StoryBridge Nepal
Located in Central Nepal, StoryBridge Nepal is a cross-cultural field institute connecting independent travelers, educators, and educational partner 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 Field Network Across Central Nepal
StoryBridge is rooted in four connected learning environments. Each place contributes something different to the institute—from cultural grounding and Himalayan landscape to long-term community relationships, agriculture, and regional exploration.
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
As Program Director, 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
As Country Director, Dikshant Bhattarai helps connect StoryBridge’s field learning with local relationships, agriculture, 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 educational partner 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.
Our Field Network Across Central Nepal
Rather than repeating a fixed itinerary here, these four locations show how StoryBridge’s field institute is organized. Each contributes a distinct setting, relationship base, and form of learning to the programs developed through StoryBridge Nepal.
Kathmandu
Kathmandu provides arrival, orientation, living heritage, sacred and historic places, contemporary urban context, and a cultural frame for understanding the wider journey.
Dhulikhel
Dhulikhel connects Himalayan geography, historic settlements, environmental observation, cultural heritage, wellness, and reflective learning before the longer community-based experience.
Chautara–Irkhu
Chautara–Irkhu is the relationship-centered heart of StoryBridge, connecting local educators, Shree Gyan Mandir Model Secondary School, New Araniko Coffee Farm Resort, agriculture, storytelling, and community life.
Sukute River
The Sukute River region expands the field experience through supported outdoor learning, river geography, teamwork, regional hospitality, shared experience, and reflection.
The Founding Cultural Learning Journey
StoryBridge Nepal will begin with a small founding Cultural Learning Journey before welcoming future educational partner cohorts. Limited to 12 participants, 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 Cultural Learning Journey.
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 DirectorPreview, Download, Print, or Share the StoryBridge Overview
The simplified one-page flyer introduces StoryBridge Nepal’s two connected pathways: the November 1–15, 2026 Cultural Learning Journey and customized Educational Institution Partnerships.
It is designed to be understood quickly and can be shared with prospective participants, educators, faculty, study-abroad offices, academic leaders, and other StoryBridge connections.
Educational Institution Partnerships
StoryBridge Nepal is developing small, faculty-led field programs with educational institutions 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.
Stay Connected
Learn more about the Cultural Learning Journey, future educational partner 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.