KARKHANA | a new wave of innovation

By Rebati Adhikari

New business ideas are being developed, the numbers of businesses are growing, and companies that are extending support to materialising ideas are also on the rise. Young graduates don’t hunt for cozy corporate jobs anymore; instead, they want to start something of their own. It would not be an exaggeration to say that a new age of entrepreneurship has kicked off with the market being flooded with innovative ideas. Among hundreds of new startups holding a promising future.

KARKHANA

Getting Education Right Location: Gyaneshwor Founders: Sakar Pudasaini, Dipeshwor Man Shrestha, Suresh Ghimire, Sunoj Shrestha, Pavitra Gautam What it is: Karkhana is an education company with a different approach to learning that supplements the fundamentals provided by schools. http://www.karkhana.asia There have been bounteous complaints and relentless discontent over the Nepali education system. A couple of accusations that it persistently faces are that it is theory based and traditional. Scoring high marks is prioritised over learning. Much has been talked about reformation in our education system, but very little accomplished. This is where Karkhana steps in. CEO of Karkhana, Pavitra Gautam informs, “We have knowledge-based education system in Nepal, but we at Karkhana, believe that students need to cultivate attitude.” Karkhana is operating hands-on classes wherein students are given a problem and asked to solve it. Two kinds of programs are available: Karkhana Innovators Club and BeeCreative. Gautam claims that the two programs help to instill skills pertaining to communication, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking among students. Karkhana Innovators Club is an after-school enrichment program designed to develop these skills. Whereas BeeCreative is an activity based co-curricular program delivered within the school. It involves not only students but also school administrators and teachers. Karkhana takes the BeeCreative program from school to school,and secures an attendance of 2400 students per week. “We design the lessons ourselves,” shares Gautam. If you are thinking about how Karkhana appoints its teachers — after all, the teachers are also products of the same education system — here is the answer - they invite interested applicants and hone their talent through trainings preparing them to be Karkhana educators. Karkhana is determined to address education related problems at the policy level as well. Meanwhile, they are voicing their ideas through different mediums.