I am Kalden Dorjee, I’m 32. I work in the export business and I’m a fashion designer. Here’s my story:

Prior to YOTA
After I finished my design school in Delhi, I set up a small tailoring unit with a friend of mine who was a senior from the design school with a whole lot of enthusiasm but very soon our lack of experience in the industry etc. brought us to terms with the that we needed to work with a company or organisation before we started up our own business.

Soon I was working for a company called Columns as the in-house designer and buyer. I worked in Columns for more than 2 yrs after which I joined another company called Ghazala exports here I worked for more than a year until I met with the Director for Dzi Inc., a US based company which was working with the Finance Department of the Tibetan Government in Exile. I joined Dzi as their Assistant Design & Production Coordinator. I had to move base from Delhi to Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh.

I worked with Dzi for 4 years until the Tibetan Government decided to privatise or disinvest all there business ventures. At this time the director of Dzi Inc. asked me to become their exporter from India and this is how I got into the export business. I joined a course in export management after which I set up an export business by the name of Auka Exports since then I have been in the export business.

YOTA
In September 2003 I was selected under the young entrepreneurs program of Youth Opportunity Trust Asia (YOTA). Lucky for all of us, the 5 selected people, HRH the Prince of Wales was visiting India and we all got an opportunity to show our talents at a function organised by YOTA during HRH the Prince of Wales's visit. After our selection we submitted our business proposals to YOTA’s Director Philippa Carrick. My proposal was to set up a small but a very well equipped tailoring centre for sampling as well as production of export orders.

YOTA approved my proposal and sanctioned a grant amount of Rs. 1,50,000/-. This has really helped me in setting up my small factory and tailoring business by the name of Auka Fashions. Today I am able to export and even manufacture small export orders of clothings and accessories in my own factory.

I am very grateful to YOTA for all the support they have provided me and I appreciate all the good work they are doing in the Tibetan community especially in enabling the younger generation to compete with the outside world.

THANK YOU YOTA!