ByBishalRai, December 9, 2020,,,,Dr. Om Dahal is humble and compassionate in personality and a tireless social campaigner. He was born and raised in Jaljale, Tehrathum, Nepal. After high school, he got enrolled at Institute of Engineering Purwanchal Campus, Dharan, Sunsari and earned diploma in engineering. He graduated from Institute of Engineering Pulchowk campus, Lalitpur, Nepal with BE(Bachelor of Engineering) and ME(Master in Engineering) in electrical and power system engineering respectively.
In 2009, he came to the United States in pursuit of Ph.D. degree in New Mexico University with full scholarship. Now Dr. Dahal lives in Crown Point, Indiana along with his wife and two kids and works as a protection engineer in an electricity utility of Indiana. It is clearly evident that he is living the perfect version of American dream but he believes everybody in our society is not equally fortunate to get through all the odds on their way. ‘Therefore, the successful people always have to offer help or nudge the needy people or community’,he said. He learned to open his heart and mind to the needy people from his parents at home for the very first time. He has been volunteering his time, knowledge , skills, networks and resources for uplifting Nepali community in both homeland and host land . He is serving as general secretary of ANMA( Association of Nepalese in Midwest America) which is one of the oldest Nepalese Diaspora organization in the US and also associated with ASNEngr ( American Society of Nepalese Engineers) as an executive member.
There are so many ways to make impact in our community. Om Dahal also chose to run a charity marathon. The marathon became one of the most rewarding experiences for him since he began charity run because it helped him to raise enough money for his philanthropic projects by reaching out more potential donors and running is of course good for health and well-being for himself.
In the last 5 years, Dr. Om Dahal successfully operated four philanthropic project campaigns through the distinguished charity marathons and his fifth project in collaboration with ANMA for setting up computer laps in public school of Siraha and Saptari districts of Nepal already kicked off since he finished the virtual 2020 Detroit Marathon . So far his campaign raised almost $6000 from more than 100 donors via gofundme for his latest project and he needs $6500 more to match the estimated fund as the total probable cost for the project is going to be $12,500. His first-hand communications with donors and effective implementations of projects are highly commendable. However he says, “All the works could not have been possible without the supports of so many generous people who are involved directly or indirectly”.
In 2016, he ran Indianapolis monumental marathon and fundraised to buy an ambulance for the Terhathum community .
In 2017 , his charity marathon run in Chicago Marathon fundraised and built girls friendly toilet for Yadav secondary school , Nawalparasi, Nepal.
In 2018, he ran in Marine Corps Marathon , Washington DC to raise money for setting up computer labs for two public schools in Terhathum , Nepal.
In 2019, his participation in New York Marathon was able to raise enough money to set up computer labs for four public schools in remote district of Nepal, Jajarkot.
I have asked some questions to Dr. Om Dahal on behalf of CoffeeShopiTalks and he answered as follows. ..
CoffeeShopiTalks :How are you doing these days ?
Dr. Om Dahal : I am doing well. Just regular schedules; work, kid’s school , exercise, some engagements in social organizational activities and of course keeping up with COVID19 stuffs. These things are keeping me busy.
CoffeeShopiTalks: Did you have a dream for pursuing the highest educational degree in the United States of America and living the ‘American dream’ when you were studying at Institute of Engineering (IOE) Purwanchal Campus, Dharan-8, Sunsari, Nepal?
Dr. Om Dahal: I did not have ‘American dream’ during that time. This was around 1996 and I was not thinking this far, my dream and the ultimate goal was just to get admission in Pulchowk Campus for Bachelor of Engineering. There were limited opportunities for Bachelor of Engineering during that time since Pulchowk Campus was the only one public engineering School in Nepal . Other two private institutions Kathmandu University and Nepal Engineering College were out of my thought because of our financial situation.
CoffeeShopiTalks: What are the good things in Nepal’s educational practices that really led you to the ‘American dream’?
Dr. Om Dahal: Around 2008 when I completed my Masters in Power System Engineering from IOE Pulchowk Campus, I started looking for an opportunity for further study. I was initially thinking of undertaking my Ph.D in Electrical Engineering in some European Countries. However, two of my close friends Suresh Gautam and Shiva Pokhrel from my B.E. class had come to US around that time for their further study, and that eventually changed my mind and I made America my next destination. Definitely, the strong course design and academic input at Pulchowk Campus played an instrumental role in my success in getting my Ph.D. enrollment in New Mexico State University with full scholarship. The engineering education I received in Institute of Engineering both at Pulchowk and Purwanchal Campus was the great foundation for me. Literally, that was the best education system that I had ever gone through.
CoffeeShopiTalks; How did you get into philanthropic works?
Dr. Om Dahal; In my childhood back in Tehrathum , I used to hear many stories of the people who contribute to the society in educational, social and health sector. Since my childhood, my parents taught me to give and help others who are vulnerable and underprivileged in the society, and that developed a kind of philanthropic mindset within me. I used to involve in taking an initiative to help others. I remembered two situations when we took initiatives to help the needy people; one when one of our friends from a weak family background became sick and she needed immediate expensive care costing around 3 hundred thousand rupees and we were able to raise enough funds and save her life. It was around 2004, similarly, when Myanglung Bazar in Tehrathum was on fire, we were able to collect around NRS twenty thousand from the staff members at Nepal Electricity Authority where I used to work and sent this amount to Chief District Officer (CDO) office Tehrathum. I think series of such works always helped me think about the needy people.
CoffeeShopiTalks: Who inspired you to get involved in social service? Any motivational quote?
Dr. Om Dahal: There is not only one particular person who inspired me, but I see everyone is inspiring me in one way or another. I always learn from others. I do not hesitate to copy or follow others’ good work. And I end up following suit wholeheartedly. As I mentioned I obtained my engineering education in Nepal, Nepal government and Nepalese People had invested in my education, I should have stayed back and worked for Nepal. But I could not do that once I arrived in the USA. I used to think that I should return to Nepal but I could not. I was always thinking of doing something to give back to my home country. I think these indicatives are helping us to give back to the country which has gaven us so much already. At least we have these projects to feel proud that we have been giving back . Everyone of us who contributed to these projects should feel proud and we are equally qualified to take the ownership of these projects.
CoffeeShopiTalks: Why do you usually support remotely-based school/ educational facilities of Nepal?
Dr. Om Dahal: We all know education is very important for everyone as the education alone can bring a revolution in the society and make everyone’s life better. In Nepal, there is a huge gap in resources between public and private schools. As compared to private schools and the schools at major cities, those public schools at remote areas are far behind in resources, so we are trying to add some resources to those public schools, whatever we could.
CoffeeShopiTalks:How do you usually raise funds?
Dr. Om Dahal: Every year I run one marathon with an initiative of one charity project for raising fund to add some resources to public schools back in Nepal. I usually raise funds from my friends and well-wishers all around the world mainly from Nepal, the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, Japan and so on. I reach out to my friends mainly using Facebook and request for support; donations are usually made through GoFundMe page, bank transfer in the USA and bank deposit in School Account in Nepal.
CoffeeShopiTalks: Have you received adequate support from your family and friends to carry on with your social work?
Dr. Om Dahal: Absolutely, this is all becoming possible owing to the tremendous support of my friends and family. My friends and well wishers are continuously supporting these projects every year since 2016. Apart from this, I have to spend some time in these projects, basically my family time, my wife and kids understand this and they always encourage me. I feel truely privileged having such a supportive family and friends.
CoffeeShopiTalks: How do you make sure that the donation you give reaches the targeted group?
Dr. Om Dahal:We do not provide money directly to the schools but we build computer labs (resources) and hand them over to the schools in the presence of school family including local government representatives, so everyone in that area knows how these resources have been received. They also know our long process of fund collection and contributions from many individuals. And these stories definitely help to better utilize those resource in the future. We also get periodic updates from the schools on those resources.
CoffeeShopiTalks: Are you satisfied with what you have been doing so far?
Dr. Om Dahal:I should say I am satisfied. At least we are making some differences in underprivileged community and helping students for better education. But definitely, there is still room for doing much more.
CoffeeShopiTalks: What would you say about those who pretend to be helping the needy but intend to go viral on social media?
Dr. Om Dahal: Yes, I have seen some people doing this; I think this is the result of their own mindset. However, let’s focus on the end results, do not try to be just “I” but try to be “We”. There are so many people who are consistently helping the needy people but are not choosing to be in the viral trends of social media.
CoffeeShopiTalks: What do you think the government needs to do to improve educational system of remote areas of Nepal?
Dr. Om Dahal:There are two initiatives government should take. First, the government should invest more money in educational sector in order to provide resources, trained teachers. Secondly, the state should introduce policies and programs; basically development package so that inaccessible areas will be developed along with employment opportunity. I am very optimistic that so many good things are happening in Nepal. To be precise, we are on the right track, so everyone; let’s do our part.
CoffeeShopiTalks: What are your further plans?
Dr. Om Dahal: No specific plan whatsoever. Just planning to continue what we are doing.
CoffeeShopiTalks: Thank you so much sir for this interview. I wish you all the very best for your every philanthropic endeavors .
Dr. Om Dahal: Thank you for having me on your blog’s interview platform.Thanks CoffeeShopiTalks.
If you like to support his current campaign for computer laps in public school of Siraha/Saptari, Nepal, donate by clicking the following links Click here
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