Leadership Development and Team Building Program was organized for VFC, Volunteers for change at the Borderlands Resort. A total of 18 volunteers participated in the program which was aimed at helping the volunteers develop their leadership skills and understanding of the local community. During the program, the participants had to take part in various adventurous activities that enabled them to nurture their  leadership skills and confidence development.

After arriving at the Borderlands, a briefing regarding the aims and objectives of the course was discussed. The participants took part in a couple of ice breaking activities. Meanwhile, the participants were formed in peer groups to start a hike to Gati village and waterfall. In the evening the participants celebrated X-Mas followed by nightline exercise and collective debriefing of the day. Next day started with hot drinks followed by half an hour’s stretching exercise. After having breakfast, participants were divided into two groups to take part in trust exercise, problem solving exercise and abseiling. At the end there was a final debrief and the certificates were handed out to all the participants of the program. All participants then headed back to Kathmandu after a very fruitful and fun filled Leadership Development Program.

Borderlands organized a 3 day long Leadership Development & Outdoor Education Program for students from Alok Vidyashram. The first program ran from the 9^th – 11^th December for the students from grade 8 – 9 and the second from the 18^th – 20^th December. The program was based on the theme of ‘learning by doing’ and was highly successful in achieving some of the objectives set by the school and the students themselves. The sense of building capacity outside the classroom environment, learning leadership traits, building teams for better results and having fun were some of the learning drawn from the program.

The students were highly enthusiastic and actively participated in all the activities from trekking, braving the cold weather camping, working together to solve problems and improving their team skills. Some of the challenges like steep uphill climb, walking across suspension bridges, scrambling over the rocks to the hidden waterfalls, all of these were dealt with much interest and excitement.

Of course, it was not only hard work and no play, the students had ample opportunity of interacting with each other and have sizeable dose of fun and recreation. Talent show on the last night followed by music and dance, mouth watering meals at Borderlands and the ambience around the resort all added to making the trip highly memorable with memories that will linger for years to come.

The British school student of year 6 took part in their leadership development program organized by Borderlands Leadership Development Team from 28^th November to 2^nd December at Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort. The leadership program included 31 participants, 5 teachers, and the team of borderlands group. The main objective of the program was to build confidence, increase communication, team work, build trust, and overcome challenge among all the students of British School. The main venue if the program was Borderland Eco Adventure Resort. The program was mostly influenced by trek to Gati village, camping, and visits to a local primary school in the Gati village. The overall 4nights and 5 days program included trek, adventurous activity like rock climbing, abseiling, river crossing, team building and problem solving activities. Moreover the program was covered by student’s talents shows like preparing banners, cracking jokes, stories, riddles, dance, singing and the dance party at the last night on the Borderlands.

The wholehearted students were involved with their full enthusiasm and interest though all the activities were challenging, adventurous and thrilling. The overall program was highly victorious.

2nd December 2011; Borderlands PDP organized a successful half day Staff Team Building Program for SNV, Nederland Development Organization at Godavari Village Resort, Godavari. There were total of 70 participants involved in the program. The main aim was to assist in team building through various activities with major two objectives of building trust and support mechanisms, effective communication, building confidence, team bonding and to have some fun, relax and enjoy each other’s company beyond workplace and to build a sense of togetherness.

After having demonstration of earth quack session, the entire participants assembled at the resort premises to introduce the program and its objectives. Main while the team was divided into six groups to take part in trust activities followed by some ice breaking activities. After lunch, participants were involved in the visioning indoor session.  The main highlight of the program was to visualize the SNV for the year 2013 and find out the major decisions to achieve the vision. Based on the indoor session participants were divided into three groups to take part in problem solving activities. Before the program came to an end there was group photo session followed by collective debriefing of the program.

The Borderlands PDP organized a two Day long “Team Building Program” for Royal Norwegian Embassy on November 14th to 15th, 2011 at Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort. There were total of 19 participants involved in the program.

Upon arrival at the resort the participants were welcomed and briefed on safety & resort’s facilities. The program began with some Ice breaker activities followed by some exciting problem solving initiatives which were performed in 2 separate teams. All team activities elicit learning, merging together, managing conflict, formulating strategies and visioning for a collective future. The next day commenced with yoga class and indoor session on managing stress which was associated with many health benefits and reducing negative organizational stress. The final activity was a real team bonding test when the team members went rafting on the Bhote Koshi River. The participants were encouraged to steer the raft through some rapids enabling them to understand each other better. Before the Team Building Program came to an end, there was a collective debriefing during which the participants talked about what learning they got from the program and how it would be applicable in the work place.

The Borderlands PDP organized a Two Day long Team Building Program for the staffs of Unilever Nepal Ltd on September 23rd to 24th, 2011 at River Side Spring Resort. The main aims of the program was to build trust and support mechanisms, retaining employees, planning, effective communication, building confidence, Coordination, team effort and leadership, adaptation for organizational change and to have some fun, relax and enjoy each other’s company beyond workplace and to build a sense of togetherness.

Various team building activities, initiatives including the low rope course and rafting on the Trishuli River with the theme “Keep It Real” were used during the program. The entire outdoor programs and indoor sessions were highly participative providing a stimulating mix of activities, exercises, role play, and facilitator led review. The program was built around a series of high impact, motivating activities and challenges with participants working in small teams engaged in memorable experiences, fun and challenges that highlighted the practices of communicating more effectively, working together with diversity, visioning, adopting appropriate leadership style, building trust, support mechanisms, strategic planning and problem solving.

Borderlands PDP ran a week long Leadership Development and Community service Program for year 12 seniors from the Lincoln School Nepal from 6^th – 12^th November. The program which took place at Borderlands and the village of Gumthang had a total of 21 students and 5 teachers. The program was geared towards building partnership between Lincoln School Kathmandu and Bachala Devi High School from the Sindupalchok district. In addition to this some important elements of team work, bonding and making new friends, learning tools and techniques to working together, trust, mutual respect and being comfortable outside the comfort zone were also highlighted during the program.

The program began with some ice breaking session which enabled the students to find common ground and get to know each other. Working in pairs the participants took some time to explore and exchanged ideas for discussion for the next couple of days. The hike to the school crossing a long suspension bridge and the warm welcome by the village made a heartening start of the school partnership. The students then engaged in various activities from introducing computers, distributing and demonstrating science equipment and setting up the library. Basic first aid, importance of cleanliness and earthquake preparedness were also demonstrated to the school. Folk dance and cultural shows were presented by the local school while a video presentation on migrant workers and a close session on intimate cross cultural exchange were highly successful in establishing a link between the two schools for the future years.

Outdoor adventure activities which included canyoning, low rope course, rafting and problem solving initiatives with appropriate de briefings helped and encouraged the participants to overcome fear, face challenges and think creatively in adverse circumstances. The students were highly participative with emerging natural leadership and development of social skills and a collective communal sense.

The overall outcome of the week was very much in line with expectations and what the students had hoped to achieve of the program.

Borderlands PDP organized a Leadership Development Program (LDP) for team Freiberg, Delft, Gati and Namaste Nepal from October 20-24, 2011. The event was organized so that 17 students from Freiberg and 14 villagers from the nearby villages (Dadakateri, Gati and Sakhuwa) could jointly participate in the LDP. The event included ice breaking and trust fall exercises and other team building activities and initiatives that emphasized on improving communication, leadership, trust, co-ordination, team building among other skills. The participants also actively took part in a talk program on Biogas Plant, Urine cultivation that focused on the possibilities and challenges in the mid-hills.

The hike to Gati village, Dadakateri and Mahankal was the major highlight of the event in addition to music and fun activities was one of the highlight of the event. After the team building program ended on October 21, 2011, the Freiberg students involved in the programs given by Gati School Development Committee, Forest Committee and Women’s group. Overall the program was a huge success as the participants felt that the program improved their sense of bonding and the Freiberg students also got the chance to see the rural lifestyle and got the opportunity to do some social work.

On 1st October 2011, Borderlands participated in a day long Shuvatara

Dashain Mela at Lamatar to provide the information of Borderlands adventure

services. A rafting boat, kayak, tent and the gears required for rafting and

kayaking were demonstrated on the event. Borderlands Team was quite busy on

providing information to visitors.

A line up of b-boying, slam poetry, BMX bike stunts as well as musical

performances, food stalls and game and outdoor activities stalls were set to

entertain visitors at the Dashain Mela. Visitors enjoyed an adventurous

pre-Dashain celebration with lots of fun under the sun with three-on-three

basketball games, quizzes, kite flying, bingo and much more. The main

objective of the program was to raise funds for the government school

students by providing fun and entertainment to visitors. Borderlands had

sponsored a door prize for a couple for stay at Borderlands Eco Adventure

Resort.

Borderlands organized a 5 day Youth Leadership Program for students from ISA, International School Ammbay, Gujarat, India. A total of 41 students and 5 teachers took part in the outdoor education program that took place at Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort from 25^th – 29^th September 2011. The aims of this program were to provide the students with an opportunity to develop their academic and social skills along with a chance to gain knowledge of new culture and the environment they have an impact on.

Many interactive team activities like the treasure hunt in Bhaktapur, team building and problem solving initiatives, low rope course, abseiling, canyoning and exchange program at the local school were held. All these activities were designed to be mentally as well as physically challenging requiring the students to push themselves to learn new skills and realize their true inner potential. The course theme ‘challenge by choice’ enabled the participants to take that step towards exploring themselves while learning to respect the natural environment and the other members of the team.  The stress was given on acquiring the right skills, using a dedicated approach, managing risk and optimizing safety. The need for personal growth than beating the competition, I did my best and walking away with the head held high was the major focus of this program.