I have been advocating for emotional well-being for the past few years as much as I can. mostly through blog articles, sometimes through video storytelling, and sometimes just by talking to people. Journaling has always been one of my ways of expressing myself. Sometimes I share it with people, sometimes I keep it to myself, and sometimes I even tear it apart.
Today, I felt like writing a blog article for my website. On April 11th, 2026, I got the opportunity to organize the Women of Nepali Roots 2026 Forum. The event was successful, with almost 40 women participants and some male Nepali Roots organizers.
The event had various sessions, including an opening dance performance based on a Sanskrit mantra that praises a female deity in Hinduism. We also had a clay session that began with emotional expression through pottery, encouraging participants to open up and connect. That session was the highlight of the event, with participants saying it helped them be creative, express themselves, and network more easily.
There was also an amazing panel discussion featuring speakers such as research group leaders in Germany, medical doctors, data scientists, and legal advocates, all highly accomplished professionals. They shared their journeys as migrants in Germany, discussing both the opportunities and challenges they have experienced. The discussion was very engaging, with the moderator being concise and well-organized throughout the session.
The event ended with a community sharing and mapping session. A representative from a well-established e.V. in Munich, who is also its president, shared her insights with great pride. We also heard from a psychiatric nurse who spoke about her personal journey as a humble individual striving to make an impact through humanitarian service, as well as her passion for literature.
So, what is special about this forum? For me, it was a deeply emotional journey.
It marked my first return to a professional setting and my first time being part of an organizing team. I have been involved in various conferences through my social engagements and career, but being part of the team that organized the event, especially in Germany, was new for me.
It might seem like a simple thing, but everything, from brainstorming, scheduling, and programming to managing session details and distributing responsibilities, was handled entirely by a team of women. We all brought experience in leadership, operations, execution, financial adjustments, documentation, event organization, venue planning, and food planning. Everything was done by us, though our male colleagues were always behind us, supporting us morally and technically.
It may sound like a normal event, but what makes it truly special?
It was emotional because it was the first time all of us had worked together. We had never collaborated before, and some of us had not even met in person. Everything was planned through Zoom calls, weekly meetings for a month, usually after 9 p.m., following our professional and personal commitments.
During this time, I was also coping with my own identity crisis and trying to show up as a responsible individual. I faced struggles, sometimes with communication, sometimes feeling too controlling or being controlled. At times, the effort felt overwhelming. I dealt with insecurities, self-criticism, emotional outbursts, and the pressure to meet expectations shaped by previous events organized by male counterparts.
The challenge was not physical, it was mental and emotional. As an oversensitive and overthinking person, it was difficult to oppose others’ opinions and equally difficult to express my own. At times, we were overly critical about time and judgment, but I learned that perfection isn’t realistic, we’re all human and doing our best. Understanding others’ perspectives and cooperating isn’t always easy.
This was just a one-day event planned over two months. But now, when I look back, I see how much bonding we built through all those meetings and WhatsApp chats. When we finally met most of the team in person on the day of the event, I felt goosebumps and tears in my eyes.
As the event progressed and each of us performed, spoke, or presented, I realized how impactful every single one of us was. We were deeply dedicated and gave our whole hearts to the event. The participants’ active involvement and feedback were incredibly rewarding.
I felt that all my emotional ups and downs were worth it. Every bit of effort from each of us was worth it.
Thank you, Nepali Roots, for giving birth to Women of Nepali Roots. We now have a place to stand, to speak, for ourselves and for every woman, or anyone in need, in the days to come.
We are going to make an impact, slowly, but significantly.
