Profile

Background

SAHARA (Social Awareness and Helping Activities in Rural Areas) was created as a non-governmental social organization in September 1997 with the purpose of achieving concrete results in the campaign against rural poverty in terms of both income and human capabilities. It is an NGO committed to contribute to the national development goals through the promotion and protection of child rights, women empowerment, governance and awareness on HIV/AIDS programs. SAHARA has its central office in Baluwatar, Kathmandu and branch offices in Syangja and Pokhara, Nepal.

Mission

To maintain social equality, equity, unity and brotherhood among all Nepalese people by providing equal opportunity for all irrespective of religion, sex, caste, race, language and culture.

Vision

Social harmony based on equal opportunity for all Nepalese irrespective of class, caste, gender and age.

Strategies

• To mobilize social capital such as social values and norms, institutions, associations, and networks.
• To contribute to local development through the optimum utilization of locally available human, economic and physical resources and means.
• To promote the access of beneficiaries to public services
• To collaborate and cooperate with organizations and groups with similar aims and objectives.
• To engage in advocacy functions on national levels on matters like public policy making, rule of law and regeneration of social and cultural norms and values.
• To promote sustainable development on matters like natural environment, consumption pattern and poverty links.

Working Areas

• Child protection and rights
• Women empowerment
• HIV/AIDS
• Governance
• Poverty Alleviation

Organizational Structure

SAHARA Group has a General Assembly that consists of all the members that are eligible for voting in the election of the institution. The General Assembly is the policy making body of the organization. Amongst its duties is to elect the Executive Committee, that will be composed of seven members and who will be responsible for carrying out the policies and decision taken by the General Assembly. Likewise, the Executive Committee will be supported through its activities by a panel a advisors and professionals of the various working areas of the organization.



Financial Resources

As a social Non-Governmental Organization, SAHARA Group obtains must of its resources through the following activities:

• Membership fees
• Regular contribution from its members
• Government supports
• Donations from international agencies
• Local resource mobilization
  
  • 5-km walk/run Programme (walkathon)
  • Chief Secretary 11 vs. Diplomatic Missions 11 Friendship Soccer Match 2004
• Old paper collection and sale
• Contributions in donation boxes placed at hotels, restaurants, business house and offices
• Collection of reusable clothes
• Musthidan collection: a specific Nepali tradition of allocating one handful of food grains before each meal to give poor and needy children. It is the chief source of resource.