The Global-Preneurship Conference in Nepal, August 11-21, 2016: An European Union Project

It is at promising time, I got a chance to participate at Nepal in Global Preneurship Conference as part delegation for Indian Social Entrepreneur. The moment at which Nepal seems to be focused to stabilised itself political and economically after internal turmoil for last two decades especially since 2006 and rebuild itself after the devastating earthquake last year.  The interactions there officially involved various social organisation, public institutions and visits to historic and cultural places; however, we had amble time to have conversation with general public about nation and progress.

The first visit was to Children’s Art Museum (CAM) of Nepal (CAM), a creative art studio cum workshop specially designed for children and youth. It was a unique project for creative learning of young children in Kathmandu, Nepal. The next visit was to Edushala and business model workshop with its founder, Ruchin Singh, a passion driven and innovative entrepreneur to running the venture to impart training from educational to vocational to skill or hobbies. The set-up based out of Patan, Nepal Edushala works for rebuilding Nepal through education. The workshop of business models, was important learning for entrepreneurs. Our subsequent discussion with N-Agro founder Robin Sitoula, involved understanding situation of agriculture in Nepal, and farmers with small holding small. It was motivating to understand how they are trying to works with small & marginal farmers and teaches them about the importance of land pooling and organic farming.  The interactive talk session also highlighted their focus to increase the eco friendly consumption and healthy food chain. 

We also met the leaders of YUWA, at youth based organisation at their office in Katmandu, which was very similar to our organisation, BYNF – Bharatiya Yuva Netritva Forum (Indian Youth Leadership Forum). The talk was interactive, illustrating their work and issues faced by youth in Nepal. In addition we had business ideation workshop with students of Nobel College, which received positive feedback. One of the highlight of the conference was meeting at 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking Company and Empowering women of Nepal at Pokhara founded by 3 Nepalese women. Founders explained their journey in last two decades and how their idea developed from initial phase of facing stiff resistance by the local people and society at large and how they overcame their challenge. It is a well-awarded success story now, and has been empowering local Nepalese women.

The conference was inspiring, helping us to understand various good practices and investigating these case studies of social entrepreneurship. The extraordinary beautiful terrain of Nepal also provided us with some extraordinary experiences, specially helping us in understanding dynamics at play in the country. In addition, we had a small trekking trip to World Peace Pagoda in Pohkara, Shambhu temple in Kathmandu, Mountaineering Museums, Bhakatpur and much more. It was a cultural delight with historic and spiritual sites, with variety of local cuisines and welcoming local folk songs. Besides program, I was fortunate enough to get time to explore more of Nepal, sign up partnerships for BYNF, have darshan at Pashupathinath and visit Patan. After UK, it was first time I was away from India on 15 August, our  Independence day, however visit to Embassy and listening to the warm speeches their