Our context/problem: Nepal is one of the least developed countries in the world constantly struggling to improve the socio-economic and health status of its citizens. The situation arises from the poor system structure and functioning (economy, social security, education, health) which is further aggravated by political instability and corruption. Socio-economic status and health are intricately linked which is being constantly highlighted by Social Determinants of Health and Sustainable Development movements. One effective means to leverage socio-economic and health improvement of Nepalese could be through combined approach of social entrepreneurship and health promotion actions.
Who are we and what are our intention?: Development In Youth And Socially Underprivileged Group (DIYASU Group) is a social entrepreneurship venture established in 2017 by group of 3 youths with experience in business, public health and social sectors in Nepal and abroad (www.diyasugroup.org).
DIYASU Group is committed to promote social entrepreneurship throughout Nepal by initiating social enterprise projects and providing training to future social entrepreneurs targeting disadvantaged women. Through collaborative efforts of advisors, staffs (disadvantaged background), community members and supporting organizations, our mission is to create a healthy and economically progressive Nepal through promotion of social entrepreneurship for holistic development.
We will utilize profits from our social enterprise to fund our health and education campaign, hence self-sustaining our campaigns. We have envisioned a healthy and prosperous Nepal in 20 years’ time where social innovation and entrepreneurship forms the basis for social well-being and socio-economic development.
Our initiations: Our current initiations include production of low-cost sanitary pad, community/urban space farming, promotion of clean energy transport, strengthening public school library and health promotion campaigns in the city of Biratnagar in Nepal.
We (group of 3) have invested about NRs 1,500,000 (Approx NZD 20000) from our savings.
Low cost sanitary pad project aims to produce low cost sanitary pads targeting those communities where menstrual hygiene are issues and those individuals who are seeking quality alternative of the high cost commercial sanitary pads.
Community/urban space organic farming project aims to utilize small plots of urban land (private or public land) and/or urban house spaces (rooftops, balcony, backyard,etc.) for producing fruit, vegetables, and/or plants for personal use as well as for selling through fruits and vegetables co-ops.
The majority of our staffs are females belonging to low income and disadvantaged ethnicity enabling their socio-economic progress.
We are also planning to start clean energy promotion projects including low cost electric/solar vehicle and power source for households.
Help us start some good: At DIYASU, we have already conducted a two days training workshop facilitated by AMFHH Enterprises (India) who supplied us the manual sanitary-pad machine. We are thus in need of your help to continue training those disadvantaged women in our newly set up sanitary pad factory for atleast 1 month to commercially operate the factory as well as conduct social marketing campaign for the low-cost sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene.
At DIYASU, we also need your help in training women for community/urban space organic farming project. While disadvantaged and young women are gradually realizing that low-skilled foreign employment in middle east and South-East Asia are deceiving, such training would enable them acquire knowledge and skills to successfully lead the social enterprise project in their own local communities and work towards mutual socio-economic progress.
