Kritishma Karki

Kritishma Karki is a social entrepreneur and the co-founder of Dafe Works Enterprises Nepal, a social enterprise established in 2017. Her career in the social sector began in 2006 during her first year of university, when she and a group of classmates co-founded Saath, an NGO dedicated to supporting marginalized children and young women. To address the challenges of donor dependency and ensure long-term impact, Karki helped establish Dafe Works as a hybrid business model. This enterprise serves as a market front for clothing and tailored products crafted by the young women who receive skill development and holistic training through Saath's community programs.

With a professional background in social work, Karki advocates for a conscious balance between business profitability and social and environmental responsibility. She emphasizes the importance of using local resources to empower communities, which includes hiring local instructors for training programs in rural areas like Dhanusha. In managing her social enterprise, Karki prioritizes transparency, fair wages, and environmental consideration. Rather than claiming to change the lives of the women she trains, she believes in offering them opportunities and a sense of direction so they can succeed through their own hard work.