They were college students dreaming of moving abroad. But through the mentorship of Mr. Lokesh Rohilla and self-development sessions at Bookwishes Club, five young friends shifted their mindset—and turned their vision into The Friends Café, a proudly Nepali-owned business.
🛫 The Plan Was to Leave
Rajit, Abhishek, Salim, Neeraj, and Dipen were:
📚 Students of Technical Skills Diploma
💭 Dreaming of working abroad
😕 Unsure how to start something locally
“We never even considered building something in Nepal. It felt impossible.”
But a change was coming—sparked by someone who believed otherwise.
🌱 The Shift: Reimagining What Was Possible
Through self-awareness and entrepreneurship classes led by Mr. Lokesh Rohilla, the group started seeing things differently.
“Mr. Lokesh didn’t just teach theory—he shared real-life lessons. That gave us the confidence to believe in local opportunities.”
Under his mentorship, they:
Learned the foundations of business 💼
Understood customer behavior and branding 📊
Gained confidence to take ownership 👨🍳
Their mindset shifted from “let’s go abroad” to “let’s build something right here.”
🧩 Starting Small, Dreaming Big
With Mr. Lokesh’s ongoing guidance, the group co-founded Friends Café:
👥 Five partners + more employees
🍽️ Specializing in fusion and local-favorite dishes
💬 Actively listening to customer feedback
“He was there for everything—marketing, service, even the kitchen side of things. We learned by doing, with his support.”
💡 Today: Business Owners, Job Creators, Proud Nepalis
Their transformation is visible in every corner of the café:
🇳🇵 They stayed and invested in their homeland
🧑🍳 Created jobs for others
📈 Continue to grow, thanks to the foundation they built
“We could have left. Instead, we built something meaningful—and we’re still growing, step by step.”
🙏 A Mentor Who Believed in Us First
“We’re grateful to Mr. Lokesh for pushing us to think bigger—right where we are.”
His mentorship helped turn a group of uncertain students into confident entrepreneurs. And that belief made all the difference.