Leadership Development Program

The Borderlands PDP organized a Leadership Development Program for Grade 9 students of the British School at the Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort from March 15-19, 2010. A total of 20 students and 3 teachers participated in the five-day leadership program. To make the experiential learning more effective, the whole group was further sub-divided into smaller groups. Hike to Dugunagadi Fortress and Gumba, camping, abseiling, the various problem solving games and initiatives, river crossing and the low rope course were some of the highlights of the program.

Raising Group Performance-British School

Overall, the program was considered to be a huge success as the participants actively participated in all the activities and learnt a lot from the games and initiatives. Improved communication (verbal and non-verbal), leadership skills, trust, coordination, support, team work and planning were some of skills that the participants were able to further develop over the program duration.

The Borderlands Group does not lag behind in its Corporate Social Responsibility. It organizes the Annual River festival at the amazing Bhote Koshi River and lobbies for its preservation as well. The Managing Director of the group, Mr. Megh Ale, is also the Founder President of Nepal River Conservation Trust (NRCT), an organization that is actively involved in conserving Nepal’s Himalayan river system, preserving the cultural heritage and developing an environmentally responsible tourism industry. Apart from supporting the annual Bagmati River Festival organized by NRCT on the occasion of the World Environment Day (June 5), the group also supports the Wetlands Day celebrations. Similarly, the group is operating the Borderlands Resort as an Eco Adventure Resort by minimizing the use of plastic bags, playing a vital role in the preservation of the local forest of the area and actively involved in raising awareness about tree plantation. Providing employment opportunities to the locals is yet another effort on the group’s part which can be proven from the fact that 90 % of the Resort’s staffs are local people. In addition, the group plays a vital role in supporting and managing 5 local schools namely:

1. Kali Devi Lower Secondary School- The group has been supporting this proposed secondary school, located in Gati Village, Sindhupalchowk, for the last 8 years.
2. Seti Primary School- This school is located at Dadakateri, Sindhupalchowk and we are affiliated with it since last year.
3. Ram Rajya Primary School and Sayapatri Kindergarten- Both these schools are located in Dangsin, Syangja and we have been supporting it for the past 2 years.
4. Deep Jyoti Primary School- Located in Sakhuwa, Sindhupalchowk, this school has been getting the Borderlands assistance for the past 2 years.

Slow Marble Game

The Borderlands PDP organized a Team Building Program for the staff of Embassy of Denmark on March 4, 2010. Organized at the Fort Resort in Nagarkot, the day-long program saw active participation from 23 participants including the Danish Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Finn Thilsted.

Low Rope Course

The main objective of the program was to further enhance the team work skills of the participants while ensuring that they had fun and enjoyed themselves. Ice breaking games including T-other side and Giant Step marked the beginning of the program. The participants were then sub-divided into 3 groups to make the program more effective. Low rope course, rescue the trapped people, slow marble run, leaky pipe, clove hitch, data transfer were some of the games and initiatives that were included in the program.

The program came to an end after a collective debrief, certificate and T-shirt distribution, lap sitting and group photo.

Rescue the Trapped People

1. Ghode Jatra- A grand horse parade will take place at Tundikhel on March 15, 2010 on the occasion of Ghode Jatra. Horse athletics and racing contest is the main highlight of this festival and people from far and wide come to witness this amazing spectacle.
2. Chaite Dasain- Chaite Dasain, which falls on March 23, 2010, used to be the original day of the grand Dasain festival, one of the most important festivals of the Nepalese. Because people got their stomachs upset after feasting on spicy food during the warm month, the festival was shifted to six months later. However, Chaite Dasain still maintains its religious fervor and is celebrated with much zest.
3. Ram Navami- Ram Navami is primarily the birthday of Lord Ram and falls on March 24, 2010. Hindus celebrate this with much pomp at the Janaki temple in Janakpur. Pilgrims from various parts of the country as well as India to take a holy dip in the sacred and historical Gangasagar and Dhanushsagar and pay homage at Ram Mandir and Janaki Mandir on this day.

A Team Building and Staff Retreat Program was organized for the staff of Linez Marketing Pvt. Ltd. from February 12-13, 2010 at the Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort. The program, organized by the Borderlands PDP, saw a total of 18 participants. Tibet border shopping, Tatopani (Hot Spring) visit and the Borderlands team building games and initiatives were some of the main highlights of the program that coincided with Maha Shivaratri, one of the most important festivals of the Hindus. The program was fun filled and adventurous in addition to being a learning experience for the Linez participants.

A Team Building program was organized for Hotel de l’ Annapurna on March 2, 2010 at Gokarna Forest Resort. A total of 49 participants participated in the program that aimed at improving trust, coordination, support and positive thinking among the participants. Additionally, increasing a sense of responsibility among the staff was also a major objective of the day-long program.

Various team building games and initiatives were included in the program in which the participants showed a lot of enthusiasm and participated actively. Leaky pipe, clove hitch, don’t lose your marble, spider’s web, electric fence, raising group performance and toxic waste were some of the games and initiatives that were included in the program. During an interaction session at the end of the program, the participants said that the team building program was very effective as it helped them to further understand the importance of team work and to appreciate the efforts of their team members. They also said that the various lessons learnt during the course of the day will be applied in their workplace.

Nepal River Conservation Trust (NRCT) successfully organized a River Festival at Bhotekoshi River from February 27-28, 2010. ‘River Conservation and Holi celebration with Whitewater Rafting’ was the main theme of the festival in which more than 60 participants participated. Additionally, some of the participants also enjoyed a stay at the Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort and the warm hospitality of the staff.

On the other hand, another group of people celebrated Holi (Festival of Colors) at Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort on February 28, 2010. The group reached the resort on February 27 and spent the night at the resort. Visit to Tatopani Hot Spring, short hike, and dancing were some of the highlights of the trip. The clients also enjoyed a fun-filled and colorful Holi at the resort.