Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader — Smart Minds SMP Meet & Greet for Member School Leaders

There is a quiet power in a room full of educators who share one belief — that a child who reads is a child who leads. On the evening of 24 July 2026, Smart Minds welcomed the principals and school leaders of our School Mentoring Project (SMP) member schools to a warm Meet & Greet: an evening of reflection, fellowship, and a shared resolve to nurture a stronger reading culture in Nepal's classrooms and homes.

An evening built around reading

Guided by two timeless reminders — Margaret Fuller's "Today a reader, tomorrow a leader" and Descartes' "The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of past centuries" — the gathering turned to a question every school in Nepal is asking: how do we help our students fall in love with reading, and keep that love alive beyond the exam hall?

Voices from the field

We were honoured to welcome three distinguished voices to share their experience and ideas: - Hom Nath Acharya — Machhapuchchhre IB World School - Chandrayan Shrestha — Triyog High School - The team from Bookland Nepal

Each spoke to what it truly takes to build readers — not as a one-off campaign, but as a daily habit woven into the life of a school.

The challenges we named — and the solutions we shared

The conversation was honest about the obstacles: exam-driven habits that treat reading as a task, the pull of screens, uneven access to good books, and libraries that too often sit unused. But it was even richer in solutions — dedicated daily reading time, teachers who read alongside their students, welcoming school and classroom libraries, home reading that whole families join, student-led book clubs, and celebrating readers the way we celebrate toppers.

More than a meeting

Between sessions, the evening did what it was meant to do — it brought people together. Leaders who mentor their schools every day found time to refresh, exchange ideas across campuses, and build the kind of network that makes the whole SMP community stronger. Over dinner, colleagues became friends and ideas became plans.

With thanks

This evening was made possible in partnership with Bookland Nepal, who generously co-sponsored the program — a fitting collaboration for an evening devoted to books and reading. Our heartfelt thanks to every principal and school leader who joined us, and to our guest speakers for their generosity and insight.

The School Mentoring Project is Smart Minds' long-term partnership with schools to rethink education and refine teaching — from professional development and classroom mentoring to the everyday culture that shapes young minds. Building a reading culture is one more step on that journey, and we are walking it together.

To learn more about joining the SMP family, visit smartminds.edu.np or call +977 9813692264.