KATHMANDU: For 13-year-old Siddhartha Ghimire, weekends were supposed to be a break from the pressures of school, family expectations, and personal aspirations. But when his mother enrolled him in a seemingly 'weird' meditation and leadership program called HappySaturdays, he was far from thrilled.

'I didn't want to join anything labeled 'child-friendly' or 'self-improvement.' It felt like another responsibility,' said Siddhartha, a 9th grader at GEMS School. 'But after attending a few sessions, I started to enjoy it.'

Engaging debates, soulful music and meditation, and insightful discussions on current affairs-topics rarely explored in the rigid structure of a school classroom-captured his interest. 'We talked about the mind, the universe, our city, governance, and development. Even meditation, which I thought would be boring, felt important because everyone, including the mentors, participated genuinely,' he shared.

A Mother's Concern Sparked the Movement

The story behind HappySaturdays is as unique as its impact. The program was not initially planned for children at all. It was the determination of a single mother, Perina Bhandari (name changed), that led to the initiative.

Bhandari was struggling to help her teenage son, who was suffering from sleepless nights and anxiety due to unresolved domestic issues. She was looking for something beyond conventional counseling-a space where her child could heal and grow. When she enrolled in weekly Leadership and Inner Well-being sessions organized by Gargi Media House and Mandala Bihani-a dynamic network of youth leaders and activists at KnK College of Baneshwor-she learned about HappyMe, a healing art therapy program. This piqued her curiosity.

'I had never heard of Gargi Media House or anything like the HappyMe program,' Bhandari said. 'But when I found out it focused on inner well-being and spirituality, I knew it was exactly what my son needed. When they told me it wasn't designed for kids, I asked-why not?'

Her persistence convinced journalist and trainer Anjali Subedi, Managing Director of Gargi Media House, to modify HappyMe-a healing art therapy program for adults-into HappySaturdays, a space for children's well-being. With the support of KnK College, which provided a free venue, and fellow mentors Anita Sunar, Praveen Yadav, and Mina Panday, the program took off.

At first, HappySaturdays attracted only a handful of children from Baneshwor, mostly through word-of-mouth promotion by Bhandari. However, as the impact became evident, more children started joining.

Over time, the program evolved beyond meditation and healing. It introduced children to leadership skills such as public speaking, debate, interview techniques, and even creative arts like singing, dancing, and drama.

'For the first time, I felt seen and appreciated,' said 8-year-old Eric, whose mother, Karuna Shrestha, noticed a remarkable change in him. 'He lacked confidence before, but at HappySaturdays, he won prizes-something that had never happened at school. It changed him completely.'

Parallel Paths: Women's Empowerment through Leadership

While children found a safe space in HappySaturdays, women were also finding their voices in another wing of the initiative. A year-long Leadership and Inner Well-being program ran alongside HappySaturdays, providing professional and personal development opportunities for women. Sessions for children would run from 11 to 1pm and women would take over for the next two hours every Saturday.

'This program broadened my perspective and made me more confident, both as a journalist and as an individual,' said Samjhana BK, a Kathmandu-based journalist. The sessions covered self-help strategies, public speaking, digital literacy, and the media's evolving role in tackling misinformation.

Binita Rijal, a video journalist at Nepal Television, initially struggled with stage fright. 'By the third week, I was at ease. I realized confidence is just about practice,' she said.

Even women from political backgrounds, like Sabitra Dura and Mamata Samyabadi of the Nepal Communist Party (Biplab), found the program beneficial. 'The English-speaking sessions were especially useful. Opportunities to practice spoken English aren't easily available,' Dura noted. For Mamata, storytelling practices were the most valuable.

According to the program's designer and mentor, Subedi, her long career in journalism, particularly her experience with the Asia Journalism Fellowship as well as her inclination to healing therapy, mediation and spirituality, inspired her to bring women together to share and learn. 'We focused mainly on open discussions and debates on current issues, English speaking, presentations, and inner well-being or healing exercises,' she said.

By the time the year-long program concluded in January 2025, HappySaturdays had helped 22 children from both private and community schools, while the women's program had empowered 25 participants from various professional fields.

Meanwhile, Dr. Resh Bahadur Basnet, Founder and Principal of KnK College, expressed his pleasure in supporting the program. 'In today's stressful times, we all need positive spaces. Seeing children and women grow in confidence and self-awareness is truly rewarding,' he said.