While swarms of youths are checking out of the country each day, complaining that the nation doesn’t provide decent job opportunities befitting their educational degrees, there are some Can-Do young entrepreneurs who share the experiences of establishing their own businesses against all odds at a time when the country itself is going through a post-conflict transitional stage.[break]
“I got scholarship to study in India. Our government spent four to five lakh (Rupees) on me. When I graduated, I had two choices: either to accept a job at some multinational company in India or come back and do something significant for the country,” shares Dibyesh Giri with a humble grin.
“The best way to give back to my country was to create employment opportunities for youth like me. So I came back and used what I learnt abroad.”
Giri, 29, established Smart Tech Solutions Pvt Ltd in 2008 with one friend, a broken laptop and in a small room.
He did his graduation and post-graduation in computer in India and currently he is a student of Developmental Studies.
Now Dibyesh has a full-fledged office with training rooms, separate departments for finance and information where 20 youths work.
The organization provides software solutions to many government projects, such as road designing and website applications for Krishi Bikash Bank, Channel V, Bindaas TV, and Rockstar Films.
“Since college days, I wanted to be financially independent. So I even did things like pasting posters. Being independent brings in a lot of responsibility, too. What we earn is mostly used up for paying up salaries and bills. However, our main objective is to create self-sufficiency in road designing in the remote areas of Nepal so that they wouldn’t have to depend on the government and capital for such purpose,” adds Dibyesh.
His company has already trained locals from 35 districts, including secluded areas such as Taplejung, Rukum, Mustang, Jajarkot, and Ilam.
Dibyesh further informs, “We developed civil engineering software called Smart Road, which took two years. My objective is to create at least 50 employments in the IT sector in the next years and contribute to the development sector.”
He also reminisces, “People criticized my establishment in the beginning due to disbelief and suggested that I should rather settle in the US. Now they have faith in me and proudly recognize my work.”
“Due to the chaotic state of Nepal, we found an excellent opportunity to prosper since there are many ways to add to development,” confides Vidhan Rana, 27.
Abhinab Basnyat, 28, adds, “In order to flourish, we had to take the risk of grabbing the opportunity of contributing to the nation in our own way.”
Vidhan and Abhinab are the founders of Biruwa Ventures. Set up in August 2011, this organization helps young people start up their own businesses by providing mentorship, legal services and dealing with other challenges, such as funding and backup.
“My family is in the US and I too wished to settle there. But my life here is teaching me the values and challenges of being independent. Handling everything on our own makes us work harder and help us sort out our basic priorities. Once we learn not to compromise and be self-accountable, we become true human,” adds Abhinab.
Both Vidhan and Abhinab are satisfied and are looking forward to meet more youths who are eager to start out on their own.
“They have to be motivated, and also their ideas should be executed properly,” sums up Vidhan.
These unselfish and passionate youth are indeed inspirational. They have combined and turned knowledge, passion and experience into profits, along with development at large.
Young and bubbly Prashakta Poudel says, “We don’t sell coffee only, we also make friends.” Prashakta, 23, and her sister Yuki, 25, opened up Cuppas, a coffee shop at Putali Sadak on April 26 this year. Yuki is a Sociology student and Prashakta is a Business student.
As one walks in the shop, the ambience gives a sense of a college library and canteen where a group of young baristas are seen at the counter and various other groups of people enjoying novels, gossips, and of course, the varied coffee confections that the shop offers.
“I still have nightmares when I think of the initial days of our opening. We didn’t have enough backup power. Orders would be high but we wouldn’t be able to keep up. We panicked, made mistakes and then learnt from it,” recalls Prashakta.
“We didn’t have knowledge of hospitality as such, but since childhood, we wanted to open up something on our own. Then we got gifted with the coffee machine, so we got our loan granted and kicked off. In order to understand our job, we did all the work at the shop on our own, starting from sweeping to serving.”
She adds, “I’ve evolved as a person in the past six months. Along with independence came lots of responsibility. I have to take care of five staffs and deal with various kinds of clients. But she believes, “Choose a job you love and you don’t have to work a single day in your life. I love cooking, and if this goes well, perhaps Cuppas may turn into a restaurant.”
“Our family is very supportive and I’ll do post-graduation once I’m totally assured with our shop. Fortunately, we aren’t criticized or viewed differently for being girls and running our own business. In fact, we’re amazed to receive respect from prominent people,” informs Prashakta.
Indeed, competition is high for the two sisters as there are six coffee shops in Putali Sadak. Nevertheless, many youngsters flock into Cuppas each day.
For Rubin Joshi, 30, and Jeewan Gurung, 23, business was a sure thing, as they have been involved in their family firms from early age. They had the required networking and knowledge of the business they wished to do.
“My father and brothers have been importing and exporting gems and have a wholesale as well as retail here. So I also opened up my own shop,” informs Jeewan.
His shop, Gems Paradise in Thamel, has been running smoothly since August 2010. At the same time, he realizes that education is equally important.
“I’m a student of Liberal Arts and Science. Managing shop and college is a tough job for me as now I also have responsibilities to my family.”
Similarly, Rubin states, “My family has immensely supported me and thus I have a moral responsibility to support them in return. I ultimately grew interest in business as I had been helping my colleagues earlier.”
Rubin is satisfied with his work. He manages his own Nuon Fashion Line at Civil Mall at Sundhara.
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