Nepal Social Business; joint venture of CG NSB and Lions Club International

Nepal Social Business is first of its kind initiative in Nepal where social business’s seven principles coined by Noble Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus is being implemented. It is a joint initiative of Chaudhary Group’s CG NSB and Lions Clubs International. Nepal Social Business aims to address social issues faced by our nation through social business. Its mission is to help social businesses to grow in Nepal, which solves social problems while at the same time is self-sustaining and with the potential to grow and scale itself.

Core activities of NSB will be to do awareness, incubation and funding. Awareness will be to spread concept of social business. In incubation we will do trainings, mentoring and expert consultations. After incubation they will invest in the concept that will be developed into Social Business Plans. They will invest into the best social business ideas and help them to grow.

Social issues faced by society are getting more complex and dynamic that they cannot be addressed solely by governments and traditional social-sector organizations. Social business is a new approach which applies social business principles to address social issues in economically sustainable manner. Social Business is a combination of a NGO and a business. It has a social objective similar to a NGO and it is financially sustainable like a business. According to Professor Yunus, the father of social business, it is a financially sustainable organization solely to solve social problem. Whereas, original investment may be recouped, all potential profits and interest are reinvested to further improve and diversify the social impact. For countries like Nepal which are highly depended on donor funds, social businesses can become a change for sustainable as well as socially fair development. With its focus on social impact and sustainability NSB believes that through creation of social business we can accelerate the development of Nepal and solve our pressing social needs. The projects pass through various committees: Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Committee, Incubation Committee and Investment Committee. The independent SIA Committee will do detail assessment of the proposed concept after they have been incubated. They will look at for some detail information on how the social impact will be made through this social business and how significance is the impact. After the approval from this committee it will be presented to Investment Committee.

Chaudhary Group started its partnership with Yunus Center in December 2012 to implement social business in Nepal in form of CGNSB. In July 2014 during Lions Clubs International Convention in Toronto, CG Nepal Social Business (CGNSB) and LCIF signed official partnership and formed Nepal Social Business.

They have started incubation of four Pilot Projects in Jumla. Four projects are:

1.      Karnali Miteri Udhyog – Porridge Factory to address Malutrition

2.      Tatopani Ecotourism – Ecotourism development at Tatopani VDC for environmental management and support livelihood

3.      Organic Phaphul Tatha Khadhya Prasodhan – Industry to collect, process and market local organics fruits and vegetables to promote healthy living and support livelihood.

4.      Miteri Shanti Batika – Learning and Peace Center to involve youth and to organize social activities with multipurpose hall, yoga hall, library etc.

When watching live event of World's Largest National Human Flag

23rd August ,2014,Saturday was one of the historical moments. The crowd of more than 35,000 Nepalese united to set Guinness World Record on Largest National Human Flag on Earth organized by Human Values for Peace and Prosperity(HVPP).

 Though I could not participate, I was feeling proud and excited watching the program live at Tundikhel.(I was there as a media person covering news,taking interviews so could not take part though I had registered my name.) So many emotions were flowing within me while watching the whole event.

As rainy weather early morning makes people lazy to go outside, I thought there will be less crowd. Surprisingly, more than expected people participated. When I was travelling at public bus to reach Tundikhel at 5:30 am, almost every local bus of Buspark route was crowded.Majority of them wanted to reach same destination i.e, Tundikhel for this huge event.

Almost all of them were teens and youths. I could see very few old people. The queue of participants to enter Tudikhel was so long yet the patience and positive energy was amazing. There was no any news of fight,injury or any accident. However, some of them were taken to hospital,some fainted due to weakness and lack of glucose in the body.

The volunteers and organizers were busy managing the event.They had the toughest job of all managing the crowd  to form the shape of Flag and preparing every other facilities. However, the cooperation of participants, their enthusiasm and energy to make the event successful must have motivated the spirit of volunteers and organizers.

It is not easy for participants mainly those with school dress. Standing for almost 5 hours early in the morning without food must have tired them. However, they were excited,happy and proud to be part of the event.

To all of the mass of people present at Tundikhel for this auspicious event, the best moment was wheneveryone was ready in their position and waiting for the arrival of helicopter. When helicopter arrived and our national anthem was played, that was the best moment. Everyone must have felt goosebumps, respect and love of the country and proud. Though I was away from the crowd, I was feeling the same.

This event holds the message of our unity under the symbol of our national flag. Finally, all was saying "WE DID IT!!". Many had tears in their eyes. Most of them took the part of flag they were holding with them while returning back to home as a piece of memo. Even I took of the part a home. :D

Those youths and citizens of Nepal who are living abroad might have missed Nepal so much and they might have wished they were in Nepal to be in this historical event. All thanks to technology and media that they were able to watch photos and videos. :)

We all know bad things disseminate fast. Many complained about the trash that were on ground after theevent and judge people's opinion accordingly without patience to wait for full results. However, it was cleaned afterwards. Furthermore, uniformity in everyone's behavior cannot be expected.To those who were saying trash was not cleaned up, why didn't they came to clean as this is everyone's duty?

No matter what, we know every coin has two sides. The main thing is being optimistic. Youths are the future of tomorrow. They are the pillars of nation. They showed their love towards Nepal and their act to save Nepal's unity and represent Nepal in the world through the symbol of flag in this event.

Moreover, to those political leaders who want to divide Nepal, this is also an example to them that anything is possible when youths unite.

At last, opinions differ from each individuals. This was my opinion and many might like it, many might not. Whatever it is we love our country and yesterday was very proud moment for us!

Alina Prajapati is a management student doing her bachelor studies. She is working as a Project Team Leader at View Your Choice and journalist at Glocalkhabar.com . Alina is also a passionate singer.
Email: alina.vyc@gmail.com / alinaprajapati@gmail.com
Facebook: alina_pj@hotmail.com
Twitter: @alinapj


  

Become a Word Warrior

"Know that there is often hidden in us a dormant poet, always young and alive"  

~  De Musset-P ~

American Spoken word poet, Sarah Kay, training a
group of young writers from Word Warriors poetry group.
Photo Credit : Word Warriors

As with that saying, we all come with this wonderful gift to express our poetic feelings and all is need to be done is pour them in the words of joy. With young poets coming together since December 2010 on an initiative +Word Warriors Nepal, a spoken word poetry group, has been
successful in creating an environment of spoken word and slam poetry in Kathmandu. +Ujjwala Maharjan, Program Coordinator at Word Warriors says to +View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई -, "We want to expand the community and make the spoken word scene even more vibrant. Right now, we are searching for young people who are passionate about storytelling through poetry, to become a part of the core team of Word Warriors."

And here's an opportunity for you to join the core group and tour Nepal with young spoken word poets! All you need to do is apply by August 12, 2014. If you are really curios about knowing more you may join an orientation program scheduled for August 9th, 2014  from 10:00 am to
11:00 am at Quixote's Cove Bookshop, Ekantakuna, Lalitpur, Nepal. 

Post by Spoken Word Nepal.

Explaining us about what would the core team be enjoying with Ujjwala shares, "As a member of the core team of Word Warriors, you will get to work with existing members to develop your poetry writing and performing skills. You will also help the Word Warriors organize spoken word performances and competitions, conduct spoken word poetry workshops, and get
a chance to engage in various other spoken word projects.

PERKS OF BEING A PART OF THE CORE GROUP

• You get to do what you love – poetry.
• You get to meet people who share the same passion for poetry as you.
• You get to take part in several workshops and trainings conducted by local and international experts on: spoken word poetry, community approach, teaching methodologies, event management, workshop modulations and much more.
• You get to tour Nepal with the BookBus, Write to Speak, and other projects.
• You get to teach and share poetry to new people.
• You get invited to WW events and other events in which the WW perform.
• You get be published potentially.
• And once again, you get to do what you love – poetry and be paid for it.

HOW TO APPLY?

•  Fill and submit the application form by the end of August 12, 2014.
•  Application forms are available online, on http://goo.gl/zu8xac or on www.facebook.com/SpokenWordNepal
• Shortlisted applicants will be called for an interview for final selection.

Members of Word Warriors poetry group with students of a school in Kakadvitta, Jhapa,
 after a spoken word poetry workshop. Photo Credit: Nayan P. Sindhuliya

As a core group you will be involved in "Write to Speak" and "Book Bus" initiatives currently. 

WHAT IS WRITE TO SPEAK?
Write to Speak will introduce spoken word poetry to those whose voices have traditionally been
suppressed, especially women. Over the two years, the project will work with young women and
men (aged 14- 25) from marginalized groups and communities in six areas of Nepal to bring forth their stories, narratives, concerns and perspectives in their words and in their own voices. The program is organized by the Word Warriors in collaboration with Quixote’s Cove and is being funded by the Danish Centre for Culture and Development.


WHAT IS THE U.S. EMBASSY BOOKBUS?
The U.S. Embassy Book Bus is a mobile library which hopes to encourage communities to
establish and expand their own local libraries. It travels with local artists, poets, writers and
educators to conduct workshops and educational programs in the communities it visits. The
Book Bus has traveled widely in Nepal and brought the joy of reading to thousands of students.


+View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई - promotes positive influencing stories and encourages young minds and adults to involve on several initiatives that contribute to larger part of the society. Write to us if you have an opportunity  or a story to share at viewyourchoice@gmail.com