Access Over Advantage: The New Narrative of Global Opportunities

Sujit and Prajwal would find their conversations drifting from code and case studies to cornerstones of nation-building: youth empowerment and innovation. In the fragrance of chai and aged books, a shared vision emerged. Both had seen, first-hand, the yawning gap between Nepal’s educated youth and the opportunities waiting beyond its borders. They dreamed of a platform where these gaps could be bridged – a movement where talent from a remote village could connect to a scholarship or startup mentorship halfway around the world.They didn’t inherit institutions. They built one from clarity, courage and purpose.

Sujit Kumar Chaudhary emerged from the heart of the Madhesh, carrying the weight of a generation told to aim lower and dream later. Prajwal Bhattarai, on the other hand, was already mapping changean academic visionary, legal reformist and one of the country’s most prolific youth organizers. From debate chambers to national policy tables, he redefined what activism looks like when backed by structure. His ability to design projects with precision, mobilize across provinces and lead with empathy has turned quiet ideas into national platforms. Whether empowering students in rural classrooms or coordinating international conferences from Kathmandu, Prajwal treats every project like a blueprint for progress. When he met Sujit, their shared urgency found form. Together, they created Creating Opportunities International (COI)not just an initiative, but a living architecture of hope. In a country often slowed by red tape and resignation, they chose action. And in doing so, they did not merely open doorsthey began constructing new ones, brick by brick, for every young dreamer waiting on the other side.

That vision became Creating Opportunities International (COI). From day one, Sujit insisted, “It’s a movement ensuring no youth ever misses out,” not just an NGO giving out flyers. Under his energy and Prajwal’s strategic guidance, COI quickly took shape as Nepal’s first youth empowerment beacon. Instead of waiting for others to knock, COI built its own doors – curating global scholarships, fellowships, internships and jobs and broadcasting them inclusively to every corner of Nepal.COI forged partnerships with more than 15 international organizations, stitching Nepal’s youth into global initiatives. “It’s about positively impacting lives and transforming entire communities,” Prajwal reflects now. “Empower one individual and you empower an entire village, an entire community.”

COI’s signature programs have become household names among youth circles. Project Aawasar, for instance, is an annual incubator of inspiration: imagine dozens of aspiring innovators gathering in a university hall to develop social-impact projects under COI’s guidance. This “opportunity edition” brings together students and professionals to build skills ranging from entrepreneurship to digital design, often guided by alumni mentors who once sat in the audience. In one recent edition, rural high school students who had never used a computer were introduced to coding and collaborative online tools, closing a digital divide in real time.

Then there are the Opportunity Bootcamps and Accelerator sessions, pitched as bootstrapped “summer camps for change.” Here, city students and villagers alike learn problem-solving, leadership and business pitching. In Birgunj, a weekend bootcamp saw teens presenting solar lamp prototypes and local craft e-commerce ideas by Sunday afternoon – proof that given guidance, Nepal’s youth can dream big and act fast. Schools have also eagerly adopted COI’s Academic Calendar Toolkit. This is no ordinary binder of dates: it’s a whole school-in-a-box strategy. One principal likens it to a school reform manual – it schedules STEM fairs, sets up sustainable clubs, plans monthly cultural celebrations and even integrates a digital CRM so teachers and parents stay connected. “Every month is full of inspiration,” says a teacher who piloted the toolkit. With ISO 21001 standards built in, even tiny village schools can earn certificates of international quality education just by following this year-long plan.

Technology and creativity power COI’s approach. They are developing a user-friendly CRM platform for students – a kind of LinkedIn for Nepali youth. Soon, a student in Myagdi will be able to save and track the scholarships or internships she finds, receive personalized recommendations and get notified of deadlines, all through a COI app on her phone. COI is also funding its initiatives through a purposeful merchandise line: simple T-shirts and mugs bearing Nepali symbols and COI slogans. “Every sale directly supports someone’s dream,” Sujit says, smiling as he shows a coffee mug emblazoned with a flag and an inspiring Nepali proverb. “This isn’t just business – it’s about genuinely changing lives.”(So far, diaspora Nepalis wearing COI gear have been spotted from New York to New Delhi, sparking conversations about youth education.)

For Nepal, a country where youth make up nearly half the population, the COI story is more than heartwarming; it is strategic. Thousands of young men and women were leaving to work abroad, disillusioned by a lack of prospects at home. Universities pumped out graduates unsure of the next step. By directly connecting classroom learning to real-world opportunity, COI is helping stem that brain-drain. One former beneficiary now running an eco-tourism startup says she only dared apply for international seed funding because COI had introduced her to mentors at a bootcamp. A small cohort of Nepali science students, after completing an Innovate X Virtual Fellowship, have formed a society to tackle local environmental challenges. These are the ripple effects COI’s founders envisioned.

In these efforts, the metaphor of the lantern is apt. Kathmandu’s medieval streets may be narrow and winding, but visionaries like Sujit and Prajwal are lighting them up one by one. “You don’t need magic to change lives,” Prajwal often says. “You just need the courage and determination to create opportunities.”

As the sun sets behind the Himalaya, the movement they started is only just gathering momentum. More young Nepalis each day click “apply” on life-changing chances. High school clubs hum with fresh ideas. And somewhere, a teen from Janakpur or a medical student in Pokhara scrolls through the COI portal, hopeful that the next knock will finally be answered. The journey of Creating Opportunities International is a landmark in motion an authentication that when determination and collaboration converge, the fog lifts and a new dawn of possibility breaks over Nepal’s next generation.

About Prajwal Bhattarai

Designation: Legal Researcher | Management Consultant | Global Speaker

Short Bio:

Prajwal Bhattarai is a legal researcher, management consultant and global speaker originally from Nepal. With over 10 years of experience, he has worked on legal reform, governance and education initiatives across Asia and beyond. He has advised NGOs, startups and governments, led SDG-driven projects supported by UN agencies and the U.S. Embassy and authored several academic books. As a founder of youth-focused ventures and recipient of international awards, Prajwal is known for building inclusive systems and empowering communities through law, policy, and innovation.