Yogesh
Dhungana

Leader, Aspiring Economist, Educator

A little about me

I am a fourth-year bachelor's student at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), where I am studying Economics and Social Research & Public Policy. My passions lie in education, leadership, and community engagement. Growing up in a rural village in Far-west Nepal with limited opportunities has instilled in me a strong sense of giving back to the community. I enjoy participating in activities that help to minimize the opportunity gap and empower young minds.

Teaching and Education roles

Brooklyn International High School, New York, US
Volunteer - Teaching Assistant
  • Provided special assistance to 40 first-generation refugee children in completing their assigned coursework
  • Assisted science teacher in coordinating weekly class activities & science experiments for 9th and 10th-grade
  • Prepared a detailed report on my personal experience and submitted it to my professor at NYU
Booster Education Institute, Pokhara, Nepal
Co-Founder and Chairperson
  • Formed a team of 7 Nepali graduates from Harvard, NYU, UPenn, and Oxford to plan, execute and design the business model of the startup
  • Led a team of 8 employees and supervised day-to-day operation and marketing strategies
  • Designed and implemented a comprehensive 10-week summer program integrating academic and skill-based learning for thirty 10th-grade students
  • Executed diverse, engaging activities, including graphic design classes, startup bootcamps, hiking, campus tours, and competitive sports events
  • Successfully coordinated a week-long summer camp, featuring professional-led sessions and promoting holistic student development
Teaching Intern at Bloom Nepal School, Lalitpur, Nepal
  • Taught Mathematics and Science for Grades 5-8; thirty students in each class
  • Initiated Network Teaching Approach for 35 residential students divided into 7 groups, resulting in increased motivation and engagement
  • Coordinated residential events, club activities, sports day, and annual school day for 200 students
  • Arranged additional classes for 20 academically struggling students for extra support and improvement





Some of my Leadership & Community Involvement

Program Coordinator: Youth Leadership Network - NYUAD Community Outreach
  • Led weekly team meetings and trained 30 student facilitators to plan and implement 5 weekly workshops, including a trip to Qasr AlHosn for a cohort of 120+ high school students in Abu Dhabi
  • Helped to design curriculum on ‘Culture Preservation’ based on a User-Centered Design approach for the workshops
  • Coordinated with administration and managed overall logistics, communications, and implementation of the program
Founding President of Nepali Student Association at NYU Abu dhabi
  • Assessed the prospect and impact of identity group, facilitating preliminary meetings with fellow students, professors, and administrative staff
  • Drafted the mission statement and SIG constitution, securing approval from the Office of Student Life
  • Strengthened ties with Nepali alumni and initiated an ‘Alumni talk series’ to offer career guidance and mentorship
  • Led an 11-member Executive Board, overseeing weekly meetings, agendas, and programming plan execution
First-Year Dialogue (FYD) Facilitator and Weyak Leader
  • Played a pivotal role in the First Year Experience Student Life team for two consecutive years to plan and execute first-year programming
  • Actively contributed to planning and leading a comprehensive welcome week program, including orientation sessions, stage performances, and logistical arrangements
  • Act as resource person for a dedicated group of 15 first-year students, serving as their primary point of contact and providing mentorship and guidance throughout their first year

Resident Assistant at NYU Abu Dhabi Residential Education, Abu Dhabi, UAE
  • Held a multifaceted role as a college resource, social organizer, and policy enforcer for a diverse floor of 34 first-year residents during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Conceptualized event proposals and took the lead in organizing monthly gatherings, fostering a sense of unity within the residential community
  • Collaborated closely with the Residential College Director to ensure the smooth day-to-day operations of the residence hall, facilitating effective communication, and successfully hosting community-wide events
First School Captain of Gandaki Boarding School, Pokhara, Nepal
  • Led a cohort of 1150 students and worked closely with school administration to plan and implement various school programs, club activities, and sports events
  • Represented student body and lead school assemblies to address student issues and presented timely reports and announcements
  • Formulated an annual residential calendar for broader engagement of the student community and organized inter-hostel activities including poetry, table tennis, and basketball competitions
  • Launched an impactful campaign to reduce food wastage, implementing a queue system and organizing seating arrangements in the dining hall



Research

Research Intern at Governance Lab, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Worked with the research team of Prof. Rohini Pande (Yale) and Prof. Michael Callen (LSE) to launch a field survey analyzing women's participation in local-level elections in Nepal in 2017 and 2022
  • Assisted supervisor in creating a detailed survey questionnaire, translation, piloting survey, and data management
  • Conducted 1:1 interviews and co-hosted training for 15 survey enumerators and back-checkers
  • Attended Fourth South Asian Conference on Public Policy and Governance and participated in scholarly discussions on ‘Fiscal Federalism: Execution, Challenges and Opportunities’ facilitated by experts and bureaucrats

My projects



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    Established a library in high school in Mangalsen

    I proposed a plan, formed a local team, and raised funds to establish a library at Shree Shodasha Secondary School in Mangalsen, Achham. I collaborated with Beam of Hope (NGO), the ward office, and the school administration to effectively implement and execute the project.

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    Grantee - Davis Projects for Peace - 2023

    Our team secured a grant of $10,000 from Projects for Peace for our proposal and subsequently established an Academic Resource Center within a community school in Pokhara, Nepal. This center features an IT-equipped seminar hall, maker space, and upgraded library resources. I also coordinated the distribution of stationery items, and hands-on learning materials, and facilitated skill-based training sessions.

Gallery

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Address

New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, UAE

Phone

+971 56 333 4093