The event was initiated in 2016 by King’s College by felicitating a
series of workshops throughout Nepal to build an understanding about
social entrepreneurship, venture creation and SDG’s goals.
King’s College has kicked off its preparations to host this year’s
series of National Social Business Challenge. The challenge, an
initiative of Yunus Social Business Center, King’s College and being
jointly organized by UNDP Youth Co-Lab, Association of Youth
Organizations Nepal (AYON), and National Youth Council (NYC) –
Ministry of Youth and Sports is in its 4th edition.
The main objective of the program is to develop basic insights,
understanding and importance of establishing social enterprises as one
of the mechanisms to solve the social economic inequity. The event
also call upon participants to design, present and implement the most
feasible venture ideas to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals
relating to poverty alleviation, hunger, health, education, global
warming, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, urbanization,
environment and social justice.
The Challenge that has already nurtured 43 ventures that employ more
than 800 youths throughout the country is an annual program being held
with an aim at promoting social entrepreneurship and job creation in
Nepal.
According to the College, the focus is to build local partnership and
facilitate the social change making process through them which will
act as a catalyst force in driving sustainable developmental goals and
sustained support system for the local people and institutions.
“We also intend to inculcate entrepreneurial way of thinking and
working among the youths and to inspire them to actively take part in
the creation of social businesses contributing towards reducing the
inequality through this whole process,” says Narottam Aryal, Principal
of the College.
To be held in August this year, the event will also serve as a
platform for National Dialogue on Mainstreaming and Achieving and
Sustainable Development Goals through Social Entrepreneurship in
Nepal.
College further states that the candidates intending to create a
social venture or have been operating a venture that has been in
operation from 0 – 1 year contributing towards achievement of any SDGs
goals can participate in the event.
NSBC has three major components in the program, namely Boot-camps,
Dialogue on Social/Entrepreneurship and National Social Business
Competition.
The grande finale winner will get Rs.1 Lakh Cash and opportunity to
pitch at World Innovation Forum, Switzerland (All cost covered) while
four other different teams under different thematic areas will get Rs.
50,000 each. The grand finale will be held in late August 28-29, 2019
in Kathmandu. The deadline for the application submission is June 15,
2019.