At 14, Sabnam wasn’t sure her voice mattered. Today, at 19, she’s helping shape conversations on national and international platforms.

As Last Night A DJ Saved My Life begins a long-term partnership with the Girls’ Empowerment Programme in Nepal, we’re introducing you to the remarkable young women behind the project. First up is Sabnam, a mentor, advocate and living example of what happens when one opportunity is shared with many others.

Hi Sabnam! Tell us about yourself.

“I’m Sabnam, I’m 19 years old, and I’m passionate about creating opportunities for girls to learn, lead and speak up. I first joined the Girls’ Empowerment Programme when I was 14, and it changed the direction of my life.”

What was life like before you joined the programme?

“I questioned whether my voice mattered. Like many girls, I had ideas and opinions, but I didn’t always have the confidence to express them.”

Through workshops, leadership opportunities and mentorship, Sabnam began building confidence alongside practical skills. But, as she explains, the biggest transformation wasn’t learning to speak louder — it was believing her perspective had value.

“The programme didn’t speak for me. It taught me to speak for myself.”

What has that confidence led to?

Today, Sabnam represents young women in conversations that once felt unimaginable.

“I’ve had opportunities to contribute on national and international platforms, and I’m now helping create spaces where other girls can learn and lead too.”

That journey is exactly why the programme believes in long-term empowerment rather than one-off interventions: girls become leaders, mentors and role models for the next generation.

There’s one quote you shared that really stayed with us…

“I’m not the end of that investment. I’m its ripple effect.”

When we asked Sabnam what she meant, she smiled.

“When one girl is given an opportunity, it doesn’t stop with her. She takes it into her family, her school and her community. Other girls see what’s possible and begin believing it’s possible for them too.”

Why is investing in girls so important?

Sabnam’s answer became the heartbeat of our Nepal campaign:

“When we invest in a girl, we are not just investing in one girl’s future. We’re investing in every life her voice will touch, every decision she will influence, and every girl who will dare to believe: if she can, maybe I can too.”

What happens next?

This October, the LNADJ community travels to Nepal for A Sonic Adventure, raising funds to help equip the new Girls Learning Centre while beginning mentorship and collaborative creative programmes alongside our local partners.

Sabnam is one of the young women helping shape that future.

And if her story teaches us anything, it’s this:

Opportunity doesn’t end with one person. It travels.

EVERY GIRL SHOULD. EVERY GIRL CAN. EVERY GIRL WILL.

Follow our Nepal journey as we introduce more of the inspiring girls and young women behind this partnership.