Kathmandu/ In a vibrant celebration of Girls in ICT Day, Shequal Foundation, in partnership with UN Women Nepal, concluded IDEATHON 2025—a powerful prelude to Nepal’s largest all-female hackathon. Held on April 24 at SecurityPal Nepal in Baluwatar, the one-day event brought together over 60 young women from diverse educational and professional backgrounds to explore, innovate, and co-create under the compelling theme: “Unpaid Care Work – Recognize. Reduce. Redistribute.”

Designed as a non-competitive, guided mini-hackathon, IDEATHON 2025 provided a platform for participants to address real-world challenges related to unpaid care work using human-centric design thinking. Twelve expert mentors from Nepal’s tech, design, and development sectors facilitated the day, offering feedback, insights, and inspiration throughout.

Participants collaborated in teams to conduct empathy mapping, identify key problems, and brainstorm practical, impactful solutions. The event emphasized inclusivity, creativity, and critical thinking — fostering an environment where young women could grow their confidence and explore leadership in the tech space.

Astha Sharma, Co-Managing Director of Shequal Foundation, reflected on the event’s impact:

“IDEATHON was more than just a pre-event — it was a space for young women to step into the world of innovation and problem-solving. Hosting it on Girls in ICT Day was a powerful reminder of the need for more inclusive tech spaces. The energy, empathy, and creativity in the room were truly inspiring.”

IDEATHON 2025 served as a launchpad for participants preparing for Shequal Foundation’s upcoming flagship event — Nepal’s Largest All-Female Hackathon, scheduled for June 26–28, 2025 under the banner “Hacking for Empowered Nepal.” The main hackathon, also in collaboration with UN Women, aims to continue empowering women in technology and innovation.