Borderlands PDP, one of its kind in Nepal with years of experience in the training field, organized a program for participants from Mercedes Benz- India on April 22, 2010. The day long program saw active participation from all the 30 participants. Rafting on the Trishuli River, trip to the Manakamana Temple, icebreaker exercises and some Team Building games and initiatives were the main highlights of the program.

The participants said that the activities were fun, enjoyable and that the Borderlands team did an excellent job.

Trishuli is Nepal’s most popular rafting river. Easy access from Kathmandu and Pokhara, scenic valleys and impressive gorges, exhilarating rapids and easier sections as well as the right amount of time all make it the perfect trip for first-time or experienced rafters.

The Borderlands PDP organized a day-long Team Building Program for 11 participants from Ncell’s Marketing Team. Organized on April 21, 2010 at Gokarna Forest Resort, the program was fun filled and educational as all the games and initiatives were focused on experiential learning. Throughout the day, the participants actively participated in various activities including: leaky pipe, spider’s web, toxic waste, trust exercises, magic carpet etc. in addition to some high Rope adventure activities including funky monkey and high surfing. The activities focused on improving various skills of the participants namely: verbal and non-verbal communication, team work, trust, unity, leadership, motivation, co-operation and coordination and planning skills among others.

Flight operations across Europe is being gradually restored with the new guidance, issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority in conjunction with the Irish Aviation Authority, allowing a phased reintroduction of flights. The European airspace is reopening even though there are some ‘no fly zones’ where concentrations of ash are at unsafe levels for flights. The restriction free areas are: Austria, the Balkana area, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, southern France, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Romania, northern Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey & Ukraine.

A Joint Seminar for Finnish and Nepalese Youth Leaders was organized from April 10-11, 2010 at the Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort. The program, organized by Borderlands PDP in cooperation with DEMO Finland, UNDP and Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs, saw participation from 26 youths from Finland and Nepal. The two-day long interaction program entitled ‘Youth perspectives on the advancement of global cooperation for equitable & sustainable development’ comprised of internal sessions on the first day and rafting in the Bhote Koshi River on the second day. Formulating joint recommendations for donors and recipients, formulating joint recommendations for global action etc. were the main highlights of the seminar. In addition, Mr. Megh Ale, Managing Director of the Borderlands Group also took an hour long session on sharing and discussing the impact of climate change on Nepal. On the second day, a joint rafting of Finnish and Nepalese youth leaders was organized to campaign for global action against Climate Change. Overall, the program was a success as the participants actively participated in all the activities and they also said that the program was fruitful and enjoyable.

Everest Bank’s Board of Directors’ meeting was held at Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort on April 2-3, 2010. There were a total of 23 participants including Mr. B. B. Raymajhi (Deputy Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank) and Mr. B. K. Shrestha (Chairman) in addition to CEO, Directors, DGM, AGM etc. The Board of Directors meeting was held on April 2, 2010 at Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort whereas a program was organized at Kailash Mansarovar Hotel to launch Everest Bank’s branch at Tatopani on April 3, 2010. The launching ceremony saw more than 100 participants.

After the launching ceremony, the staff from Everest Bank returned to Borderlands Resort and then headed back to Kathmandu. Overall, the program was considered to be a success.

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