Our Team
our team
Individual commitment to a group effort–that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.
Our Superwomen
Meet our team
Pushpa
Joshi
Co-founder
Shreejana
Bajracharya
Co-founder
Bonita
Sharma
Co-founder
Elisha
Joshi
Founding Member
YOSHAN team
FOUNDED IN 1999
Co-Founder
Pushpa Joshi
pushpa@yoshan.org
“Safe abortion is a human right that should be easily available and stigma-free. No one should be denied this right based on their age, marital status, gender identity, or any other background. Everyone’s choice to have an abortion should be respected regardless of the reason to have it. I am committed to challenging structural barriers that inhibit people from exercising the right to safe abortion. “
“People have their own stories about their abortions. We should respect all.”
Co-Founder
Shreejana Bajracharya
shreejana@yoshan.org
Co-Founder
Bonita Sharma
Bonita Sharma is the Co-founder and CEO of Social Changermakers and Innovators (SOCHAI) – a youth led non-profit organization. Her organization works for improving health, hygiene and nutrition status of the people, particularly women, children and girls in Nepal through innovation, education and entrepreneurship. She is also the Co-founder of YoSHAN, a youth organization working on gender issues and SRHR . Bonita holds a Bachelor degree in Public Health and a Master degree in Food and Nutrition Specialization Program from Tribhuvan University.
Bonita is listed by the BBC in the 100 most influential women of the world in 2019. She has been recognized by UNESCO as a Female Champion for educating women and girls in Nepal. She was also the winner of UNICEF Asia Pacific Youth Innovation Challenge 2016 for her idea of ‘Nutribeads’ bracelet – a low tech wearable educational tool for educating mothers about nutrition. Her organization SOCHAI was chosen as the winner of One Young World – Lead 2030 Challenge in SDG 2 Zero Hunger category in 2019.
bonita@yoshan.org
“I believe that creating a gender just world should start from our own home and community. Through YoSHAN I strive to empower the youth, and enable them to take charge of their own sexual reproductive health rights.”
Co-Founder
Elisha Joshi
Elisha Joshi (EJ) is passionate about conducting research and advocating on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
She received a Master’s degree in Nursing in Women Health and Development at Mahargunj Nursing Campus, Tribhuwan University, and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), Dharan. She is currently working as a senior research associate in Nepal Injury Research Centre. She is also serving as a founding member in YOSHAN. Additionally, she is also a Women Deliver Young leader 2018 batch. She has worked as Young Midwife Coordinator at the Midwifery Society of Nepal. EJ strongly believes that gender is a spectrum, not binary.
elisha@yoshan.org
Co-Founder
Anjila Thapa
Anjila Thapa is a final year medical student at Maharajgunj Medical Campus, and proud to call herself a feminist. She believes hard work, dedication and surrounding yourself with the correct people can help overcome any problem! She envisions a Nepal, where every single human being is equal before the law as well as one another.
anjila@yoshan.org
“Don’t judge the person based on what they have decided , respect what they have gone through and support the individual right to choose for Safe Abortion.”
Co-Founder
Prabina Sujakhu
Prabina Sujakhu is a youth activist passionate about Health and Social issues especially SRHR and DRR. She holds a Bachelor degree in Health Care Management and a Master degree in Food and Nutrition Specialization. She is skilled in using motivation approaches and methodologies for mobilizing youth for social change initiatives. She has been advocating on sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people in emergencies from more than 10 years through organizational involvements and individual efforts.
Prabina is an executive member of National Youth Federation Nepal. She is an executive member of Nepal Redcross Society, Bahari Sub Chapter. She is also a Youth Champion of Asia Safe Abortion Partnership and the Co-founder of YoSHAN.
prabina@yoshan.org
Co-Founder
Durga Sapkota
Durga Sapkota is youth health advocate, pursuing Advanced Nursing degree in Women’s Health Development. Also she is a Scholar of Law. She has more than 10 years of experience in both clinical and public health part of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal and Adolescent health. She had been involved in dozen of Sexual and Reproductive Health Research and been doing evidence based advocacy.
Durga holds a leadership position at “Karma Health”, where young people are prototyping community-driven integrated health care models to ensure Universal Health Coverage. She was selected as one of 12 resilient frontline health care providers globally by Johnson and Johnson for her contribution to the most marginalized community through Karma Health.
She is a member of South Asian Regional Accountability (SARJAI), a network working to foster recognition of women’s reproductive rights in the region. She is one of the focal person of Asia Safe Abortion Partnership (ASAP) for Nepal and Cofounder of YoSHAN. She is also a young leader of Women Deliver and Ambassador of One Young World.
durga@yoshan.org
“Safe abortion is just part of health care and seeking health care is Fundamental Rights. Stigmatizing safe abortion means we are creating barriers in utilizing someone’s basic right. So, Let’s be mindful of that.”
