ISAP, an NGO, strives to empower resource-poor people by mobilizing entrepreneurial opportunities as the key element to achieving a self-reliant community, along with reconstruction and rehabilitation of disaster-hit infrastructures. The shared vision of giving back to the community and tapping opportunities in Nepal itself is what brought the three friends, Biswa, Agraj and Pankaj, the co-founder
s of ISAP, together during service trips to Sindhupalchowk and later to Banke. As they were introducing improvised smoke-free stoves in Sindhupalchowk and installing water filters for freed bonded laborers of Banke, they were hit by the reoccurring pattern of how the resource-poor people had to depend on others even for ensuring basic needs, such as safe water. Therefore, instead of only providing people in need with some monetary and materialistic help, they wanted to work for sustainable solutions which would reap many benefits. Striving to empower resource-poor people, ISAP, a Non-profit non-governmental organization, came into existence in May 2013 by mobilizing entrepreneurial opportunities as the key element to achieve a self-reliant community. For the last four years, ISAP has been exploring and initiating projects that would assist local people to comprehend and tap into the opportunities around them for their own and community's betterment. Through Udhyami (Entrepreneur) Fellowship, an apprenticeship program, aspiring entrepreneurs are paired with established entrepreneurs, providing a real life practical training in their field of interest. Likewise, Uncovering Opportunities documentary series inspires youths to discover business opportunities in Nepal while Udhyami Insight provides a platform to address business problems. The other projects, YouthPreneur and SchoolPreneur, targeted to education sector instill entrepreneurial spirit and creativity among youth and children where every problem is seen as a profit making business opportunity, whereas; Project Biswas offers Remedial Learning Courses to improve numeracy and literacy of primary level students. ISAP diversified its scope of work in the area of reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in the aftermath of the devastating 2015 earthquake in Nepal, for early recovery. In partnership with various international NGOs, such as Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) and Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management (APAD), ISAP has been training engineers and masons for reconstruction and recovery work, and also rehabilitating water supply systems in Sindhupalchowk. ISAP comprises of dynamic and enthusiastic young people determined to bring positive changes in Nepal. It has a balance of individuals who have returned to Nepal after studying and/or working abroad, bringing back international work culture and experiences as well as individuals who have built expert knowledge on local scenario. The team is committed to contribute towards creating a self-reliant Nepal.
