Glocal After School awards five skills heroes

Kathmandu, Jan. 21

Five veterans have been honoured with the Skill Hero Award by Glocal After School for their contributions to advancing skills in Nepal.

The award is an annual initiative that acknowledges outstanding individuals across four categories: tourism and hospitality, science and technology, art and culture, and entrepreneurship.

“The award aims to recognise individuals who have demonstrated sustained commitment to skill development and promotion within their respective sectors. Nominees are evaluated by a jury of experts, with four recipients formally recognised as the heroes,” said the company in a statement.

In the Tourism and Hospitality category, entrepreneur Rishab Agrawal is recognised for his role in reshaping Nepal’s premium food and hospitality sector.

Trained in professional kitchens in Mumbai and at École Ducasse in Paris, Agrawal founded Silk Artisanal Creamery in Kathmandu, combining international culinary standards with local ingredients to create artisanal ice creams and curated customer experiences.

Likewise, the Art and Culture award was given to photographer Kishor Kayastha for his long-standing contribution to Nepal’s visual arts. Having held his first exhibition in 2001, Kayastha has since staged numerous acclaimed exhibitions and established K2 Art Factory to support emerging photographers.

In Entrepreneurship, Anushka Shrestha was honoured for her skill-driven business leadership through Makkusé, a luxury dessert brand that reinterprets traditional Nepali sweets for contemporary markets. Her work was recognised for blending cultural preservation with scalable business practices.

Similarly, the Science and Technology award went to Samir Phuyal, founder of Bytecare Technology, for developing accessible digital solutions such as the Karobar app, which supports small and micro enterprises in transitioning to digital accounting and inventory management.

Additionally, Sonam Nembang was acknowledged for her achievements in apprenticeship and digital skills development, highlighting the growing importance of structured industry-based learning in Nepal’s evolving workforce.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 January 2026.