The Surya Nepal Asha Social Entrepreneurship Award (SNASEA) has recognised five people this year for their extraordinary contribution to add social, environmental and economic value to their businesses.

The five were selected from a shortlist of 66 applicants and include:

Ram Sapkota of Mountain Delights Treks and Expedition and Tukee Nepal, Jyamrung for the impact he has made in Jyamrung, Dhading, to build eco-toilets, micro-hydro, and in health and education projects.

Sabita Maharjan of Kirtipur Hosiery for empowering women through her knitting business and a cooperative with 375 members. (See: p11).

Shyam Badan Yadav of Kalash Milk Industry in Dhorey of Parsa district for economically empowering farmers through a milk collection scheme and distributing free livestock.

Vijaya Develoment Resource Centre of Nawalparasi for having successfully mainstreamed various dimensions of development under one umbrella encompassing education, media and microfinance to build a more equitable, prosperous and self-reliant society.

Chhahari Services in Kathmandu for the skill trainings they provide to women for income generation. The women return to their communities and use their new skills to be economically independent.

At a ceremony this week, the winners received cash prizes of Rs 100,000 each and an opportunity to network through ChangeFusion Nepal initiative under which each winner can propose further expansion of their work.

Surya Nepal Asha Social Entrepreneurship Award 2011 is sponsored by Surya Nepal, organised by ChangeFusion Nepal and supported by the NBI.

www.changefusionnepal.org
www.snpl.com