2026 USYC cohort launched to empower 55 young Nepali leaders

August 7, Kathmandu: U.S. Embassy Nepal hosted the official launch session for the 2026 cohort of the U.S. Embassy Youth Council (USYC) Nepal on Friday, welcoming 55 young leaders selected from a competitive pool of over 1,600 applicants nationwide.

Chargé d’Affaires Scott Urbom congratulated the new members and underscored the pivotal role youth leadership plays in accelerating innovation, driving economic growth, and fostering positive local development across Nepal.

Throughout their one-year term, cohort members will undergo structured leadership training, engage with industry experts, and participate in peer-networking initiatives designed to strengthen civic engagement and professional capacity.

Emphasizing the broader context of the U.S. Semiquincentennial (250 years of American independence), the embassy has said that programs like USYC highlight Washington’s long-standing commitment to investing in Nepal’s next generation of leaders.

The embassy added that a stable and prosperous Nepal creates expanded avenues for trade, technological collaboration, and bilateral partnership.