Meet Nish from Nepal. Nish integrates art and creativity into his activism. Supporting peacebuilding and togetherness.
From a young age, Nish witnessed ethnic, caste and class-based discrimination in his country.
After the earthquake in 2015, Nepal faced an economic and humanitarian crisis caused by a severe shortage of food, fuel, medicines, and vaccines. A political protest divided the country and led to more than 600 violent incidents.
Hundreds of people lost their lives. Nish wanted to change things. This is why he became a local peacebuilder – to help prevent further polarisation and conflict in Nepal.
Nish founded Freedom Studio: a pro-democracy, youth-led organisation, to support marginalised and exploited young people through collective power and artivism.
Nish has helped train hundreds of young people in leadership. Engaging marginalised and oppressed communities to use creative and non-violent techniques to demand justice and ensure their rights.
More recently, Nish and Freedom Studio have been running Youth Peace Caravan across Nepal. This is an intercultural exchange between diverse youth changemakers to understand – how communities are transforming conflicts and enhancing social harmony at the grassroots level. The idea behind the ‘Peace Caravan’ is to create an interactive space where artists, activists, journalists, and entrepreneurs can travel as a group around the country and realise, reflect, and celebrate our diversity and cohesion. Participants of the caravan have grown to become politicians, policymakers, civil servants, and development workers who have worked to strengthen and support local activists on the ground. The caravan has played a vital role in reducing violent extremism and the radicalisation of young people.
Alongside Freedom Studio, Nish has creatively engaged hundreds of artists and activists in integrating art and activism for civic resistance.
For Nish, peace starts with creative spaces where everyone can express themselves.
