Projects
Driving Change for Nepali Migrants
Empowering Returnees: From Qatar to Nepal - Initiatives to Improve Lives and Livelihoods
Don't turn your back
Leading up to the World Cup Football 2022 in Qatar we drew attention tot he horrible working conditions of the migrants in Qatar. We met with several migrants in Nepal who returned from working in the stadiums and told their stories of hard work, 12 hours a day with poor wages and terrible circumstances to live in. We decided to tell their stories and raise money to improve their situation in Nepal and to give them an better alternative then returning to these countries.
Together with the Dutch sports brand Cruyff we sold thousands of shirts based on the legendary shirt that Johan Cruijff wore during the 1974 world cup final. Under the name “Don’t turn your back”. A documentary of this project can be seen here.
With the money raised we were able to help the creation of 2 startups that were founded by Beli Maya and Anil, 2 former migrants from Qatar.
Beli Maya Thing started her own taxi company with a donated electric Tuk-Tuk
Anil Adhikari started his own chicken farm with 2000 one-day chicken with a PRO2 Foundation donation.
We consider the success of our Don’t turn your back campaign as a pilot and as an inspiration to continue our mission to create more jobs in Nepal. We continue this effort in our HOME programme.
We also were able to support 3 companies in scaling-up creating jobs for migrants
- We supported www.sajilosewa.com with an electric scooter and a new training center.
- We supported www.pickndropnepal.com with 3 new scooters and new bags and jackets.
- We supported www.leafplus.com.np with a new production machine for 6 people.
Building Futures: A Comprehensive Program to Create Jobs for Nepali Migrants
HOME: Hope and Opportunities for Migrants and Entrepeneurs
1/ Start
Supporting startups led by returnee migrants
- Identify and nurture promising business ideas/startups founded by returnee migrants.
- Provide mentorship, training, small grants to assist such companies to reach the initial incorporation stage.
2/ Scale
Scaling existing companies to grow employment
- Identify existing companies with growth potential that can create at least 10 jobs within 1 year for migrants (with the focus on returnees)
- Offer small grants & business support to enhance the companies’ capacity, productivity, and employment opportunities
3/ Grow
- Select the companies that have the capacity to grow the amount of jobs to >100 for migrant workers Facilitate them to tap into mainstream financing (debt and/or equity financing) by ensuring investment readiness and provide access to strong local funding network
4/ Replicate
- Creating a blueprint for scale; optimize activities and edit approach based on learnings. Build a long term program structure to create a multitude of jobs after Replicate activities to other regions or countries
JOURNEYS OF HOPE AND RESILIENCE ACROSS BORDERS
Stories Of Migrants
In the past 3 years we met and spoke a lot of Nepali migrants who worked abroad. Their stories were impressive and made a deep impact. The stories were all individual bad memories but all had the same message. We do not want to work abroad but we are forced by the circumstances. There is no perspective yet in Nepal and we have to feed our families. If we have an alternative, a perspective in Nepal we prefer to stay there. Luckily we were already able to help some of them with jobs, a start-up and some perspective. Here are the stories of 3 of them.
Beli Maya Thing
Read the moving story of Beli Maya, who transformed her struggles in Qatar into a successful venture as the owner of the first electric TukTuk in Hetauda, Nepal.
Discover how, against all odds, Beli overcame exploitation and debt to provide for her family and find happiness.
Anil Adhikari
Explore the journey of Anil, a determined young man in Nepal, who overcame the tragedy of his father’s death and life on the streets to start his own chicken farm.
Learn about Anil’s inspiring story of resilience and his commitment to fulfill his dreams without leaving his homeland.
Amit Magar
Discover the harrowing story of Amit, a young worker from Nepal, who faced severe health challenges due to the grueling conditions at Qatar’s Al Thumama Stadium during the World Cup. Learn how Amit’s life was transformed with help from a determined foundation and his courageous journey.