Higher Ground Nepal developed out of Bimala (Shrestha) Pokharel’s inspiration. The founder’s vision was to share God’s love with vulnerable people in Kathmandu by restoring their lives through empowerment. The Bakery was the beginning, the crafts came next. The organization employs more than 30 people, mostly women.

Higher Ground provides alternatives by supplying redemptive job opportunities and marketable skills through its three branches: Café, Bakery, and Crafts. Each of the organization’s five branches is a sustainable business. They provide employees with both dignity and income for their families.

Higher Ground provides classes in adult literacy, health issues, awareness in human and sex trafficking including vocational classes that train those interested in becoming bakers, cooks, designers, tailors, beauticians and hair-dressers. They aim to increase their ability to assist many more with small business development loans or grants.

The organization are in the beginning stages of developing a `safe-home’ for young women and families, some struggling with abusive home situations, others transitioning out of the sex-tourism industry, some are widows in desperate situations. They trust that the home will continue to develop as financial resources become available.

Through the organization’s Community Development organization:

> advocates for the vulnerable
> promotes awareness of trafficking
> gives formal and non-formal training on health, parenting and life skills
> provides scholarships for at-risk youth
> gives counselling to abused, trafficked and traumatized women youth and children.
> They are developing a safe-home for women and families struggling with being widowed, or transitioning out of abusive situations or exiting the sex tourism industry. 

HG Community Development Nepal (HGCDN)
In Nepal, NGOs estimate that 10,000 to 15,000 Nepali women and girls are trafficked to India annually, while 7,500 children are trafficked domestically for commercial sexual exploitation. The organization’s social enterprise funds Higher Ground Community Development Nepal (NGO). Through this non-profit, we advocate for individuals, promote awareness of human rights issues, and give training about health, parenting and life skills. The organization also provides scholarships for at-risk youth, and counselling for abuse, trafficking and trauma victims. Presently, they are developing a safe-home for women and families struggling with being widowed, transitioning out of abusive or vulnerable situations. 

HG Bakery
The organization’s Bakery-Café opened in 2007. They served variety of baked goods, especially coffee drinks as well as breakfast and lunch and dinner. They also give on-the-job bakery training and employment opportunity to at-risk youth. 

HG Craft
In 2008, Higher Ground Crafts came into being as social enterprise. Through the Crafts business, they became self-sustaining, and able to pour more resources into community development. In this program, they organization makes hand-crafted jewelry, clothing, bags, and accessories.