Event Report

18, 19 & 21 November 2011

Prepared by:

ChangeFusion December 2011

Event Report

CONTENTS OVERVIEW ...... 3

BAZAAR & SEMINAR: 18th & 19th November ...... 4

PROCESS ...... 4

BAZAAR: ...... 4

SEMINARS: ...... 4

SCREENINGS & INTERACTIONS...... 5

AWARD CEREMONY: 21st November ...... 6

SELECTION CRITERIA ...... 6

SELECTION PROCESS ...... 6

USE OF AWARD MONEY ...... 9

ChangeFusion Nepal Babermahal Revisited, G.P.O. Box: 836, , Nepal,Email:[email protected], www.nepal.changefusionnepal.org 2

Event Report

OVERVIEW

The Surya Nepal Asha Social Entrepreneurship Award 2011 (SNASEA) was a three day event on 18, 19 & 21 November, to showcase the ideas and products of social entrepreneurs. The days of the event was decided keeping in mind the ‘Global Entrepreneurship Week’ which takes place from November 14 – 20, spurring new ideas, ingenuity and firm creation through more than 40,000 local, national and global activities. Keeping in mind the significance of the week, the event was modeled around the examples of entrepreneurship events all across the world sponsored by Surya Nepal Private Limited and Supported by National Business Initiative.

Our vision was not only to celebrate the hidden heroes for their great initiatives but also to showcase their ventures and the impact they have made. We wanted to reward and recognise the extraordinary achievements of ordinary people and encourage others to follow these examples of individuals creating value for the people, planet and profit.

The objectives of the SNASEA were to promote social entrepreneurship and the ideas behind it through:

 Identifying, awarding and exposing leading social entrepreneurs  Fostering a community and exchange of leading social entrepreneurs in Nepal  Establishing a network of supporters (mentors, finance institutes, market linkages, business services, etc.) to support and scale up existing ideas  Creating awareness among the public to promote existing ventures and to inspire/motivate others to follow

18th & 19th November witnessed the Spirit of Social Entrepreneurship being celebrated in Nepal through a platform for ‘Transaction and Transformation’ filled with: Ideas - Interaction - Networking – Knowledge –Mentoring. Supported by our partners Synervate and Nepal Info Park, 18th & 19th November proved to be a platform for the entrepreneurs and visitors to interact, learn, share ideas and build networks. 20 selected social entrepreneurs showcased their ideas in the Bazaar and got a chance to attend the Seminars in the picturesque surroundings of Babermahal Revisited.

The Award Ceremony on 21st November celebrated the 5 winners, along with all other individuals who dedicate their lives to change. On 22nd August 2011, the call for applications was announced and we received 66 applications and nominations. The jury panel was established with experts of diverse backgrounds and after an intense process of short listing, to narrow it down to the winners, we physically visited the ventures to verify all relevant information and documents. We wanted the hidden heroes receive the attention and support they deserve to continue their work for the future. The event also saw the presence of Vineet Rai from India who shared his personal and professional experience of running a successful social enterprise in India called Aavishkaar.

The SNASEA was the first ever event of its kind and has set a lot of benchmarks for all the sectors in Nepal. Surya Nepal Private Limited’s involvement as the sponsor has set an example that the private sector can work together with the social sector to bring about meaningful changes in society as was the case with the event. The three days saw the beginning of a new chapter in the history of social entrepreneurship in Nepal.

ChangeFusion Nepal Babermahal Revisited, G.P.O. Box: 836, Kathmandu, Nepal,Email:[email protected], www.nepal.changefusionnepal.org 3

Event Report

BAZAAR & SEMINAR: 18th & 19th November

As part of the Surya Nepal Asha Social Entrepreneurship Award, 18th & 19th November witnessed the Spirit of Social Entrepreneurship being celebrated in Nepal through a platform for ‘Transaction and Transformation’ filled with: Ideas - Interaction - Networking – Knowledge –Mentoring.

Supported by our partners Synervate and Nepal Info Park, 18th & 19th November proved to be a platform for the entrepreneurs and visitors to interact, learn, share ideas and build networks. 20 selected social entrepreneurs showcased their ideas in the Bazaar and got a chance to attend the Seminars in the picturesque surroundings of Babermahal Revisited.

PROCESS  There was a call for application for the candidates interested in displaying at the Bazaar  20 Candidates were shortlisted and finalised by ChangeFusion Nepal, Synervate and Nepal Info Park  The ideas/ ventures that were displayed had to have social impact and sustainability plans  The speakers for the seminars were decided based on the expertise required by the candidates and the attendees

BAZAAR: The Bazaar proved to be a marketplace with a difference; with a focus on exchanging ideas rather than just products and was open to public from 11 am – 7pm both days.

 Social entrepreneurs displayed their products, services or ideas to customers, potential investors, friends and other guests.  The gathering was a learning ground for the entrepreneurs to market and network with potential customers and investors and a great opportunity for all guests and exhibitors to share ideas and develop new ones.  Experts and seasoned entrepreneurs gave their time to discuss ideas and business plans

 Social Entrepreneurs showcased and discussed their ideas and ventures with guests, fellow entrepreneurs and potential investors. Feedback and suggestions were important for them to learn and grow.

SEMINARS: The seminars running simultaneously along with the Bazaar, was free and open to public. There were 11 sessions in total planned for both the days excluding 2 technical sessions which had been specially designed for the 20 Social entrepreneurs displaying in the Bazaar.  Established social entrepreneurs shared their stories. They talked about the ups and downs of starting a business, about the challenges and how to convert them into opportunities, and they

ChangeFusion Nepal Babermahal Revisited, G.P.O. Box: 836, Kathmandu, Nepal,Email:[email protected], www.nepal.changefusionnepal.org 4

Event Report

were happy to discuss business plans and venture ideas.  Experts spoke about how to access finance, how to develop business plans and implement them, how to establish networks and successful partnerships, how to improve sales and marketing and other issues of major interest to aspiring entrepreneurs.

Each of the sessions was designed for 1 hour involving interaction and the speakers for the public sessions were:

Sl. No Name Designation Asia Pacific Cultural Heritage Award Winner, Restorer & Renovator, Faculty of 1 Rabindra Puri Kathmandu University Department of Art and Design. 2 Bal K Joshi Founder, thamel.com 3 Ankur Sharma Chief of Research Diyaalo Technologies 4 Jwalanta Shrestha Founder & CTO Diyaalo Technologies 5 Bjorn Soderberg Social Entrepreneur Forest Officer, Department of Forests, Government of Nepal, Leasehold 6 Pashupati N Koirala Forestry and Livestock Programme 7 Sulo Shrestha Shah Founder Formation Carpet & anti child labour activist 8 Ashutosh Tiwari Founding Member Entrepreneurs for Nepal Communication Practitioner Television producer; Copy editor; Talk Show and 9 Somesh Verma News anchor, Kantipur Television 10 Krishna Kharel Director, Government Business Incubation Program 11 Madan Rai Ashoka Fellow, Seed Specialist, Khotang Development Forum

The Closed Sessions were arranged only for the 20 selected social entrepreneurs and was based on the technicalities of the legal, financial and business issues of running an enterprise.

Sl. No Name Designation Management Lecturer at Ace Institute of Management; Managing Director at 1 Alex Shrestha Wonaw & Associates Director/ Consultant at Solutions Consultant Pvt. Ltd, Visiting Faculty, MBA and 2 Ashish Shrestha EMBA Programme at Kathmandu University, School of Management (KUSOM) 3 Sailesh Aryal Corporate Lawyer, Sagarmatha Law Firm

SCREENINGS & INTERACTIONS

 The courtyard was open throughout the day for interactions with the entrepreneurs or amongst visitors  Social Enterprise videos were screened in the courtyard to inspire and engage the guests  Tea, snacks and other refreshments were served by social enterprises such as Chhahari and Café Brown Sugar

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Event Report

AWARD CEREMONY: 21st November

There are many ordinary people doing extraordinary work to create social, environmental and economic value. Often we do not even know about their great achievements. The five winners have been recognized for their achievements and should encourage others to follow these examples of individuals creating value for the people, planet and profit. The vision of the award was not only to celebrate the hidden heroes for their great initiatives but also to showcase their ventures and the impact they have made.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The applicants were selected based on the following criteria:

Person: A track record of trustworthiness and good stakeholder relations is a precondition for eligibility. The person needs to have displayed the grit, vision and passion to succeed.

Project: The project needed to be:

1. Socially / environmentally impactful: The venture should be impactful in transforming systems to tackle the causes of poverty, marginalization, and /or environmental deterioration. It should also demonstrate the potential to achieve wider social and/or environmental change.

2. Sustainable: The ventures, either non-profit or for-profit, must have an income-generation component, and show capacity to sustain themselves through their own income streams.

3. Innovative: The venture should be a new solution or approach to a social and/or environmental problem

4. Scalable: The Venture should be based on a model that can be scaled-up or reproduced by other entrepreneurs or replicated by other institutions or in other geographic areas

5. Credible: The venture should demonstrate credibility by benefitting a large proportion of society or marginalized groups and operating on the basis of do- no-harm principles and limiting negative external effects.

SELECTION PROCESS

On 22nd August 2011, the call for applications was announced and we received 66 applications and nominations from 28 districts. There were 63 applications in total with 3 candidates receiving 2 nominations each.

ChangeFusion Nepal Babermahal Revisited, G.P.O. Box: 836, Kathmandu, Nepal,Email:[email protected], www.nepal.changefusionnepal.org 6

Event Report

Sl. No Name Location Area 1 Tejraj Chetaut Mahendranagar Communication 2 Bhola Nath Sharma Phalebash, Khanigaun, Parbat Education 3 Lily Thapa Baluwatar, Kathmandu Agriculture 4 Ramraj Magarati Bhaktapur Education 5 Suman Lama Samakhusi Catering 6 Ram Sapkota Jyamrung-4,Dhading. Tourism 7 Buddha Manandhar banepa, kavre Media/ SACCO 8 Dipendra Kumar Food 9 Shudarshan Subedi Kathmandu Disability 10 Sabita Maharjan Kritipur Co operative 11 Jitendra Mahaseth bhanuchowk Sports 12 Pramila Aryal Bara Arts & Crafts 13 Imansingh Bharati Khalanga-5, Pyuthan Education, Tourism 14 Indira Ranamagar Kathmandu Prisoner assistance 15 Bikram Yadav Kathmandu Health 16 Tulsi Giri Agricultural Products 17 Shyam Badan Yadav Dairy Farming 18 Shyam Badan Yadav Birgunj Dairy Farming 19 Dr. Birendra Joshi PULCHOK 3 Health Services 20 Ramesh Lal Nakarmi Kathmandu, Nepal Education 21 Bimala Shrestha Pokharel Bhanimandal, Jawalakhel Arts & Crafts 22 Kumud Singh Putalisadak Tourism/ Agriculture 23 Santosh Baraili Dhankuta - 4 Arts & Crafts Environment, Recycling & Waste Management, Arts & 24 Ananda Shova Tahachal Crafts 25 Pushpa Basnet Kathmandu Arts & Crafts 26 Pushpa Basnet Kathmandu Education/ Arts 27 Shanti Chadha Nepal Women Crafts, Naxal Arts & Crafts 28 Vijaya Development Resource Center Gaindakot-8, Nawalparasi Education 29 Devi Prasad Acharya Lalitpur Environment Environment, Recycling & 30 Subechhya Basnet Kathmandu Waste Management 31 Avishek Malla Kathmandu Energy 32 Haushala Thapa Lalitpur Education, Arts & Crafts 33 Dr Bishal Dhakal Kathmandu Health 34 Miraz Thakuri Lalitpur Other- Café 35 Shashi Kala Singh Lalitpur Health 36 Rishi Kesh Tiwari Mudikuwa V.D.C-Parbat Agriculture & Environment Economic and Social 37 Prativa Subedi KTM. Nepal empowerment 38 Prabin Neupane Palungtar-7, Gorkha, Nepal Alt. Energy & Environment 39 Laxman Thapa Dhading Alternative Energy 40 SushilGyawali Kathamndu Agriculture, Arts & Crafts 41 Subarna Chitrakar Jamal Education & Arts 42 Kamal Raj Shrestha Thanapati VDC-4, Gulmi District Agriculture 43 Ram Kebal Chandranagar, Sarlahi Agriculture 44 Anjana Shakya Kathmandu Health 45 Narayan Nepal Agriculture

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Event Report

Human Rights, Advocacy, 46 Dilli Chaudhary Tilsipur -6, Dumrigaun Dang Empowerment, Livelihood ICT Education for visually 47 Khom Raj Nadipur-3, Pokhara impaired people 48 Batuk Rajbhandari Kathmandu Education, Health 49 Megh Bahadur Ale Baluwatar, Kathmandu Education, Tourism 50 Megh Bahadur Ale Baluwatar, Kathmandu Education, Tourism 51 Lekhnath Sapkota Kavre Palanchowk Dairy Farming 52 Dinesh Prasad Shrestha Kathmandu Education

53 Hem Raj Aryal Putalibazar-1 , Syangja Education, Media 54 Asish Thakur Lahan-4, Siraha, Nepal Education Halkhori village 4, Mahottari 55 Khushbu Mishra District, Janakpur Zone Tourism 56 Mohan Bahadur Raut Kathmandu, Bara Education - ICT 57 Bijay Dewan Rai Dhankuta Education, Tourism 58 Parbati Rai Udayapur Arts & Crafts 59 Mike Lily Kathmandu Arts 60 Chola Bahadur Badalgaun, Kavre- 6 Education 61 Man Bahadur Giri Chhetri Okhladhunga Agriculture 62 Ganesh Bahadur Bista Nimdi Agriculture 63 Surja Karki Damai Dhadeldhura Tailoring 64 Lalmati Rana Dhangadi Agriculture 65 Kanchaman Tamang Nuwakot Agriculture 66 Chitrakali Budamagar Pyuthan Arts & Crafts

To judge nominations from different fields, a jury was established with expertise from different backgrounds:

1. Anil Chitrakar(Ashoka Fellow, Architectural Heritage Expert, Social Entrepreneur, and Cultural Historian) 2. Ashutosh Tiwari (Country Director WaterAid and Founding Member of Entrepreneurs For Nepal) 3. Anil Parajuli (Ashoka Fellow and Founder of Himalayan Healthcare) 4. Catrin Froehlich (CSR Expert – National Business Initiative) 5. Gautam SJB Rana (Executive Chairman of Babermahal Revisited) 6. Sadhana Shrestha (Former Country Representative - Ashoka Foundation) 7. Sulo Shrestha (Founder of Formation Carpet and Anti Child Labour Activist) 8. Tikajit Rai (Co- Founder of Thamel.com and Founder of the Social Enterprise - Magnus Consultancy).

In October, the jury selected the semi-finalists and ChangeFusion Nepal team went and conducted reality tests. For two weeks in October, the team travelled across the country visiting and speaking with the social entrepreneurs and their stakeholders. Ventures were even visited more than once to ensure we made the right decision.

After the field visits, 9 outstanding social entrepreneurs and their ventures were identified as the finalists and choosing just 5 winners from amongst them was an incredibly difficult task in itself. On 21st November 2011, 5 social entrepreneurs were awarded the Surya Nepal Asha Social Entrepreneurship Award (SNASEA) at Yak & Yeti Hotel. The winners were:

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Event Report

1. Ram Sapkota (Mountain Delights Treks and Expedition and Tukee Nepal, Jyamrung) for the impact that has been made in Jyamrung, Dhading. The projects range from eco toilets, micro hydro electricity, and health to education.

2. Sabita Maharjan (Kirtipur Hosiery, Kirtipur) - Sabita has been impacting women through the cooperative that she started along with Kirtipur Hosiery. The cooperative which is only for women currently has approx 375 members with 130 shareholders. Overall, she has impacted women by providing them with employment as well as making them financially independent.

3. Shyam Badan Yadav (Kalash Milk Industry, Dhorey Village, Parsa) provides income generating sources through the milk collection centre he has established and by distributing free livestock (39 to start with and increasing to 100 in 1.5 months) to poor people in the village of Dhorey and neighbouring villages.

4. Vijaya Development Resource Centre (VDRC, Nawalparasi) has mainstreamed different dimensions of development under one umbrella encompassing education, media, microfinance and various other thematic areas following its vision of an equitable, affluent and self reliant society.

5. Chhahari Services (Kathmandu) caters to women with no skills to generate income by empowering them through capacity building and income generating trainings. These women when empowered go back to their respective communities to start their own entrepreneurship and others look for employment in reputable industries.

The winners received a package which included a cash prize of Rs. 1 Lakh from Surya Nepal Private Limited along with the opportunity of networking through ChangeFusion Nepal.

ChangeFusion Nepal Babermahal Revisited, G.P.O. Box: 836, Kathmandu, Nepal,Email:[email protected], www.nepal.changefusionnepal.org 9