Kathaakar in Tanahun: A Journey of Stories

The Journey

The least exciting person I know is me, but whenever it comes to planning Kathaakar workshops, the enthusiastic bone in my body reappears. It’s been almost five years since we started this project, yet the energy still feels fresh every time we travel to new places and discover new stories. One of those journeys took us to Tanahun.

We had just received a grant from Free STEM and were in the middle of creating a new curriculum and training workshop facilitators who could carry the legacy forward even without us. Noble in theory, but in practice, not so simple. Tanahun was already a little different from the start, our team of six original co-founders was reduced to three this time. Kathaakar is a piece of heart for each of us, something we poured our love and passion into, so without half of the foundation it felt like a void we were constantly trying to fill. Still, the three of us held onto the best thing we could do: bring in new facilitators, make them feel part of the circle, and keep moving forward.

Our focal person in Tanahun was Sandesh, a TFN (Teach for Nepal) fellow and computer science teacher. TFN has always been an incredible partner in our journey, from Dang to Lamjung and now Tanahun, because they understand the schools, the students, the villages, and they resonate with our vision of storytelling as much as we do.

Getting There

Behind each one of our workshop there’s a quiet whirlwind of logistics: choosing the school, arranging accommodation, planning meals, carrying workshop materials, and figuring out transport. Tanahun was remote, so instead of relying on the two daily local buses, we hired a private vehicle to carry both us and our materials. The first half of the road was familiar, dusty highways we’d all come to accept as part of the Nepali travel experience. But the second half was more confusing, as maps grew unreliable and trails looked more like walking paths than roads. Thanks to a few helpful locals, we eventually made it to our community homestay. That was a win on both sides, warm beds, caring hosts, delicious food, and the knowledge that our stay directly supported the local community.

The First Challenge

The next morning, after a short walk to the school, we were welcomed warmly by the teachers. Their encouragement was exactly what we needed because the first challenge came quickly: there weren’t enough students. We usually work with 15 girls from grades 8–10, but here the numbers were smaller. The teachers encouraged us to include a couple of students from grade 7, and, unexpectedly, even two boys joined in. We were hesitant at first, the younger students might struggle to follow, and the dynamics could shift, but we decided to give it a chance.

Unlocking Stories

The first day was full of hesitation. When we asked the students to write personal stories, most of them defaulted to the essay-like structures they were used to in school. The idea of writing about themselves, their feelings, memories, daily lives, seemed foreign, almost suspicious. But little by little, through exercises like River of Life and Community Mapping, they began to unlock their own voices.

Soon, stories emerged: about their beautiful village, a big fight with a best friend, love and hate relationships with tablet/phone, passions for sports, and even their bitter encounter with stinging nettles. Every story was different, but all of them had one thing in common, they were deeply personal.

By the second and third days, the magic really started unfolding. Students turned their stories into storyboards, bribed their friends and teachers to act as characters, and found inventive ways to turn everyday life into visual metaphors. When it came to filming and narration, some of the younger students struggled with the technical parts, but their peers stepped up to guide them. It was heartwarming to watch them review each other’s drafts, give feedback, and collaborate to make each video stronger.

The Screening

By the final day, everything came together in the community screening. The students themselves took full charge: arranging chairs, welcoming guests, managing attendance, preparing snacks, even setting up the equipment. Parents, teachers, and villagers gathered as the stories played out on screen. The room filled with laughter, pride, and plenty of tears, tears of joy, mostly, as families and teachers saw the creativity and effort of their children come alive in such powerful ways.

At the end, we handed out awards, not for competition, but for kindness, teamwork, and effort. We also partnered with Women Leaders in Technology (WLiT) to donate books to the school library, adding another small ripple of learning for the future.

Reflections

Tanahun was more than just a workshop. It was a reminder of why we do this work, not just to teach storytelling, but to witness the way stories bring out confidence, collaboration, and joy in young people. Beyond the school walls, it was also about the villagers who guided us when the road disappeared, the homestay hosts who cared for us like family, and the starry skies that reminded us how far we had traveled from the city lights.

The experience wasn’t without its conflicts and heavy decisions, but those too became part of the learning curve. Looking back, I’m grateful, for every student, every host, every partner, and for my team especially Anu, our new addition to the kathaakar family, who continues to hold space for stories even in the toughest of times.