SNASEA 2013: 40 SEMIFINALISTS’ PROFILES

119 to 40: The Process 

1st Step: Grouping all applications in 4 different groups as per their growth cycle (Seedling, Toddler, Adolescent, Maturation)

2nd Step: All files handed over to our Social Enterprise experts for first round of screening

3rd Step: Compiling of scores – drilling down to top 59

4th Step: Analysis of each of the applicants on the basis of their impact, innovation, sustainability and income

5th Step: Narrowing the list down to the 40 semi-finalists

SNASEA 40 SEMI FINALISTS (In no particular order)

Bina Shrestha | Shine Cleaning – Employment | Kathmandu

9801 101 058 | info@shinenepal.com

Shine Cleaning aims to address the inequality in wages and educational opportunities for people from low socioeconomic backgrounds. It employ people from poor economic backgrounds, especially single women and mothers and provide them with specialised skills through the use of modern cleaning machines. Their children are also given a greater opportunity to complete their education as the venture financially supports one child per employee to go to school. The company also aims to reduce the need for many people to seek work abroad and away from their families.

Tej Kumari Tiwari | Nepal Society of Disabled Multi-purpose Cooperative Limited – Disability Issues | Dhading

9841 702 387, 01 4218 672 | tejktiwari@gmail.com

This cooperative provides financial and technical support to persons with disabilities and children with disabilities. It promotes financial betterment through income generation oriented activities and by providing business skills training. To help new businesses, it has also provides small loans to members who may want to start their own venture. Over 200 households are involved in different income generating activities as a result, and through increased confidence and independence, many members have also been part of community development activities.

Sabanam Shrestha | Women in Floriculture – Employment | Kathmandu

9841 252 439, 01 4168 665 | wif_nepal@hotmail.com

Women in Floriculture provides gardening and floriculture related services. It provides an opportunity for women of low caste or those that are economically disadvantaged to earn a livable wage and become financially independent. The main focus area of this venture is to train and employ women to provide goods and services like flower arrangements, garden design, landscaping, seed and equipment sales, etc. Run by a woman, this venture has been able to set an example in the community and served as an inspiration to others.

Shanti Shrestha and Nirjala Shrestha | Friend Handicraft – Employment | Kathmandu

9841 323 907, 9841 554 350 | shanti416@gmail.com, nirjala444@gmail.com

Friend Handicraft produces accessories made from felt fabric. It provides employment opportunities and other benefits to women from lower income households – giving them a livable wage and a safe working environment. Apart from employment opportunities and income earning skills, the venture also supports the education of employees’ children by providing an education scholarship. The products are exported internationally.

Riddhi Amatya | Bluebell Herbal Products – Environment | Bhaktapur

9841 472 949, 9841 218 201 | bluebellherbals@gmail.com

Bluebell Herbal Products manufactures beauty and medicinal Ayurvedic products. Through its work, it also promotes the preservation of aromatic and medicinal plants and herbs. It works in communities to help develop a sense of responsibility in locals towards their environment. It has also been providing training and employment to individuals from a lower income household which has brought about positive communal changes. There is a greater stability and harmony in the communities where this venture works.

Dr Sanduk Ruit | Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology – Health | Kathmandu

01 4493 775, 01 4493 684 | tec@tilganga.org

This institute provides qualitative and affordable eye care services across geographical, political, social and economic boundaries. It also serves as a research institute, and provides medical services through outreach programs and health camps across Nepal and some parts of Asia. It has been in operation for over two decades, and has helped over 2 million people, and trained over 4 thousand health care personnel. Currently, over half of the total number of cataract surgeries outside of Kathmandu and other urban center is being managed by this institute.

Muna Shrestha | Jamarko – Environment | Kathmandu

9841 581 677, 01 4351 050 | jamarko@gmail.com

Jamarko promotes recycling and use of recycled products in everyday life. It collects waste paper, processes it and creates 100% recycled paper and paper products. It has been able to create a brand for itself by supplying quality products and is the sole supplier of such products in Kathmandu. Apart from working to promote recycling and raising awareness about proper waste management, the venture also trains and employs marginalized women. 80% of the workforce is comprised of women from lower income groups. The venture supplies paper to a wide assortment of organisations – including the Government, hotels, local offices, etc. And it also exports internationally.

Dipak Prasad Koirala | Junar Kendriya Sahakari Sangh – Agriculture | Sindhuli

9844 045 355, 01 4111 872 | dipak.sindhuli@gmail.com

This cooperative commercially produces citrus (sweet orange), processes and markets it. It focuses on improving the socio-economic standards of Junar farmers, developing and extending market networks of Junar products and shares technical/administrative knowledge with the farmers. It has helped establish a value chain model through a processing unit and is working to strengthen its exports to China. It works with low income farmers from Sindhuli, Ramechhap and mid-hilly regions, and is spread across 49 districts. To sustain itself, the venture generates a part of its income through membership fees and the remaining through the sale of its produce.

Shrawan Pradhan | Gham Power Nepal – Energy | Kathmandu

01 4438 950, 01 4006 623 | shrawan@ghampower.com

Gham Power Nepal provides solar power related services to businesses and remote sites. It covers all aspects of installing and maintaining solar panels – from initial feasibility studies and design to arranging finance, installation and maintenance. They are trying to alleviate the issues that arise from load shedding in urban areas, and create micro grids in rural areas that can bring electricity to villages. They have also installed solar panel powered lights in heritage sites and local bus stands. The venture has worked in different parts of Nepal including Pokhara, Dang, Biratnagar and Janakpur. Their Community Micro-grid Project is in rural areas to provide power back up to their basic needs like communication centers, telemedicine centers and mobile banking.

Nishesh Rai | PANN Brick – Environment, Livelihood | Dhankuta

9842 054 866, 9852 047 707 | kneeshesh@yahoo.com

PANN Brick produces eco-friendly clay bricks in Dhankuta district of Nepal using Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln methodology to use less raw resources, produce less environmental pollution and ensure economic viability. It ensures up to 90% less smoke emission than traditional brick kilns. In its efforts to optimize the utilization of local resources, the venture uses the bare land in off season for planting seasonal vegetables.  Along with this the shed house is also utilized for poultry farm for at least 6 months in off season, so that the space is utilized and local people or the staffs are employed year round.

Ratna Bahadur Newar | Tamakoshi Resin and Turpentine – Forestry | Janakpur

9854 040 509, 9754 203 171 | ratnanewar1@gmail.com

Initiated and administered by community forest user groups, this venture works to collect and sell resin from pine cones and uses the revenue to uplift the local marginalized communities. The venture focuses on increment of employment and wages in community forests and forest conservation, while also addressing the problem of forest fire risk and dry environment for less pine trees to grow. The organization has provided two hundred tons of pine cones to national firms.

Gyanendra Lal Pradhan | Hydro Solutions – Energy | Kathmandu

9801 021 222, 01 4434 003 | gyanendra@hydrosolutions.com.np

Hydro Solutions has been working in the field of energy generation with sustainable community development and developing hydro projects. The venture has been working for local infrastructure development like rural electrification, rural roads and bridges, drinking water and irrigation schemes, health facilities, local skills development, and  empowerment through ownership (shares to the community based companies). It is also involved in developing a model village in Pithauli, Nawalparasi and has started a collective cow husbandry project.

Prem Bahadur Lama | Ashapuri Organic Farm – Agriculture | Sanga

01 4381 004, 9813 508 849 | ashapuri33@gmail.com

Ashapuri Organic Farm cultivates organic vegetables, fruits and herbs for sales. And it also has a livestock rearing component. It is working with various farmers’ groups in nine districts of Nepal, from Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, to Dolakha and Dhading. Apart from promoting the use of natural fertilizer and pesticides, it employs close to fifty individuals and sources produce for intra-Nepal consumption and international export.

Prakash Phuyal | Swachha Nirman Enterprises – Waste Management | Kathmandu

01 4436 621 | snenterprises@info.com.np

Swachha Nirman Enterprises works in the waste management sector. It designs, installs and maintains sewage treatment plants. Its customers are mostly hotels, hospitals, factories, residential projects and high rises. It encourages the reuse of water and minimization of groundwater usage. It plans to work with the Government to create decentralized units of treatment plants in various rivers. And use the resulting sludge as an organic fertilizer, while pumping clean water back into the rivers.

Higher Ground Bakery & Crafts – Livelhood | Lalitpur

9841 287 655, 01 5522 249 | highergroundnepal@gmail.com

Higher Ground Bakery & Crafts works to combat human trafficking and forced labour practices by creating employment opportunities for at risk youth. It supports youth by training them in marketable skills, helps them with business development, provides mentoring and helps them start up their own business. It funds these activities through sales from its Bakery and Cafe, as well as sales of handicrafts through the Crafts section. It focuses on not just human trafficking of young girls, but also young men and women who leave for jobs overseas due to a dearth of opportunities in Nepal.

Tenzin Gonsar | EduLift – Education | Kathmandu

9808 066 017, 9813 160 270 | tenzin.gonsa@gmail.com

EduLift is an after-school educational project that promotes practical learning and student development through academic assistance, college/career counselling and life-skills preparation. It aims to provide an alternative to the exam-based curriculum of the education system in Nepal that does not address the necessary life skills and mindset needed for the workforce and everyday life. EduLift was founded with the belief in the power of experiential based learning, where students can explore real-life resources, such as career counselling, entrepreneurship and technology.

Laxmi Datta Bhatta | Dipjyoti Aadhunik Mauripalan Cooperative – Agriculture | Baitadi

9848 770 995

This cooperative promotes the use of modern beekeeping methods as a means to provide livelihood and preserve the environment. Through training and support of interested individuals it provides income generation opportunities for locals. Marginalized individuals are provided this training without charge. And through promotion of beekeeping, it hopes to promote afforestation and increase awareness about the importance of a balanced ecosystem. Particularly, the ‘cheaure’ tree is a focus of these efforts.

Ujjwal Chapagain | The Himalayan Rabbit Farm – Agriculture, Livelihood | Kathmandu

9851 096 182 | chujjwal@gmail.com

The Himalayan Rabbit Farm works to promote rabbit farming for meat production. Rabbit farming is labor unintensive and provides high value returns. Local youth can be motivated to take up this profession instead of seeking opportunities abroad. It also helps solve protein related malnutrition problems since rabbit meat is very high in protein. The venture has already trained one hundred farmers, and eighty of them have either started rabbit farming or upgraded their existing venture. Rabbit hide can also be used in handicraft production.

Shanta Banskota Koirala | Kanchenjunga Tea Estate & Research Center – Agriculture | Panchthar

9851 082 828, 9851 055 155 | kte@organic.wlink.com.np

This tea estate and research center was started by a cooperative of farmers and produces orthodox tea using organic farming methods. It also cultivates and markets various spices and herbs. The venture has also facilitated a cow husbandry program in the community, and scholarships for children of farmers. It also trains farmers on the importance of environmental preservation.

Chisapani Samudayik Jadibuti Prasodhan Udyog – Agriculture, Livelihood | Nawalparasi

9867 025 825, 078 580 447

The enterprise cultivates and processes crops for essential oil production. It also markets the essential oils. The land used is either community forests or public land that is in disuse. It employs people from disadvantaged castes, people without land, and the economically disadvantaged. It set itself apart from other essential oils producers by not using pesticide and creating organic oils. The venture manufactures low volume-high value oils that are mostly exported overseas, or sold to herbal industries in Nepal.

Radha Paudel | Miteri Recycle Center – Community Development, Livelihood | Kathmandu

9849 596 298, 01 4227 730 | rpaudel456@gmail.com

Miteri Recycle Center collects and sells donated clothing to impoverished communities. It uses a women’s groups to clean and fix old clothes, and sells clothing at a reduced rate. This creates employment opportunities for the women and helps prevent cold weather related morbidity. It hopes to preserve the dignity of impoverished individuals by selling clothing at an affordable rate, instead of providing donation.

Fulmaya Tamang | Bhattedada Homestay, Bhattedada Mahila Krisak Cooperative – Tourism, Women Empowerment | Kavrepalanchok

9841 006 619, 01 490 411 | ful_maya2001@yahoo.com

Established with support from the Rotary Club of Thamel, the co-operative has been working with local women to provide them low interest rate loans, promote agriculture and buffalo herding, as well as providing health services to the community. Children from households who are part of the co-operative, have to be sent to school as part of their agreement. Up to 5% of the profits from the homestay also go to community development funds.

Women Development Advocacy Center – Technology, Livelihood | Dhanusha

9817 684 555 | mandal1985@gmail.com

The Women Development Advocacy Center (WDAC) establishes Information Communication Technology (ICT) centers in rural areas of Dhanusha to train and help generate employment for marginalized communities. Since most skill development training happens in more urban areas in the region, WDAC has been able to impact over 100 rural youth and women, who have already established 2 ventures of their own. WDAC sustains itself by charging nominal rates for training and providing consulting services.

Suman Shakya | SmartPaani – Environment | Lalitpur

9851 022 192, 5260 506 | suman@oneplanetsolution.com

SmartPaani develops, installs and maintains environmentally friendly rainwater harvesting systems. These system provide potable or grey water for households to combat the water shortage problems faced in Kathmandu and elsewhere. The team also lobbies the Government and raises public awareness about the need to respect water, replenish groundwater and use sustainable means of fulfilling the increasing demand for water.

Sunita Nhema Phuki | R&D Innovative Solutions – Agriculture | Kathmandu

9851 140 610, 9801 140 610 | suni182@yahoo.com

The venture was started to uplift the livelihood of farmers and to promote farming as a business as opposed to sustenance farming. The lack of information about farming techniques, trends and related issues among farmers, traders and entrepreneurs has led to an inefficient industry – which does not inspire new players to enter. The publication of an agriculture based magazine ‘Krishak ra Prabidhi’ coupled with a ‘Krishi Club’ which creates a platform for sharing and networking of knowledge has been working to counter this trend.

Samrat Singh Basnet | Electro Medical Solutions – Health | Kathmandu

9851 015 746, 01 4428 388 | samrat@emsolutions.com.np

After having spent many years in the biomedical sector in Nepal, founder Samrat Singh Basnet sought to address the many issues around poor training and misuse of medical equipment both in hospitals and in the patients’ homes that can often have tragic consequences.  Electro Medical Solutions have set up the first biomedical service centre in Nepal with the dedicated tools and skilled manpower needed to check and maintain medical devices. They also work with healthcare organisations, patients and medical equipment users across Nepal to provide technical assistance and training in the proper use of medical equipment.

Saroj Koirala | Kusal Byabasaya Paramarsha Thatha Talim Kendra – Livelihood | Bara

9845 136 377, 05 3540 457 | kushalpvtltd@gmail.com

Saroj Koirala went to Dubai as a worker due to be lack of employment opportunities in Nepal. He returned to Nepal hoping to address the problems faced by youth like him. His Kusal Business Counselling and Training Institute provides shoemaking and ‘false’ bordering on sarees.  The training provided by the institute gives unemployed and untrained youth a chance at employment, and the production of such clothing generates revenue for his venture. He has provided training to 213 people who are working under him in the market. He believes his experience with working as a businessman and trainer gives him an unique perspective. He is also an entrepreneurship trainer. All production at his venture is only done after a market research in the Bara district – taking into account the demand of the market.

Madhukar KC | Matribhumi Urja – Environment, Health | Kathmandu

9841 152 254, 01 2298 185 | madhukarkc@gmail.com

Madhukar KC invented an air flow filter for stoves and started using fibre dye in their construction. Through an impact assessment it was found that the stove helped to reduce the number of respiratory diseases in the selected Lele area, saved housewives 85 days per year in wood collection due to reduced usage, and also led to about 3.5 hours reduction in time spent cooking and cleaning of dishes due to lower soot production. He plans to create larger stoves, mobile stoves and stoves made of metal (currently mud is used) to appeal to bigger establishments and the urban area.

Bishnu Thakali | Women Environment Preservation Committee – Environment, Women Empowerment | Lalitpur

9841 208 620, 01 5541 068 | b4thakali@gmail.com

Women Environment Preservation Committee (WEPCO) was founded over two decades ago with the aim of empowering local communities to create clean and hygienic urban environments through solid waste management. WEPCO has formed 30 women’s groups directly involving local women in recycling, composting and income generating programs, as well as increasing environmental awareness among urban communities and school children.

Rakesh Shah | Creative Services & Sales – Livelihood | Parsa

9855 023 862, 9802 923 862 | rshahbrj@gmail.com

Creative Services & Sales is a training and employment agency. It is targeted towards marginalized youth that come from low income backgrounds. It uses Rapid Market Appraisal to find gaps in the market, and provides vocational education and training. It also helps trainees find employment outside of the venture. The training is focused towards females and it runs operations in the central Terai region, in the districts of Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Dhanusa, Siraha, Makwanpur and Chitwan. Some training is also provided free of cost.

Gyatri Giri | Be-Suited Nepal – Livelihood | Kathmandu

9851 148 231, 9841 728 248 | besuitednp@gmail.com

Be-Suited Nepal produces ready made garments and interior products. It is a Fair Trade certified company that markets its products internationally. It is the main producer for Studio JUX in the Netherlands. Be-Suited Nepal manufactures high quality products that are environmentally friendly. It provides work placement for underprivileged youth who have been supported by Terre des Hommes and Saathi for their education. It also provides various benefits to its employees, including a daycare center, an elderly home, and provides various skill and personality development training opportunities.

Bhumi Raman Nepal | Shree Agriculture and Forestry Abraham Nursery – Agriculture | Dhading

9841 619 431, 9741 193 190 | dpd_160@yahoo.com

This nursery produces and markets various plants, honey and dairy products. Bhumi Raman Nepal works to encourage and inspire other farmers to use and promote organic farming and to utilize modern farming methods. He has worked to bring efficiency to animal husbandry, nurseries and beekeeping in the neighbouring communities, while also promoting forest and environment conservation. He has also opened a ‘Green Farmers Group’ to systemize milk collection, and is involved in various public awareness programs regarding environmental conservation.

CraftVision – Culture, Livelihood | Kathmandu

4264 993, 4256 907 | info@craftvision.com.np

CraftVision produces, markets and promotes Nepalese handmade Lokta paper, and various products made from the same. Lokta paper is traditionally handmade paper. It works to preserve the art of papermaking by employing traditional artisans and training new ones. It focuses on training and employing persons with disabilities and those that are from low income backgrounds. Its products are sold nationally as well as exported internationally.

Keshav Raj Thapa | ‘Paper manufacturing’ – Agriculture, Environment | Sarlahi

9844 062 625, 04 6530 675, keshav.thapa30@yahoo.com

This ventures utilizes leaves of banana and pineapple plants, that usually go to waste, to create paper and paper products. It also manufactures toothpicks from bamboo and charcoal from organic waste. The paper making aspect of the venture has employed eight youth, the paper products manufacturing employs ten individuals, the bamboo toothpicks manufacturing is providing income to fifty households, and the charcoal manufacturing is employing ten individuals. Charcoal is made from plants that are harmful to other plants.

Sudha Basnet | Women’s Dream Beauty & Multi Service – Women Empowerment | Kathmandu

9808 089 224, 01 4428388 | womensdream12@gmail.com

This venture works to promote entrepreneurship spirit in unemployed housewives, and to manufacture handmade paper products. It is famous for its paper pencils that are made from recycled waste paper. It provides educational classes on waste management, training on sewing, cosmetic beauty and baking. It also helps to market products from home based workers. Through its various products and programs, it hopes to help women find their voice and become socially and financially independent. The products are sold nationally and exported internationally.

Thaneshwar Bhusal | Samudayik Khadya Prasodhan Udyog – Agriculture | Parbat

9857 622 255, 067 690 600 | thanesworb@yahoo.com

This venture processes and packages produce, fruit and coffee. It uses locally available resources that may be going to waste to help create an income source in the community. It processes, packages and markets various products like lapsi (Nepalese hog plum), oranges, lemons, ginger, etc. It also runs a lapsi nursery and rice mill. The products are sold nationally and exported internationally. Through support from various organisations, the venture also facilitates training program on food processing for local farmers groups from marginalized communities.

Om Thapaliya | HomeNet Nepal – Community Development | Kathmandu

9801 013 358, 01 4222 176 | homenetnp@wlink.com.np

HomeNet Nepal is a membership based advocacy group. It supports the rights of workers in the informal sector. These are mainly domestic workers and home based workers. The organisation further champions for the urban poor, especially women, who may fall through legal and social gaps and not have the right representation and support from civil society or legal protection and rights. It also works to raise occupational ability of economically marginalized individuals and conducts research in this focus area.

Lalmati Rana | ‘Building bamboo cottages’ – Livelihood | Dhangadhi

091 526 601

This venture uses locally available bamboo as raw material to build cottages. Lalmati Rana contends that she is the pioneer in the practice of making bamboo cottages as a business in Nepal. The workforce is mostly made up low caste, indigenous or otherwise marginalized women who are living below the poverty line. Her venture has helped them find a source of income, and has also made her an example of women entrepreneurship in her community. This has inspired others like her to become financially self reliant.

Uttam Thapa Sanjel | Samata Shiksha Niketan HSS and College – Education | Kathmandu

9851 071 468 | uttamsanjel3@gmail.com

Samata Shiksha Niketan Higher Secondary School and College provides academic courses from Nursery to Bachelors for impoverished individuals. They charge a nominal fee of NPR 100 per month. The institute has taught over 30,000 students till date. The school has branches in twenty districts in Nepal and focuses on extra curricular activities, helping to provide employment to graduates and motivational components including guest speaker sessions.

Ganesh Bahadur Bista | Ghodaghodi Beekeeping Group – Agriculture | Kailali

9858 423 692

This ventures makes and sells beehives, as well as honey.Ganesh Bahadur Bista also raises awareness in the community about the economic and environmental benefits of beekeeping, and encourages other farmers to start their own beehive and honey business. There have been seventeen new businesses established in the surrounding areas as a direct result of this venture.