Borderlands PDP successfully conducted a half day Team Building program for Action Aid International Nepal (AAIN) at Godavari Village Resort, Godavari on 15^th December 2012. All the participants assembled at resort premises for program introduction and started their team building program with blind fold walk and some ice breaking activities.

Hereafter, the group was divided into three groups for their trust activities and team building activities. The event was highly participatory and all members including the Borderlands team thoroughly enjoyed the program. The major theme of the event was building trust, quality control, effective communication, monitoring, having fun and to mark 30^th Anniversary of AAIN. The program ended with collective debriefing by the course directors from Borderlands.

A successful team building Event was organized by Borderlands for Varun Beverages Nepal (P) Ltd with a slogan of ‘One Team, One Mission, Be the Best’ on 12^th to 14^th Dec 2012 at Borderlands Resorts, Gati, Sindhupalchauk, Nepal. With a great natural Ambience of serenity and lullaby of Bhotekoshi , the program ran for three days with outdoor adventure components of hiking and rafting with corporate  incentive activities. The program ran in line with the theme set for the participants. The participants were highly involved and enthusiastic. The theme set included activities to include effective team work, trust, communication, coordination and planning. The program was fun filled with adventure components and games enabling participants to learn their leadership and communication skills. Their comfort zone was stretched to test their skills and adaptability in new and difficult environment used as metaphors of their workplace.  Participants went out with head high held commenting that now their unconscious weakness is known so that they can work on that and complement each other for better performances canceling each other’s weakness as a team.

Borderlands PDP ran 5 days long Borderlands Leadership Development Program for year 6 students of British School from 3^rd December – 7^th December, 2012 at Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort. Total 21 students and 3 teachers participated in the program. The key objectives of the program was to build confidence, increase communication, team work, build trust and overcome challenge among all the students of British School. The program commenced with a fun filled night camping at Gati village followed by local primary school visit. The main venue was Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort. Students were highly enthusiastic and actively participated in the activities from trekking, braving the cold weather, working together in addition adventurous activities like rock climbing, abseiling, river crossing, team building and problem solving activities. Moreover,  the program was covered by the students own talent shows similar to preparing banners, cracking jokes, stories, dance, singing and games.

The wholehearted students were highly participative with their full passion, emerging natural leadership and enthusiasm though all the activities which are challenging, adventurous and thrilling. The overall program was highly successful.

Borderlands Srilanka/Nepal organized Five days Leadership Development, Outdoor Adventure and Community Service Program for the year 11 students of American Community School, Lebanon from 15^th -19^th November 2012. The program consisted five component- Leadership Development Activities, Village Hike giving the insight of Nepalese Rural and Cultural Life, Community Service at KaliDevi Secondary School at Gati Village, Canyoning and Rafting.

The Program organized at Borderlands Resort, the adjoining Villages and Bhotekoshi river had a total of 58 students and 6 teachers. The program was designed to build trust, leadership, team work, mutual respect and being comfortable outside the comfort zone. Community Service at Kalidevi School brought locals students together with the participants enabling cultural, emotional and educational sharing. A friendly football match was even played between boys of both schools where as ACS girls shared their games and learned local ones form the local girls. In a welcoming and cheerful environment the school was painted new. Village Hike gave the insight of the rural life of Nepal.

Outdoor Adventure Activities- abseiling, canyoning, rafting, problem solving initiatives, treasure hunt, team building activities were held helping students to mentally as well as physically challenge themselves to learn new skills and realize their true inner potential. The Students were reluctant initially but as they started facing the challenge, they opened up and were highly engaged with the activities. The stay at the borderland was concluded with the solo where they wrote their experience in a letter which shall be posted to them after six months. Five Days of Adventure, Service and Learning was with the line of theme set for the program and we hope students have good memories entrenched within them.

Ultimate Descents Nepal, a sister concern of Borderlands participated in the WTM 2012 in London. We sincerely thank the organizers to let us be part of this international event. We feel proud to represent Nepal in the Global Travel Show and hope that our effort and participation will leave footprint in the tourism industry of Nepal.

WTM is the leading global event for the travel industry to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business. All sectors of the travel industry are represented including Tourist Boards, Airlines, Cruise, Hotels, Luxury, and Responsible Tourism to Travel Technology (source: WTM website). It was organized on   5^th to 8^th November 2012.

Borderlands PDP organized a week long Leadership Development and Community service Program for year 12 seniors from the Lincoln School Nepal from 4^th – 10^th November 2012. The program which took place at Borderlands and the village of Gumthang had a total of 24 students and 4 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 Sri Lanka /Nepal organized a week long Leadership Development Program for students from Melkart College, Lebanon. A total of 30 students and 4 teachers took part in the outdoor education program that took place at Borderlands Eco Adventure Resort from 24th – 31th October 2012. 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 city chase, team building and problem solving initiatives, treasurer hunt, low rope course, abseiling, canyoning and rafting on the Bhote Koshi River 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.

Dashain being the most awaited and anticipated festival of all year was celebrated at the Borderlands Corporate office in presence of all its employees. The festival was marked with the worship of Durga, Goddess of power. It is believed that Rama, the human incarnation of Hindu God Bishnu, worshipped goddess Durga for nine days for power and defeated the demon king, Ravan on tenth day. These Nine days are considered auspicious and celebrated with joy and source of power. In those nine days, nine different goddesses are worshiped as different forms of Durga. It is a strong belief among Nepalese that source of power is the goddess, the women. Therefore, it is the celebration to respect women for empowering the men.

The seventh day of the occasion was marked with special PUJA at the office. The celebration was initiated by Megh Ale, Founder Director of the Company. People bring in different plants and flowers into their houses on this day called ‘PhulPati’ which gave the same name to the day. These plants are kept in the sacred place and worshipped for three more days.  The celebration is not just worshipping goddesses; it worships the nature as well. Therefore, Dashain is the festival of celebrating the power of life in the form of women and nature.  Nepal Army marks this day with special firings at Tudikhel.

It was a great chance to bring all the employees together in one single platform irrespective of their designation giving them the feeling that we all are together and is a family. The celebration included the directors, managers and all other staffs and guides. It was an ideal occasion to show their passion and respect for their profession as well. All of them pay their respect for a prosperous year and better business. Everyone showed their commitment for better operation and customer experience.

The celebration was an opportunity to relax and enjoy each other’s company at Borderlands Office brainstorming for better operations and customer satisfaction.

We wish a prosperous and happy Dashain to all.

Borderlands PDP organized a Leadership Development Program (LDP) for team Freiberg, Delft, Gati and Namaste Nepal from October 16-17, 2011. The event was organized so that 18 students from Freiberg and 19 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 SCOT (Strength, Challenges, Opportunities & threats) Analysis on Sustainable Education for Better Living for Dadakateri, Gati and Sakhuwa. In this analysis Section Officer of District Education Council, teachers, representative of Namaste Nepal, Social Tours, Borderlands and villagers also played a vital role.

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 17, 2012, 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.

Borderlands PDP conducted a 3 day Team Building Retreat for the World Bank, SASDC participants at its resort in Sindupalchok district. The program was largely based on team building and group development with emphasis on adapting and excelling in pressure situations.

A multinational team of 26 participants took part in the event which mainly focused on improving team bonding, understanding each other and integrating the newly formed team. The major focus of the event was to improve the communication, leadership, trust, planning, coordination and team work among the participants so that they can utilize the learnings in the workplace and have an effective team for organizational achievement. The program included outdoor and indoor sessions to empower the participants in effective communication and trust building. The adventure including rafting and hiking brought the participants closer fostering trust and teamwork while the problem solving activities encouraged a decisive response to anticipated and unanticipated challenges. The internal session with presentations supplemented to strategies and various approach necessary to fulfill the team objective in line with appropriate vision and mission.

The outdoor adventure, presentations, problem solving activities and evening filled with music and entertainment kept the participant focused and motivated in their objectives in a fun filled atmosphere. Based on different location, working as a team is not always easy, the activities conducted in an encouraging atmosphere has enabled individuals to communicate and plan the strategies and execute as team.

The feedback of the participants was overwhelming. The participants were grateful to have had the course highlight some important elements of successfully achieving desired goals, interacting with people and constantly multitasking.