Yet Rajiya noticed an overlooked problem: broom-making generated significant waste. Instead of discarding it, she asked a simple but powerful question: could this waste become something valuable? That idea led to Khoriya Ko Kagaj, handmade paper produced from broom grass waste.
Turning vision into reality required support. When Rajiya joined the British Council’s In Our Hands (IOH) programme, she found more than technical training. The programme introduced her to creative green economy principles and the circular economy, helping her connect local traditions with global sustainability goals. Through workshops and mentorship, she strengthened her business model while keeping community impact at its core.
The journey was not without challenges. Language barriers, limited resources and the need to build trust with marginalised communities slowed progress. With persistence, Rajiya developed a five-year plan and trained 12 master trainers, who went on to work across nine village wards. Together, they transformed waste into high-quality paper rooted in Chepang cultural heritage.
Today, Rajiya leads an enterprise that blends environmental protection, cultural preservation and economic opportunity. Her work demonstrates how youth-led innovation, when supported by the right ecosystem, can turn local challenges into sustainable solutions, proving that meaningful change begins with one determined leader.
About the programme
The British Council’s In Our Hands (IOH) Programme (2021–2024), delivered in partnership with Applied Arts Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University and Kathmandu University, supported sustainable, youth-led enterprises in Nepal. Aligned with the Culture Responds to Global Challenges programme and COP26/27 climate priorities, IOH promoted creative green-economy principles through capacity-building, mentorship, and innovation funding. The programme empowered 88 young entrepreneurs, awarded 10 research and 17 prototype grants, and contributed to cultural preservation and climate action.
Programme Alignment and Relevance
By integrating youth entrepreneurship with cultural preservation, the programme has supported the development of sustainable business models that contribute to multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including climate action, decent work, gender equality, and reduced inequalities. With targeted investment, the model demonstrates strong potential for scale and replication in other contexts.
Impact on Youth-Led Businesses
The programme enabled youth-led enterprises to prototype and launch market-ready products grounded in creative green economy principles. These initiatives have contributed to Nepal’s sustainable economic development while promoting environmentally friendly and biodegradable products, such as Dhau pots, Amriso paper, bamboo utensils and biodegradable sanitary napkins. In doing so, the programme has strengthened local value chains, elevated community voices and supported traditional skills and craftsmanship within the creative green economy.
