StoryBridge Nepal
Located in Central Nepal, StoryBridge Nepal is a cross-cultural field learning initiative connecting adults, educators, and future university groups with Nepali communities through agriculture, education, storytelling, and place-based cultural exchange.
Field journeys begin in Kathmandu, continue through Dhulikhel, and spend their longest community-based period in the Chautara–Irkhu region of Sindhupalchok District, in collaboration with New Araniko Coffee Farm Resort, Shree Gyan Mandir Model Secondary School, and other local partners. Each experience is grounded in daily life, shared learning, reflection, and sustained relationships.
A Progressive Field Journey Through Central Nepal
StoryBridge Nepal is designed as more than a stay in a single location. The route moves from cultural orientation in Nepal’s capital into the Himalayan foothills, community partnership, agricultural learning, river-based experience, and final reflection.
Ancient Culture, Living Communities & Contemporary Change
Nepal offers an extraordinary setting for field-based learning: a country shaped by Himalayan geography, Hindu and Buddhist heritage, agricultural communities, migration, environmental change, education, and a deeply rooted tradition of community life.
StoryBridge participants encounter Nepal not simply as visitors moving between attractions, but through relationships with educators, agricultural leaders, local families, students, guides, and community partners.
This creates space to explore how culture, land, learning, identity, and social change intersect within one of the world’s most distinctive environments.
How Nepal Became StoryBridge’s Foundation
In May 2025, founder Kristina Applegate traveled to Nepal while teaching with EF Education First and spent time with students, educators, and community members in and around Chautara in Sindhupalchok District.
A simplified version of the organization’s storytelling-based learning model was introduced in a local school setting. The experience demonstrated the potential for a longer-term program grounded in creativity, cultural exchange, agricultural learning, and partnership rather than short-term intervention.
What began as an initial teaching experience developed into an ongoing relationship with Nepali educators and community leaders—and ultimately into the foundation of StoryBridge Nepal.
Rooted in Local Partnership
StoryBridge Nepal is developed alongside Nepali educators and community partners whose knowledge, leadership, and local relationships guide the program’s direction, logistics, learning experiences, and approach to ethical engagement.
Binu Majhee
Binu Majhee brings educational experience, cultural knowledge, and trusted relationships throughout Sindhupalchok District to StoryBridge Nepal.
She supports communication and coordination among visiting participants, local educators, partner schools, families, and community leaders. Her guidance helps ensure that the program remains rooted in respect, cultural awareness, local priorities, and sustained relationship-building.
Binu works closely with the leadership of Shree Gyan Mandir Model Secondary School and helps shape community and school-based learning experiences in the Chautara region.
Dikshant Bhattarai
Dikshant Bhattarai is an agricultural educator and field coordinator whose work connects land-based learning, cultural interpretation, sustainability, and regional logistics.
He supports the Kathmandu, Dhulikhel, Chautara, and Sukute stages of the journey while helping participants understand Nepal’s landscapes, agricultural systems, heritage, and community life.
Dikshant also helps coordinate agricultural and coffee-learning experiences, local transportation, drivers, field activities, and communication with regional partners.
From Global Workshops to a Nepal-Rooted Field Institute
Founded in 2008 as Kids Share Workshops, the organization has developed storytelling, arts, education, and cultural-exchange programs with communities in multiple countries.
StoryBridge Nepal represents the next stage of that work: a sustained, place-based institute developed around relationships in Nepal and designed to support adult learning, future faculty-led university programs, cultural exchange, agricultural education, and reflective field practice.
The goal is not rapid expansion. It is to develop the program carefully—strengthening each route, partnership, accommodation, activity, and learning component alongside local leadership.
Learning Through Place & Everyday Knowledge
Field-based learning can begin with something as simple as identifying local fruit, sharing language, documenting agricultural knowledge, or learning how food, land, culture, and family life are connected.
Program Locations & Learning Environments
Each stage of the StoryBridge Nepal route offers a different learning environment. Together, they create a journey that moves from cultural grounding into landscape, local partnership, field learning, adventure, and reflection.
Kathmandu: Cultural Orientation
Participants begin with approximately two nights at Pashupati Boutique Hotel & Spa. The opening stage introduces Nepal’s cultural, religious, and historical landscape through guided heritage experiences and time to settle into the journey.
Dhulikhel: Landscape & Reflection
Three nights in the Dhulikhel region provide a transition from Kathmandu into the wider field journey, with Himalayan scenery, historic settlements, cultural exploration, reflective learning, and time to adjust to Nepal’s landscape and daily rhythm.
Chautara–Irkhu: Community Field Learning
Five nights in the Chautara–Irkhu region form the community-centered heart of the program. Participants engage with local educators, agricultural partners, coffee-farm learning, regional culture, and Shree Gyan Mandir Model Secondary School.
Sukute River: Adventure & Transition
A one-night stay in the Sukute river region provides space for a professionally supported outdoor experience, group connection, and reflection before returning to Chautara.
Return to Chautara: Reflection & Completion
Two additional nights in Chautara create time to reconnect with partners, complete field activities, reflect on what has been learned, and bring the community-based portion of the journey to a thoughtful close.
Kathmandu: Closing Reflection & Departure
The group returns to Kathmandu for one final night before departure, allowing time to rest, share final reflections, and prepare for international travel.
The Adult Founding Year
StoryBridge Nepal will begin with a small adult founding group before welcoming future university cohorts. Limited to eight adults, this first journey will experience the complete route while helping strengthen pacing, accommodations, transportation, activities, communication, and the reflective structure of the program.
Founding Recognition
With permission, participants may be recognized as members of StoryBridge Nepal’s first adult founding group.
Stories & Documentation
Participants may optionally contribute photographs, reflections, interviews, or testimonials.
Continued Engagement
Interested participants may explore future journeys, outreach, introductions, or advisory involvement.
“Through relationships with Binu and Dikshant, my time in Nepal evolved from an initial teaching experience into a long-term vision for field-based learning grounded in community, culture, and trust.”
— Kristina Applegate, Founder & Program DirectorUniversity & Faculty Partnerships
StoryBridge Nepal is developing small, faculty-led field programs with universities and academic departments interested in global learning, education, communications, storytelling, culture, agriculture, environmental studies, and community partnership.
Programs can be shaped around institutional goals, academic outcomes, faculty interests, cohort size, and the most appropriate seasonal window.
Explore University Partnerships Request Program InformationStay Connected
Learn more about the Adult Founding Journey, future university programs, or partnership opportunities.
Email:
info@kidsshareworkshops.com
Instagram:
@storybridge.nepal
StoryBridge Nepal
Built upon the work of Kids Share Workshops, established in 2008.
A cross-cultural field institute rooted in relationship-based learning, cultural exchange, agriculture, storytelling, and community partnership in Nepal.