — 17, Surkhet (Karnali Province), Climate & Environment Activist
5. Manjil Basnet — 17, Bardibas (Madhesh Province), Civic Engagement & Governance Innovator
6. Sabnam Sunar — 19, Nawalpur (Gandaki Province), Gender & Social Justice Advocate

Meet the Top Six

1. At just 15, Aarjan Chaudhary is a cybersecurity researcher, entrepreneur, and community builder. He founded Nepal’s largest teen tech community, Arniko Hack Club, which has more than 400 active members, while developing technology solutions with global ambitions.
2. Atal Dev Dhakal is a climate justice advocate focused on mountain communities, climate finance, and youth participation in global climate policy. He leads the Mountains and Glaciers Working Group within YOUNGO and is helping amplify 100,000 youth voices ahead of COP31.
3. Jasmine Bohora is a young STEM innovator from Pokhara who combines artificial intelligence, environmental innovation, and space education. She has introduced more than 400 students to STEM and space technology and is developing an AI-powered forest-fire detection application.
4. Kishor Neupane is a climate activist from Karnali who has reached over 20,000 students, supported the planting of more than 3,230 trees, and organized Karnali’s first-ever Trash Collection Race. His work turns climate awareness into practical community action.
5. Manjil Basnet is a young civic innovator from Madhesh who founded Youth Civic Launchpad to help students engage directly with local governments and turn community concerns into real policy solutions. His initiatives have already influenced municipal decisions.
6. Sabnam Sunar is a passionate youth advocate championing girls’ leadership, gender equality, menstrual health, and social justice. She has represented South Asia at global platforms including Women Deliver and contributes to UNICEF’s Global Girls Leader Advisory Group.

From the top 20 teenagers (Glocal’s 20 under 20) & their document review, the Top Six Finalists were shortlisted for the final round of Glocal Teen Hero Nepal based on initiation, achievement, and the impact of work. The respected 3-member jury panel had shortlisted these 6 amazing teenagers (ages 13-19) for their achievements, initiations or contributions in The finalist screening was done by a jury team composed of Ms. Sneh Rajbhandari, Public Affairs, Communication & Sustainability Director at Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal; Mr. Vijay Sharma, Country Manager of the leading brands KFC and Pizza Hut; and Mr. Jeffrey Xu Jian, Senior Education Specialist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The teenagers were chosen based on their applications, resumes, supporting documentation, and essays about their achievements. They were marked on their creativity, accomplishment, impact, and, most importantly, the sustainability of their work.

From August 27 to August 31, the top six finalists will participate in a Self-Competency Workshop, where they will get the opportunity to visit different corporate houses and Glocal’s partner organizations, interact with industry professionals, and gain hands-on exposure and experience to broaden their knowledge and expand their networks

The panel of judges will individually interview the finalists on August 31, 2026. Additionally, the SMS voting round is open from 5:00 PM on August 18 until 5:00 PM on August 30, and public votes will also help determine the winner of South Asian Glocal Teen Hero Nepal 2026.

To vote for the candidate, text the voting code of your favorite finalist to 35001. The voting codes for the finalists are:

• Aarjan Chaudhary – GTH2026<space>AC send it to 35001
• Atal Dev Dhakal – GTH2026<space>AD send it to 35001
• Jasmine Bohora – GTH2026<space>JB send it to 35001
• Kishor Neupane – GTH2026<space>KN send it to 35001
• Manjil Basnet – GTH2026<space>MB send it to 35001
• Sabnam Sunar – GTH2026<space>SS send it to 35001

The Road to Golchha Group presents Glocal Teen Hero South Asia 2026

The top six finalists will compete for the prestigious title of Golchha Group presents Glocal Teen Hero Nepal 2026, with the ultimate winner set to be announced and honoured at the grand finale on September 1. All six finalists will be felicitated during the ceremony alongside the national winners representing the five participating countries Nepal, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

Grand Finale of Golchha Group presents South Asian Glocal Teen Hero 2026

The evening will also feature “Golchha Group Presents South Asian Glocal Teen Hero 2026,” scheduled to take place on September 1, 2026, at The Plaza, Lalitpur. The prestigious event will bring together distinguished personalities from across Nepal, including diplomats, politicians, academics, entrepreneurs, youth leaders, celebrities, and other prominent figures from diverse sectors.

The gathering will celebrate the achievements, leadership, and impact of young changemakers while marking a historic milestone with the crowning of the first-ever South Asian Glocal Teen Hero.

Partners United for a Greater Impact

Proudly initiated by Glocal Pvt. Ltd. and powered by Golchha Group as Title Partner, with strategic partnerships including the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, Nepal; the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, Kathmandu; UNFPA; Plan International; KOICA; UN Women; and Embark College as Educational Partner. Partners include Honda, Coca-Cola, Panchakanya Group, KFC, Toyota, and BioSphere Global, with banking support from Nabil Bank. Special appreciation goes to Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post as Media Partners, WorldLink as Internet Partner, The Plaza as Hospitality Partner, NepalPay as Payment Partner, Shangrila Blu Hotel as Hotel Partner, and Yeti Airlines as Airlines Partner. Pizza Hut serves as a Supporter, Nutriplus as a Supporter, Prisma Advertising as a PR Partner, and Eco Network/NNQ? as an Outreach Partner. This extensive network of partners reflects a shared vision and a commitment to the success and impact of Glocal’s initiative.