Inception:
Sahara Club Pokhara (SCP) was established on 15th September 1998 at Bus Park in Pokhara, Nepal to help underprivileged children. The name “Sahara” means “support”. Countless deprived, impoverished and disadvantaged children were begging for food and money in the bus park area in order to survive and no organisation or group such as human rights activists, child rights activists or the government of Nepal had any plan or concept to establish a home for these poor children. After its establishment, Sahara Club Pokhara built a decent size academy for underprivileged children at Bus Park in Pokhara, Nepal. In early 2001, 18 underprivileged children were looked after at the academy. Since then, it has been a big challenge for Sahara Club Pokhara to provide continuous food, accommodation, medication, education and sports for these children.
In mid-September 2002, a Nepalese entrepreneur, Mr. Navin Gurung from Farnborough, had a meeting with Mr. Mahesh Gurung GDB (Gorkha Dachhin Bahu), who used to be a headmaster of Amar Singh and Kalika Higher Secondary School in Pokhara, Nepal. During their brief meeting, Mr. Navin Gurung was very impressed by Sahara Club Pokhara’s activities, which inspired him to get involved in helping Sahara Club Pokhara by providing physical and financial support.
In February 2003, Mr. Navin Gurung and a few of his British midland colleagues visited Sahara Club Pokhara. The visiting team was overwhelmed by the hospitality shown by the local people and Sahara Club Pokhara members. One of the team members, Ms Siobhan Fraier, was deeply upset by the poverty faced by the children living in the area. The team vowed to come back and help these children in the future. Unfortunately, Ms. Siobhan Fraier died of a brain hemorrhage in September that same year. Since then, the British midland team and their families and friends have been actively involved in raising funds to help these underprivileged children.
First charity dinner:
In the beginning of 2004, Sahara Club Pokhara was in desperate need of a large-scale academy for underprivileged children as the academy at the time, Bus Park Pokhara, was very overcrowded and congested. Subsequently, they found approximately 26 Ropani raw land in Dobilla, Pokhara to build a new academy, however they did not have the sufficient funds to buy the land. Therefore, they cordially requested some financial help from the British midland friends through Mr. Navin Gurung. Upon receipt of this request, Mr. Gunnar Stromsholm decided to raise some funds by organising a charity dinner at his own house in Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire on two occasions, once in 2004 and the other in 2005. Among the guests were Rita Holmer, Flora Watson, Agata Man Scharamozzino, Mr. Navin Gurung, Mr. Dilip Kumar Gurung, Mr. Krishna Gurung, Mr. Rabin Gurung (LBZ) and some of our children in traditional Nepalese costumes who helped serve the Nepalese dishes at the dinner. Thirteen Lakhs Rupees (Rs.13,00,000.00) was raised from this charity dinner towards purchasing the land. With the extensive financial support from the people mentioned above, Sahara Club Pokhara was finally able to buy 26 Ropani land in Dobilla, Pokhara in 2006.
First charity concert:
In late 2004, Mr. Navin Gurung and former member of BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Services), Mr. Dhruba Gautam (program host), and a few members of Sahara Club Pokhara, jointly organised a charity concert at Samuel Cody Sports College, formerly Oak Farm Community School, in Farnborough, Hampshire. Sums from the charity concert also helped Sahara Club Pokhara towards purchasing the land for the academy.
Fundraising solo concert:
On 28th May 2006 at Wavell School in Farnborough, Sahara UK successfully organised Mr. Sabin Rai’s solo concert under the coordination of Mr. Muchhetra Gurung, supported by Mr. Navin Gurung, Mr. Dilip Kumar Gurung, Mr. Ramchandra Gurung, Mrs. Uma Gurung (wife of Mr. Ramchadra Gurung), Mrs. Panja Gurung and Mr. Manoj Gurung. Five Lakhs Rupees (Rs. 5,00,000.00) was raised from this concert which was also donated to the purchasing of Sahara Club Pokhara’s land in Dobilla.
Fundraising opera shows:
The first charity opera show was organized by PACT (Pokhara Academy Children Trust) at Royal Holloway University of London in Egham, United Kingdom under the coordination of Mr. Gunnar Stromsholm and with the help of trustees Rita Holmer, Flora Watson, Agata Man Scharamozzino, Mr. Navin Gurung, Mr. Dilip Kumar Gurung, Mr. Muchhetra Gurung, Mr. Gyam Gurung and opera singers Beata Soderberg and Isa Katharina Geticke along with our family members.
The second charity opera show was held in Berlin, which was also organized by the trustees of PACT such as Mr. Gunnar Stromsholm, Rita Homer, Flora Watson, Agata Man Scharamozzino, Mr. Navin Gurung, Mr. Dilip Gurung along with opera singers Beata Soderberg, Olof boman and Isa Katharina Geticke, A total sum of £4,000.00 (Four Thousand Pounds) raised from two opera shows and this also went towards Sahara Club Pokhara’s purchase of the new land.
Participation in Aaha Rara Gold Cup:
In January 2005, Mr. Navin Gurung with the help of Mr. Lok Gurung took Nepalese youths from the UK (initially Mr. Bahar Laxamba and Mr. Bimal Sherchan and then carried on taking the full team) to represent Sahara UK and participate in and support “Aaha Rara Gold Cup” (formerly known as Caravan Gold Cup) football tournament in Pokhara, Nepal until 2012. In 2006 and 2007, Mr. Amul Gurung from Limkokwing University sponsored £12,000.00 (Twelve Thousand Pounds) and similarly, the Advisor of Sahara UK/Founding President of Tamu Dhee UK, Mr. Min Prasad Gurung (Coordinator) and Advisor Lt. (Retd) Kusang Gurung (Assistant Coordinator) organised our traditional “Deusi Bhailo/Ghar Dailo” cultural program in October 2011 across the country raising approximately £12,000.00 (Twelve Thousand Pounds), which then helped towards taking these youths to participate in Aaha Rara Gold Cup under the captainship of Mr. Nawal Gurung who was the long-standing team captain for the Sahara UK football team from 2006 to 2016.
Sahara UK’s establishment:
In May 2008 at Samuel Cody Sport College in Farnborough, Hampshire, UK, Sahara UK was officially formed and the following executive committees (known as the founding executive committee members) were elected under the chairmanship of Mr. Bikram Thakali (President of Sahara Club Pokhara):
Founding Executive Committee Members:
President: Mr. Navin Gurung
Vice President: Mr. Muchhetra Gurung
General Secretary: Mr. Ramchandara Gurung
Treasurer: Mr. Dilip Kumar Gurung
Members:
Mr. Dilras Gurung
Mr. Manoj Gurung
Mr. Ram Kumar Gurung
Mr. Himal Gurun
Mr. Bhupen Gurung
Mr. Nawal Gurung
Founding Advisors:
Mr. Mahesh Gurung
Mr. Lok Gurung
Since then, Sahara UK and its partners have been actively involved in fund raising events such as 9-a-side football tournaments, charity concerts and charity dinner nights in the UK as well as all over Europe and Nepal.
The Everest Cup (formerly Sahara Cup):
Since Sahara UK’s establishment, during the time of Mr. Navin Gurung as President, Sahara UK organised its first 9-a-side football tournament, “Sahara Cup”, in the presence of Mr Bikram Thakali (President of Sahara Club Pokhara) as chief guest in September 2008 at Queens Avenue football pitch in Aldershot, Hampshire which took place annually until 2010. Its name was changed from “Sahara Cup” to “The Everest Cup” in 2011 as the cup became sponsored by the former President of NRNA UK/Advisor of Sahara UK, Mr. Kul Acharya. The Everest Cup 11-a-side football tournament was organised in two phases; phase 1: all qualified matches were played at Bisley in Surrey for two days, and phase 2: on the third day the final match was played between Sahara UK and QOGLR (Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment) at Farnborough Football Club, in Farnborough, Hampshire. Due to various reasons, Sahara UK were unable to continue running this tournament. After 5 years of hiatus, the Everest Cup as a 9-a-side football tournament returned in 2016 and 2017 but then became discontinued again. It is hoped that the Everest Cup tournament will return one day and will be run continuously.
Laying a foundation stone (Shilyanas):
On 2nd November 2009, the Chairman of PACT, Mr. Gunnar Stromsholm, Rita Holmer, Flora Watson, Agata Man Scharamozzino, Chairman of Cookham Bridge Rotary Club, Mr. Derek Smith and some British friends along with Sahara UK President, Mr. Navin Gurung, Vice President, Mr. Muchhetra Gurung and Treasurer, Mr. Dilip Kumar Gurung jointly engaged in laying a foundation-stone (Shilyanas) and agreed to build the academy for underprivileged children.
Construction of Sahara academy:
In 2010, Honorary Member of Sahara Club Pokhara/Former President of Sahara UK, Mr. Dilip Kumar Gurung, was appointed as Financial Coordinator to build Sahara Academy and a football pitch for the underprivileged children in Dobilla during the time of Mr. Navin Gurung as President of Sahara UK, Pokhara. Financial help and physical support came from all over the world, mainly members from Sahara UK, Sahara Hong Kong, Sahara Australia, Pokhara Academy Children Trust (PACT) and Cookham Bridge Rotary Club based in the UK, and it was astonishing to receive such large sum of NCR: 7600,608.61 (Seventy Six Lakhs Six Hundred Eight Rupees and Sixty One Paisa) and GBP: 51355.47 (Fifty One Thousand Three Hundred Fifty Five Pounds and Forty Seven Pence) in such a short period of time. This truly motivated and encouraged all members of Sahara Club Pokhara towards building Sahara Academy for the underprivileged children. On 19th February 2013, this academy was officially opened by Mr. Ganesh Thapa (Chairman of ANFA), Mr. Arun Chaudhary (Patron of Sahara UK/Director of CG Nepal), Mr. Surya Bahadur KC (Director of Himshree Foods Production), Founding President Mr. Basanta Thakali and Founding President of Sahara UK, Mr. Navin Gurung.
Participation in Aldershot & District Sunday Football League (A&DSFL):
In June 2013, during the time of Mr. Navin Gurung as President of Sahara UK and Mr. Hari Kumar Shrestha as Chairman of Sahara FC UK, a group of four Sahara UK members led by Mr. Dilip Kumar Gurung along with Mr. Min Bahadur Gurung, Mr. Bhupendra Gurung and Mr. Nawal Gurung attended the first meeting with the Chairman of Hampshire Football Association at Blackwater & Hawley Leisure Centre, Camberley, Surrey, to discuss our youths’ participation in the Aldershot & District Sunday Football League. After the meeting, we were officially authorised to join the A&DSFL in Division 3 and on September 2013, Sahara UK’s first ever youth team was officially formed; the team then moved up to Division 1 after a few months. This marked a historical moment for our Nepalese community as it was hoped that a strong relationship and integration would form between the Nepalese and British community through sports. Since then, our players have been continuously participating in the A&DSFL every Sunday in accordance with Hampshire Football Association’s league rules.
Sir Gerald Howarth MP and singer Dipak Limbu’s participation at the charity dinner night:
Our charity dinner which was held on 15 November 2015 was a great and successful event. A significant amount of funds were raised, partly due to the presence of singer/Nepalese idol, Dipak Limbu, who Sahara UK was able to bring to the UK with the help of Sir Gerald Howarth MP (who also attended the charity dinner as chief guest), despite several refusals in the past by other societies.
Registration in the Charity Commission in England and Wales:
On 12th April 2016, Sahara UK is registered with the charity commission (Registration Number: 1166494) in England and Wales during the time of Mr. Dilip Kumar Gurung as President of Sahara UK to work closely with charities to ensure that they are accountable, well run and meet their legal obligations to promote public trust and confidence.
The Nepalese Ambassador and Sahara UK:
His Excellency Dr. Durga Bahadur Subdedi (chief guest) was the first ambassador to visit Sahara UK families at our annual charity dinner night held on 26 November 2016 at Empire, Aldershot, Hampshire. Since his visit, we have maintained a strong relationship between the Nepalese Embassy and Sahara UK.
Affiliation to Aldershot Town Football Club (ATFC):
On 26th April 2015 when the catastrophic earthquake struck Nepal, Sahara UK integrated and worked with Aldershot Town Football Club to engage and galvanize the community. During the time of Mr. Dilip Kumar Gurung as President, Sahara UK also purchased £10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Pounds) of shares in Aldershot Town Football Club to mark solidarity between the Nepalese and British communities. Since, Mr. Meg Bahadur Gurung from Sahara UK was appointed as a “Board of Director” for Aldershot Town Football Club (ATFC) from 2015 to 2016. Later in 2017, AFTC changed the role from Board of Director to “Trustee Member of Shots Foundation Trust” and Major (Retired) Dammar Ghale from Sahara UK was appointed as a “Trustee member” for ATFC’s Shots Foundation Trust.
REBUILDING OF EARTHQUAKE DESTROYED SCHOOLS:
1. Shree Ganesh Primary School:
On 26th April 2015, a catastrophic earthquake destroyed Shree Ganesh Primary School in Ghairung 1, Jyamirswara, Koldanda, Gorkha, Nepal and it was rebuilt by Sahara UK and Sahara Club Pokhara during the time of Mr. Birbhadra Acharya and Mr. Dilip Kumar Gurung with a sum of Rs. 35,00,000.00 (Thirty-Five Lakhs Rupees) by extensive financial assistance and all aspects of support from Sahara UK in collaboration with Sahara Club Pokhara Nepal, Aldershot Town Football Club UK, Arun Chaudhary Foundation Nepal, Bourne End Rotary Club UK, Woking Asian Business Forum UK, Chelsea Football Club UK’ Shiraz Homes UK and Linden House UK. On 28th September 2016, this school was officially reopened by Mr. Arun Kumar Chaudhary (Patron of Sahara UK/Director of CG) Nepal.
2. Shree Haibung Mahadvsthan Secondary School:
On 27th September 2017, Mr. Birbhadra Acharya (President of Sahara Club Pokhara) and Mr. Dilip Kumar Gurung (President of Sahara UK) jointly engaged in laying a foundation stone and agreed to rebuild another earthquake destroyed school, Shree Haibung Mahadevsthan Secondary School, Haibung, Sindhupalchok, Nepal under the coordination of Advisor, Mr. Yogesh Gurung. The rebuilding of this school was mainly funded by Sahara UK in collaboration with Sahara Club Pokhara, Sahara Hong Kong, Sahara Australia and Arun Chaudhary Foundation Nepal with a total sum of RS. 20,00,000.00 (Twenty Lakhs Rupees). On 21st January 2018, this school was officially reopened by Mr. Arun Kumar Chaudhary (Patron of Sahara UK/Director of CG Nepal) and Mr. Min Bahadur Gurung (President of Sahara UK) jointly.
Sports for Health Campaign:
Under the coordination of Sahara FC Chairman, Lt (Retd) Kusang Gurung, Vice President Mr. Kumar Gurung and CEO Mr. Dhanu Thakali, during the time of Mr. Min Bahadur Gurung as President of Sahara UK, Sahara UK organised a friendly football match for the “Sports for Health” campaign between NRNA UK and Sahara FC UK on 13th May 2018 at Connaught School in Aldershot, Hampshire. The 1st secretary of the Nepalese Embassy in the United Kingdom, Mr. Sarad Raj Aryan (Chief guest), participated and played for Sahara UK.
Hampshire FA Equality Champion Awards 2018:
Sahara UK received the “Hampshire FA Equality Champion Awards 2018” from Hampshire Football Association on 2nd June 2018 at Southampton Football Club in honour of Sahara UK’s retrospective commitments, dedication and contribution towards developing the football academy as well as charitable works all over the world.
Tripartite Meeting between ANFA (All Nepal Football Association), Sahara Club Pokhara and Sahara UK:
On 9th July 2018, under the coordination of Mr Dilip Kumar Gurung (Former President of Sahara UK/Honorary Member of Sahara Club Pokhara) during his short visit to Nepal, a tripartite meeting between ANFA, Sahara Club Pokhara and Sahara UK was held at the All Nepal Football Association complex in Satdobato, Kathamandu, Nepal about integration, mutual cooperation and working closely together in the future. Mr. Karma Chhiring (Newly elected President of ANFA) and Mr. Krishna Thapa (Vice President of ANFA), ANFA committee Members, along with Sahara families Mr. Keshab Thapa (President of Sahara Club Pokhara), Bikram Thakali (Former President of Sahara Club Pokhara), Mr. Birbhadra Acharya (Former President of Sahara Club Pokhara), Mr. Sudarshan Ranjit (Media Coordinator of Sahara Club Pokhara), Mr. Muchhetra Gurung (Former President of NRNA UK), Mr. Khun Bahadur Rana (Advisor of Sahara UK), Mr. Lalkaji Gurung (Advisor of Sahara UK) and Mr. Anil Gurung (Nepalese National Football Player) all attended the tripartite meeting. We hope that this historic meeting will help maintain a strong relationship between All Nepal Football Association and all Sahara families in the future.
On 25th September 2018, Mr Karma Chhiring (President of ANFA), Mr Krishna Thapa (Vice President) and Mr Upendra Mansing Thapa (Vice President) were the first President and Vice Presidents to visit Sahara families during their official meeting with FA (Football Association) in the UK during the time of Mr. Min Bahadur Gurung as President of Sahara UK. They also visited Aldershot Town Football Club (ATFC) and met with Mr Shahid Azeem (Chairman of ATFC). On behalf of Sahara UK, approximately 500 footballs were presented to All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).
Today, Sahara Club Pokhara has its own branches in the UK, Hong Kong and Australia. Also ties with Pokhara Academy Children Trust (PACT) in Norway, Berlin, Italy and in the UK as well as associated with Cookham Bridge Rotary Club in UK.
Jai Sahara UK
Written by:
Dk Gurung
Mr. Dilip Kumar Gurung MBE BA (Hons)
Former President of Sahara UK
Honorary Member of Sahara club Pokhara
