FYI:

Meet Constituent Assembly members at American University, Washington, DC on Thursday, Sept 4^th.

Dear Nepali community member and Friend:

It is our privilege to invite you to an evening of conversation with Constituent Assembly members and social activists from Nepal on Thursday, Sept. 4 at American University. The event will be at 6 p.m. on the second floor of the Battelle-Tompkins Building. This will be an opportunity for community members to share our thoughts and for CA members to share their experiences and what they hope to accomplish.

The Centre for Peace Building International is honored to co-ordinate a delegation from Nepal who will participate in a professional exchange program in Washington, DC from August 30th to September 7th, 2008. The purpose of the delegates' visit is to explore ideas and gain knowledge that will prove to be essential in Nepal's transition. The delegation will explore innovative ways of including marginalized groups into the political process; learn about federalism, constitution writing, democracy, and economic development; as well as meet with notable experts in the Washington, DC policy community. Interaction of this kind goes beyond the traditional learning experience and will no doubt make an impact upon their return to Nepal.

Where: American University, Battelle-Tompkins Building

When: 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 4

Parking: Main parking garage or Nebraska Avenue lot

Moderator: Homraj Acharya

Delegates:

1.      Hon 'able Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat

Mr. Prakash Sharan Mahat Ph.D in economics is Central Member of Nepali Congress, former State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Member of National Planning Commission, Member of High Level Committee constituted by Nepal Government for the resolution of Maoist insurgency. He has widely involved in writing policy papers, articles, research papers and reports especially related to development, peace and political matters.

2.     Hon 'able Mrs. Mohammadi Siddiqui

Hon 'able Mrs. Mohammadi Siddiqui is the Member of Constituent Assembly under PR on behalf of Nepali Congress. As the first Muslim Women Leader she has contributed a lot toward the promotion of rights of women, focusing on Muslim (religious minority) women. She represents the mid western Terai region of Nepal.

3.     Hon 'able Mrs. Kiran Yadav

Hon 'able Mrs. Kiran Yadav  is a Women Activist  represents Terai Maithali Women and Member of Constituent Assembly under Proportional Representation (PR) on behalf of Nepali Congress. She has worked to raise the voice of Terai Women in national and local levels she is also the Central Member of Nepal Women Association (Sister Organization of Nepali Congress) and General Secretary of Maithili Women Society Nepal. Mrs. Yadev is the niece of the president of Nepal.

4.     Mr. Ghanashyam Paudel

Mr. Ghanashyam Paudel is a Television Journalist who works in Western Development Region, Regional Bureau of Kantipur Television and publication. He is stationed in Pokhara. He is also actively involved in National Peace Campaign and awareness program at local level that helped to bring the voice of local people into the national level.

5.     Mr. Pawan Roy

Mr. Pawan Roy is a youth and human rights activist, Chairperson who represents the Youth Action Nepal. He had been a key leader in the youth movement and has organizing highly successful social forums for youth throughout Nepal. These social forums have helped youth and youth organizations get involved in the political process.

6.     Mr. Tej Prasad Dhakal

Mr. Tej Prasad Dhakal is a development activist and researcher, CA expert, facilitator. He has a valuable understanding of contemporary issues of Nepalese society. He is affiliated with various organizations as a development activist.

7.     Mr. Bhim Bahadur Tamang

Mr. Bhim Bahadur Tamang is Central Working Committee Member of Nepali Congress and Former Member of Parliament and Minister of Law and Justice of Nepal. He is also the President of Center for Consolidation of Democracy (CCD) of Nepal.

8.     Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary

Mr. Chaudhary is the president and founder of Backward Society Education (BASE).  A member of the Tharu tribe, who saw his father beaten for seeking schooling, he has been sparking the new generation of Tharus to organize their own night schools in village after village. He is a former Ashoka Fellow and has been instrumental in organizing one of the largest grassroots movements in Nepal focused on education access for marginalized groups

.