Our Partners | Far Too Young

Partners

AFFILIATE

Established in 1993 as a non-profit NGO under the Social Welfare Council of Nepal. For the past 33 years, Media Alert has worked in Nepal, South Asia, and internationally on communication projects with various partner community-based organizations.

Media Alert's expertise lies in community-based programs, enter-educate approach, skill and capacity building, advocacy, social marketing, research and planning, monitoring and evaluation.

As a long-standing partner of Far Too Young, Inc., Media Alert collaborates on media awareness campaigns, community advocacy, and educational outreach across Nepal, India, and border communities along the Nepal-India-Bangladesh corridor.

Media Alert also served as the primary field partner during eight years of research and development for the Far Too Young film project.

Media Alert will continue to support dissemination, advocacy to policymakers, and grassroots engagement alongside other partner NGOs and community-based organizations working specifically on child marriage issues.

Media Alert uses behavior change communication (BCC) in creating awareness, increasing knowledge base, and building approval. Through BCC, Media Alert influences behavior and has designed and implemented many unique campaigns especially targeting marginalized grassroots audiences.

The organization has produced and disseminated scores of shorts and documentaries, public service spots, and several edutainment film campaigns against modern day slavery, human trafficking, child marriage, HIV/AIDS, on gender equality, women empowerment, human rights, health, the environment, democracy, and peace building to educate and empower people and communities.

Media Alert regularly conducts seminars and workshops on communication and strategies, campaign development, social marketing, and BCC with development partners, government bodies, and international non-governmental organizations.

Since its establishment, Media Alert runs the Fr. Moran Education Fund which provides scholarships to needy children across Nepal, runs regular free clinics and health camps, and has been providing help and support to victims of man-made disasters and people with health emergencies.

Established in September 2000, Visual Communication Ltd. (VISCOM) is a pioneering Social Behavior Change (SBC) communication entity based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. For over 25 years, VISCOM has delivered innovative and diversified development communication products and services, offering comprehensive one-stop communication solutions tailored to the unique needs of clients across diverse sectors.

VISCOM's fields of work span health and wellbeing, gender equality, education, governance, migration, climate change, disaster resilience, and agriculture — with a particular focus on safe migration and combating trafficking in persons.

VISCOM partners with leading creative professionals to produce high-quality mass awareness campaigns and Social & Behavior Change initiatives for the Government of Bangladesh, UN agencies, and national and international NGOs. An ISO 9001-certified organization, VISCOM adheres to UN principles on Human Rights, Environmental Sustainability, and Gender Equality.

Their specialized services include SBC strategy and implementation, community mobilization, advocacy, multimedia production, digital inclusion, capacity building, and campaign management. VISCOM's communication approach is guided by the globally recognized “5 Rights” — delivering the right message, to the right audience, at the right time, through the right channel, and by the right person.

As a key partner of Far Too Young, Inc. in Bangladesh, VISCOM collaborates on media awareness campaigns, community mobilization, and advocacy efforts in key areas where child marriage is of serious concern. VISCOM also played a critical role during the eight-year research phase of the Far Too Young film project, working alongside the Far Too Young team and partner NGOs. VISCOM continues to support dissemination strategies, advocacy to planners and policymakers, empowerment of local community leaders, and bringing awareness programs directly into classrooms.

MENTORS

MRS. CHANDNI JOSHI

Mrs. Joshi is a gender, rights, and policy specialist with over 52 years of experience. In her initial years, she served as the Joint Secretary as well as the Chief of Development Programs for the Government of Nepal. During her tenure, she initiated the pioneering PCRW Program that gave rural women in Nepal access to production credit.

She has also contributed immensely to gender-responsive budgets in the country. In 1990, she set up the UNIFEM (now known as UN Women) South Asia Regional Office and devoted 18 years molding it into a knowledge-based organization. As the Regional Director, she furthered UNIFEM's development agenda by supporting innovative and experimental programs benefiting women while keeping in mind national and regional priorities.

In 2017, the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Government of Nepal appointed Ms. Joshi as the Chair of the Think Tank of the Ministry. Presently, she is also a member of the UN Women's Civil Society Advisory Group. She was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the President of Nepal in 2009.

MRS. RITA THAPA

Mrs. Thapa is widely recognized for her groundbreaking work in founding Tewa, Nepal's first and only fund for women. She has over thirty-five years of experience as a feminist educator, community activist, initiating and supporting institutions for women's empowerment and for peace.

Thapa also founded and led (2001-2009) Nagarik Aawaz, an initiative for conflict transformation and peace-building in Nepal. In recognition of this exceptional "innovative contribution to the public good," Rita received the rare honor of being named an Ashoka Fellow.

She served as a past Board Member and Chair of the Global Fund for Women and the Urgent Action Fund. In 2005, she was included in the 1000 Women for Peace Nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. She also served on the Board of the Global Fund for Community Foundation and the South Asian Women's Fund.

THE LATE KAMALA BHASIN

Kamala Bhasin (1946–2021) was a pioneering feminist thinker, educator, poet, and activist whose work transformed conversations on gender equality, development, and social justice across South Asia and beyond. She dedicated her life to challenging deeply rooted inequalities and advancing the rights and dignity of women.

Beginning her career in grassroots development and later working with international organizations such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Bhasin became a strong advocate for participatory, community-led approaches. She emphasized that true development must center women's voices and address structural injustice. As a co-founder of the South Asian feminist network Sangat and a key figure in Jagori, she helped build powerful platforms for regional solidarity, education, and activism.

Renowned for her ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity and creativity, Bhasin used songs, stories, and dialogue to engage communities—from rural women to policymakers. Her call for "Azadi" (freedom) became a defining message of liberation from patriarchy and inequality. Through her writings and lifelong advocacy, she challenged social norms and inspired generations to envision a more just and equitable world.

Throughout her life, Kamala Bhasin remained a passionate advocate for justice, known for her warmth, wit, and unwavering commitment to change. Even in her later years, she continued to speak out against rising authoritarianism and gender-based violence, inspiring new generations of activists. Her legacy endures in the movements she helped build and the countless individuals she empowered to question inequality and imagine a more just world.

Far Too Young, Inc. had the privilege and honor of receiving her guidance and mentorship until her passing in 2021.

MRS. PRAMILA RIJAL ACHARYA

Mrs. Rijal is the President of South Asian Women Development Forum (SAWDF), a SAARC recognized body, with long-standing experience and recognition in bringing together a consortium of women-led institutions with extensive work around women's entrepreneurship through SAWDF Chapters in South Asia.

Mrs. Rijal is the Board member of the Industry, Commerce, Promotion Dialogue Council headed by The Prime Minister of Nepal. She is the past President of The Federation of Women Entrepreneur Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) and Charter President of Zonta Club, Kathmandu. She has served as a board member of several boards in Nepal including the Institute of Foreign Affairs, Industrial Promotional Board, and the National Women's Commission.

As a social entrepreneur, she is the recipient of several awards as the harbinger of change on the advancement and empowerment of women at the national and regional level. She has been conferred the Prabal Jana Sewa Shree medal by the Right Honorable President of Nepal, one of Nepal's highest civilian awards.