NEWS

Sarad Babu Shrestha is a social entrepreneur with vast experience in social and community development.

Sharad Born and brought up in a remote village in Gorkha, Sharad completed his Master in Public Administration (MPA) with specialization in   program planning and management and rural development from Tribhuban University, Nepal.

Beyond his academic  achievement  Sharad has attended  several  practical and professional  training courses in program planning and management, people based  development, Gender and Child  development, micro finance, Training of trainer (TOT)  in  verity of subjects   from international development organizations   - Asian Institute for  Rural Development, India; Mount  Carmel  International  Training Institute, Israel; Cody International  Training Institute, Canada, Save the Children US/ Indonesia; Asian Institute of Management,  Philippines;  Save The Children US etc.
Sharad broadened his knowledge and skills participating in several national and international workshops and conferences in several countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, North America  and South America where he presented papers and shared experience.
As a social and development entrepreneur, Sharad has more than 30 years of experience working with local, national and international organizations in Nepal. He has also gained extensive field experience living in the remote villages of Nepal.  In his professional career   Shard’s work with Goethe Institute / GTZ , Save the Children US,  USC Canada , READ Nepal Library Foundation Canada and Global Family Village USA in Nepal has always been rewarding for these organizations. 

Sharad has witnessed complexities and frustration facing by social and political leaders and the people at the grassroots. Thus, Sharad’s major area of focus has always been Community engagement, creative practice and inspirational behavioral management in community setting and development.

While at READ Sharad innovated self supporting community resource library (lifelong learning and development center). READ Nepal was   awarded” 2006 Access to Learning Award” from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Sharad’s commitment as development and social entrepreneur is seen through a range of commitments that dedicated .  At save the children he was shouldered with challenging responsibility of expanding and planning new programs. He led team s of different projects   -  Community Based Integrated Rural Development Program (C-BIRD), Maternal Child Health Program, Ilaka Literacy Program, Community Based Child Care  program and Social Marketing Program.

These programs  were run as pilot program and later replicated by other organizations like UNICEF, Action Aid, Plan International etc .

Most Challenging and complicated post earth quack program later called “People’s Empowerment Program” (PEP), consortium of three Canadian international development  organizations – CECI, USC  and SAP was led successfully  by Sharad. The saving and Credit program (micro credit program), initiated in the eastern hills of Nepal inspired many other NGOs and INGOs to start in their impact areas.

The consortium approach of development program was regarded as the milestone in community development in Nepal.

Sharad served as foreign correspondent for Japanese organization. He contributed with socio-development information, articles and presented papers to the forum on regular basis to Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women.

Sharad served as Country Representative of GFVN US in Nepal. The new approach was to help grow orphan children placing them in the local family in the community.The government of Nepal nominated Sharad member of board of Steering Committee, ICT for Education as community planning expert in National Planning Commissions. His contribution was significant in designing   the ICT policy for the community school in Nepa.

Sharad is a highly motivated social entrepreneur possessing a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience.   His efforts has been acknowledged with numerous appreciation letters and awards in the local, national and international level.
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gave special appreciation to Sharad quoting “Congratulation on your exemplary effort to provide public information and technology to the people of Nepal. In recognition of commitment we are proud to present you with the 2006 Access to Learning Award "

Sharad was presented Walk the Talk Global Citizen Award by United Nation Environment Program (UNEP) in 2006.
The Boss, a leading English business magazine in Nepal ranked  Sharad “Top Ten person”   for his contribution in social and educational development in Nepal in 2007
On July 2011, while celebrating its 100 special issues   -  100 People, 100 Ideas, 100 Journeys, 100 Opportunities, 100 ways to make a Difference  , The Boss www.readtheboss.com  recognized 100 Nepalis who are working towards creating positive changes in Nepal. Sharad is one of those 100 Nepalis.

Sharad has been honored with   Dosalla and presented special appreciation letter by the prime Minister of Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuwa for his   contribution in social development in Nepal.  There were seven more outstanding figures who contributed in different field of their work -Doctor, film producer, artist and social  activist.The program was sponsored  by  Sagarmatha Shhitya kala Pratisthan.

Sharad also has been honored numerous times with appreciation letters by community libraries, and local community organizations during his social and professional career.

Sharad has led National forums in various times. He was National Coordinator of National Reading Campaign in Nepal for two terms and still continuing as the member of the campaign.

The  national forum was comprise of the representative of Education Ministry of Nepal, INGOs, NGOs,   school Association, social organizations, education journalists,  UN organizations (UNDP, UNICEF and UNESCO)

Recognizing his contribution in the social sector, Sharad has been places in key leadership positions   in several social and development organizations as president, board members and adviser to the board like Nagarik Aawaj,  Education the  Children,  Aasaman  etc.

At Access to Learning and Livelihood (ALL), founded by Paul kavanageh, an Irish social entrepreneur, Sharad   served  as president for two years.. The innovative approach of ALL  was  to provide quality education to poor deserving children in private English schools low  community  cost. ALL plans to initiate lively hood program in future in Nepal.

Sharad is the chartered member of Rotary Club of Balaju  (2001) He  served as president of the club in 2010. The micro finance project run by Rotary Club of Balaju is considered as one of the most successful exemplary project in Nepal.

Sharad founded Gorkha Jaycees in 1980 and was National Vice President of Nepal Jaycees in 1983.

Gorkha Jaycees celebrated its 30th year and gave grand honor to Sharad for his contribution in the Jaycees movement and leadership development of the youths of Gorkha.
Sharad was  president of  NGOs including ALADIN Nepal (an affiliate of ALADIN Germany) Nepal Reading Association (an affiliate of International Reading Association ) OMEP Nepal ( an affiliate of OMEP World ),  Gorkha Library and Resource Center  and  continue  his association as board  member  and  adviser to other local and national level organizations.

For his continion contribution sharad has been houred with Goodwill ambassador of CORE , is a join t program of The Open university UK and JISC UK. There  are more than  300 million research papers which can be use by students, planners, researchers  and so .

The  Open Knowledge Net work  (OKN) , a  multi stake holder partnership program of the eight partners: One World  South Asia  , High level Commission of Internet Technology (HLCIT) -  government of Nepal, UNESCO, SAP, READ Nepal,  Internet providers association in Nepal  (IPAN) and two other national NGOs  working in ICT in Nepal, was successfully led by sharad as national coordinator/member secretary .

Sharad was nominated as the member of High Level Commission for Information Technology ( HLCIT ) in 2008 . HLCIT was chaired by the prime minister of Nepal.
Sharad served also served as the network member of the Cornell Empowerment Project, an initiation of Cornell University.

As a recognized social and development person, sharad has devoted his career to championing education/ literacy   and community development through libraries.  For his thoughtful involvement and commitment, Sharad has been nominated and served as the member of the International Advisory Committee of Adult Learning And Documentation Information Networking (ALADIN) Hamburg Germany. ALADIN is a part of the UNESCO system under Institute for Lifelong Learning (IUL).

Sharad served as the member of Asia committee of International Reading Association (IDAC/IRA).  IRA is now International literacy association  headquartered in Washington and has its national committees across the globe.sharad is president of Nepal reading association Nepal NRa is now process on registration as Nepal Literacy Association.

As the founding president of READ Library and Resource Center Sharad  join hand with NALL, a national network of adult education in Norway. Jointly with NALL the   community empowerment program run with the support of NORAD, Norway is some rural parts in Nepal.

Sharad work as Human Rights activist under Dr Rishikesh Saha, in the years 1979,1980 and 1981. Dr Shah was the Residential representative to United Nations from Nepal.

Sharad has been serving for past several years as adviser to the ANSWER US/ Nepal, helping with an innovative scholarship program across Nepal.