Running High with Bimala Shrestha Pokharel
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Growing up in Hong Kong and Brunei, Bimala is the one who never got detached from her homeland. When she finally went to Nepal at the age of 14 years, the bond was sealed. “I always had this longing to do something in Nepal. Its my home and I knew I belonged here from a very young age.” The signs of a true social worker began to pop out when she decided to be a doctor and got into medical school. “I thought it was the only way I could help people. But then, I decided to study Business and Sociology. And it forever defined the path I was to take later.”
“In the second year of college, I travelled to Kenya and stayed there for a month. What I saw was amazing. Women there were so content earning living by weaving baskets. They were literally running the place! They were independent and happy. I fell in love with the word ‘micro-enterprise’. That is when I started harboring the dream to help disadvantaged women through micro-enterprise in Nepal. That is where Higher Ground’s vision spurred from.” |
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"GROWING UP IN HONG KONG AND BRUNEI, BIMALA ALWAYS FELT CLOSE TO HER HOMELAND. WHEN SHE FINALLY WENT TO NEPAL AT THE AGE OF 14 YEARS, THE BOND WAS SEALED."
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When she returned to Nepal in 2004 after completing her studies, she knew it was time to respond to the instinct she felt back in Kenya. “I met women who were forced to work in dire conditions with minimal pay. Some were victims of domestic abuse, some worked as sex workers, while some of them were helpless single mothers. It was heartbreaking and I needed to do something that would help them, make them self-sustainable encouraging others to do the same in the long run.”
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The idea finally materialised in 2006 when Higher Ground Café was established. Initially employing women with underprivileged backgrounds, Higher Ground then started facilitating basic skill trainings that they showed interest in. “We are a family. We encourage whatever hobbies, interests and talents our members may harbor. Our members have gone to various trainings related to baking, jewelry designing, knitting, coffee-making, sewing, beauty parlors, etc. If a person has a plan and the will to grow, we try to help make their dreams come true.” |
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Higher Ground has expanded over the years with a crafts branch that showcases exquisite handicraft works ranging from goat milk soaps and bead bracelets to handmade bags made with local products. Their work does not stop there. “Higher Ground has two branches – a social enterprise and a non-profit organization called Higher Ground Community Development Nepal (HGCDN). The vision of HGCDN is to fight against poverty and human trafficking through awareness, education, counseling, skill training and micro-enterprise. We also have a safe-home for our girls and women where they are provided with lodging and food. Twenty percent of our sales go straight to the NGO to provide those services. We are also currently sponsoring 30 children to provide educational support.”
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When asked about their success stories, Pokharel proudly says: “We encourage everyone to do better all the time. Yes, we provide them with employment and training opportunities concurrently conveying them that this is only temporary. We try to teach them that it is very important to move forward, take risks and stand on your own once you have the skills. Many of our former staffers are now running their own business and are independent. It is sad to say goodbye when we lose well-trusted staff but at the same time, it makes us happy to know that it is a new beginning for them.” As we talked more about economic empowerment, she went on to tell me about her children Alyssa (11) and Immanuel (8). “It is very interesting how children pick up what they see around them. I try to engage my children with all our activities as much as possible. Both of them have started taking initiatives to help Higher Ground, too. Just a few days ago, Alyssa made some sock buddies and presented an idea to sell them via Facebook and use their creativity to support Higher Ground’s social cause Stop Child Trafficking. She took the material to school with her and told me how her friends wanted to help too. We already are getting orders from all over the world.” |
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"WE TRY TO TEACH THEM THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MOVE FORWARD, TAKE RISKS AND STAND ON YOUR OWN ONCE YOU HAVE THE SKILLS."
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“This leaves us with a really important reminder about what impact we leave on our children. Children copy and learn from each other. So when you plant one seed, you are unknowingly sowing a hundred more. Our children will be the ones running the world in the future and it is really important that we plant seeds of compassion, harmony and mutual support within them.”
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As a person who believes that health should not be compromised with, Bimala is also an avid runner. She competed in the Annapurna 50k Ultra Marathon in March, 2014 and also the Everest Marathon in late May. She is also a part of Lalitpur Trail Running Group and Girls On The Run – an open running group where women meet up at Dhobighat, Lalitpur exactly at 6:00 AM on Tuesdays every week and run together to Chobhar and back. “It is a very nice feeling to be running with these women, who take time out from their lives to run with others. We are a group to encourage and empower girls and women through running, outdoor adventures and acts of justice and transformation in Nepal.”
At the beginning of our meeting, she had asked me if I liked reading. As our rendezvous came to an end, she handed me a cute bookmark shaped like a fish, courtesy of Higher Ground Crafts. Being the bookworm that I was, I thanked her endlessly and she replied with a grin: “Reading is a good habit. One should always keep on learning. Anything that is good should be encouraged. And when you do good things no matter what we are doing, no one is in competition with anyone. It is important to keep a vision bigger than yourself. It gives everyone hope.” |
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"ANYTHING THAT IS GOOD SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED. AND WHEN YOU DO GOOD THINGS NO MATTER WHAT WE ARE DOING, NO ONE IS IN COMPETITION WITH ANYONE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP A VISION BIGGER THAN YOURSELF. IT GIVES EVERYONE HOPE."
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You can follow Higher Ground on Facebook. Also catch up with what the Run to Stop Child Trafficking team is doing. The sinfully sensuous brownies I was talking about, find them here on Higher Ground Bakery’s Facebook Page.
We wish Bimala and her team all the luck in the world!
In conversation with Aayesha Rai Gurung. |
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Tags: Bimala Shrestha Pokharel, Higher Ground Bakery, Higher Ground Nepal
Categorised in: Interviews, People
“This leaves us with a really important reminder about what impact we leave on our children. Children copy and learn from each other. So when you plant one seed, you are unknowingly sowing a hundred more. Our children will be the ones running the world in the future and it is really important that we plant seeds of compassion, harmony and mutual support within them.” ……………touchy
Thank you for all you do Bimala! Would love to have your brownies next time I am in Nepal.
Thank you Bimala for being such an inspiration!!! thank you for pushing me to my limits and training together for the Annapurna 50km and the Everest marathon this year. The races took us to so many places in Nepal and exposed us to the issues of child trafficking. Thankyou for letting me be a part of the campaign. Wishing you all the success.
Bimala and Arbin,
How grateful Marcia and I are for you and your important work. Our hearts were moved as we read about your initiative with Higher Ground.
Warmly,
Dale Cooper