Among the satisfactions of promoting international liberty is the chance to meet advocates of freedom from around the world. The people I have met through Atlas Economic Research Foundation’s events include the leaders of Samriddhi, The Prosperity Foundation, the husband and wife team of Robin Sitoulsa and Arpita Nepal. (See all the staff here.)
The non-profit organization, based in Kathmandu, Nepal, describes its vision as achieving “a free and prosperous Nepal where individuals can live a dignified life in a vibrant and democratic society with equal access to opportunities and respect for the rule of law.”
Samriddhi courageously pursues this vision, as undaunted as those who climb Nepal’s Mt. Everest. Surath Giri, a research associate with the foundation, described the challenge in an article published in September 2012:
The recently released Economic Freedom of the World Report 2012 by Fraser Institute, a prominent think tank in Canada, shows a bleak picture of economic freedom in Nepal. Nepal’s economic freedom, albeit slightly better than the previous year, still has a long way to go. … Nepal is categorized among the least free economies in the world, ranking 110th among 144 countries.
Mr. Giri went on to note, “Very few places in the world are so anti-investor and anti-entrepreneur.”
Samriddhi is working to change this, recognizing that economic freedom is necessary for prosperity. The foundation’s effectiveness has been well recognized. In 2011, it won the Templeton Freedom Award in the “Special Achievement by a Young Institute” category. In 2012, it won the Center for International Private Enterprise’s Leading Practices Contest for its education and training program, “Arthalaya, school of economics and entrepreneurship.”
Samriddhi now has launched a new project, “Empower Nepal’s Entrepreneurs — Advance Economic Freedom.” Noting the unemployment rate of 46%, and the general failure of small shops to grow, Samriddhi concludes:
We need to do what has not yet been done here — study the day-to-day realities of [independent owners of small local shops] in a methodical way, demonstrating through rigorous research techniques the barriers preventing economic growth for these entrepreneurs and the communities they support.
By telling 100 of their stories in this way, we will then have the credibility and advocacy network needed to launch a major campaign connecting entrepreneurs and government leaders, many for the first time, to craft a practical action plan for improving economic opportunity and job growth in Nepal, a shared goal by all stakeholders.
Samriddhi is raising $15,000 for the project — $7,500 through contributions, and the balance from a matching grant from Atlas. Gifts are tax-deductible in the U.S. While helping advance liberty is its own reward, Samriddhi also offers “perks” in recognition of gifts.
Matt Warner, Vice President for Communications at Atlas, observes on the website for the project:
Because of their commitment and ingenuity, today [Robin and Arpita] have 22 staff of dedicated and like-minded colleagues all working together to achieve economic freedom and prosperity in Nepal. The Samriddhi team is special – Robin and Arpita have developed an organizational culture that emphasizes respect for the individual and a passion for the mission. …. Because the team works so well together, the organization has successfully carried out many valuable programs in Nepal like ‘Campaign for a Livable Nepal’ and ‘Nepal’s Economic Growth Agenda,’ all focused on helping average Nepalese get a leg up and prosper.
Conclusion
Please join me in contributing to this project. As of now, Samriddhi has raised $2,625, leaving a balance of $4,875 of the $7,500 needed from the public. If 50 people donate an average of $100, or 25 people donate an average of $200, the goal will be reached. Each of us who contributes will have the satisfaction of helping make Nepal freer and more prosperous.
[Links updated: May 9, 2015]
