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Nepal has the world’s tallest mountains, thick jungles, vast grasslands and mighty rivers. The country is equally diverse when it comes to religion, culture and languages. Kathmandu, Everest Base Camp trek, Pokhara and Bandipur are some big-ticket attractions. But away from the tourist hordes, you can discover lesser-known gems like Bardia National Park, Gorkha and Tsum Valley. Enjoy the wilderness of Nepal that is not in many tourist guides and get to know the fascinating culture and traditions of villages that have remained practically unchanged for centuries. Bardia National Park  Home to big cats like tigers and leopards, the beautiful and remote Bardia National Park is a less commercial version of the popular Chitwan National Park. Try rafting in Karnali River that runs through the park, cycle past villages, and go on guided jungle walks. You can also spot rhinoceros, elephants, swamp deer, Gangetic dolphins and endangered birds like Bengal florican and Silver-eared mesia. See crocodiles, gharials and turtles at the Crocodile Breeding Centre. The indigenous nature-worshiping Dangaura Tharu people who live around the park have a distinct culture and language. Another ethnic minority group, the Sonaha, is intimately linked with the riverine delta.  Barun Valley Situated at the base of Mount Makalu, Barun Valley is part of the Makalu Barun National Park. The valley is known for its stunning landscape—difficult-to-navigate rocks, impressive waterfalls, deep gorges, thick forests and snowy peaks. Barun Valley is still not on the trekking map of Nepal, and you’re unlikely to bump into other trekkers for days. The valley is home to rare plants and animals like the snow leopard, gray wolf and red panda. Besides trekking, bird watching and animal spotting are recommended activities here. The main ethnic communities in the valley are the Rai, Sherpa and Bhotia, and you can experience life in their villages.  Guerilla Trail The civil war in Nepal that ended in 2006 killed an estimated 17,000 people. The unusual ‘Guerilla Trail’ is a low-altitude trekking route that passes through the erstwhile heartland of the Maoist insurgency in Myagdi, Rukum and Rolpa. Besides learning about the region’s fraught history, you can interact with locals who were caught in the conflict and discover the indigenous culture of the Thakali, Chhetri, Tibetan and Magar ethnic groups. The trail is scenic at various parts and passes lush rhododendron, fir and pine forests.  Other attractions on the route include waterfalls, caves, lakes such as Kamala Daha and Sun Daha, and farmlands.   Ilam Ilam is a peaceful mountain town in the far east of Nepal known for its tea gardens. Compared to the major trekking routes in Nepal, Ilam and its surrounding hills offer short hikes, gentler trails and pleasant walks through woods. Notice the town’s wooden buildings with their balconies jutting out. Climb up Ilam View Tower for excellent views of the bazaar and valleys. Among the main ethnic groups living in and around Ilam are the Limbus. Their weddings feature a lot of dancing and drinking the traditional millet-based beer called Tongba. The most important Limbu festival is Chasok Tangnam, where the first winter harvest is symbolically offered to Goddess Yuma Sammang. Gorkha Prithvi Narayan Shah, who founded the modern state of Nepal in the 18th century, was born in Gorkha in western Nepal. The Newar community regards the Shahs as living incarnations of the Hindu god Vishnu, and Gorkha is a pilgrimage site. Gorkha’s top sight is the 16th-century Gorkha Durbar, a fort-palace known for its fine Newari architecture. The festival of Dashain is the most auspicious time of the year in Gorkha. The 15-day festival begins in late September. Also, check out the Gorkha Museum, housed in a 19th-century palace; the miniature temple built in honor of the God Bhimsen; and Manakamana Temple, dedicated to the Goddess Durga. Dolpa The Dolpa district, situated in an isolated corner of Nepal between the Dhaulagiri ranges and the Tibetan plateau, offers a uniquely rewarding trekking experience. Here you’ll find ancient Buddhist sites such as Shey Gompa, an 800-year-old monastery, and remote villages where centuries-old Tibetan culture is preserved. The landscape varies, from arid plateaus and snow-covered peaks to the beautiful blue waters of Phoksundo Lake. Tourism infrastructure is practically non-existent because it’s not frequented by foreign visitors. The area’s national park is home to endangered species like snow leopards and blue sheep. In Upper Dolpo, the mainly Buddhist people also follow animistic beliefs. The population is more mixed in Lower Dolpo. Tsum Valley Tsum Valley in northern Gorkha was out of bounds for travelers till 2008. It is still one of the least visited parts of Nepal. The trek route passes through rhododendron forests and rivers, offering superb views of mountain peaks like Ganesh Himal and Himal Chuli. The local people follow a form of Tibetan Buddhism, and the valley is dotted with sacred caves and ancient Buddhist monasteries like Gompa Lungdang and Mu Gompa. The valley’s main festivals are Lhosar (or the Tibetan New Year) in January or February; the Saka Dawa in May/June, one of the holiest days of the Tibetan calendar; and Dhachyang, a winter festival featuring decorated horses and races.  If you’re willing to experiment and move beyond the tourist circuit, Nepal offers extraordinary trekking opportunities and cultural experiences. Discover the culture and traditions unchanged for centuries in the remotest parts of this amazing country. These offbeat places lack tourist infrastructure but allow you to explore the raw, untamed and magical side of Nepal.

The US Embassy in Kathmandu organized a two-day gathering of some of Nepal’s innovative digital media producers, social media influencers, and consumers called ‘Creator’s Mela: Empower, Innovate, Inspire’. Held at the Aloft Hotel in Thamel from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on June 16-17, the event featured 17 lectures and interactive sessions, as well as vendor displays, The Creator’s Mela acted as a forum for aspiring creators to learn how to develop compelling audio and visual content including podcasts, animations, vlogs, and to create their own online brands. Attendees got to learn about the necessary business and technical skills for a successful online career. There were special sessions that focused on ways creators could use social media for effective public advocacy and on the roles of women in digital spaces.  “Creativity is historically intrinsic to Nepal and its clear youth are wanting to get involved in tech and the digital space where there are so many opportunities,” said Garrett Wilkerson, US Embassy public affairs officer. He added the event was first of its-kind, the one designed to “sharpen the skills of digital creators and influencers” to launch and grow their online presence, businesses, and careers. With this event, the embassy’s goal was to emphasize that the digital space, be it podcasting, being a social media influencer or a content creator, is a great way for advocacy, democratic action, and to build platforms and career opportunities for underrepresented minorities. 

At ActionAid, we highly value partnerships built on the principles of equality and respect, where shared values guide our collaborative efforts. We firmly believe in the power of partnerships, recognizing the crucial role that communities, partners, and various stakeholders play in driving transformative change within the communities we serve. We view ourselves as facilitators, understanding that real impact can only be achieved when communities take ownership of the process and drive the initiative. The voices of those facing challenges should be at the forefront, raising awareness and advocating for their rights. That's why we emphasize building partnerships with communities, using participatory approaches to earn their trust, address their concerns, mobilize them, amplify their voices, and foster solidarity to resolve their issues and ensure they receive their rightful entitlements as citizens. Consequently, garnering widespread support and collaborating with like-minded organizations are crucial in holding duty bearers accountable and guiding them in addressing the concerns of the people they serve. Effective communication is vital throughout the program cycle to raise awareness, foster solidarity, engage communities and supporters, and ensure a participatory process. Sustainable impact can only be achieved when an issue or agenda becomes a shared concern, prompting people to take ownership and work towards justice. We believe that the communities we serve should experience the change or impact directly and be an integral part of our efforts. We don't simply claim impact based on reporting processes; instead, we center our work around feminist principles, placing the rights of people living in poverty and facing exclusion at the core of everything we do. ActionAid operates within a federal structure, allowing countries to set their own priorities while aligning them (partially or fully) with the global strategy of ActionAid International. Countries prioritize issues and campaigns based on their specific contexts, and interventions are planned and executed accordingly. To collectively raise voices on global issues, countries implement interventions aligned with their planned activities. They may also develop their own program intervention plans and campaigns, working independently but with communities as the driving force in addressing issues and concerns. To ensure effective communication, we develop comprehensive communication, monitoring, and evaluation plans that convey authentic information while considering branding and visibility. Through periodic community and cluster reviews, we provide opportunities for communities to share their perspectives on the program approach and the changes they have experienced. We also encourage feedback and opinions during partners' annual social audits, capturing the voices of communities and stakeholders through various communication channels, social media platforms, and our global communication team. By involving local communities in the planning process and aligning global perspectives with local contexts, we enable communities to prioritize issues based on their importance and sensitivity. ActionAid's primary communication focus is amplifying the agenda of impoverished and marginalized communities, ensuring their voices are heard and their concerns are addressed. We actively engage with different levels of government to develop and amend policies that better serve these communities, aiming to ensure their rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled at all levels. In the past, we have organized dialogue forums to engage policymakers in constructive debates about policy gaps and the way forward. Drawing from our past experiences, we have collaborated with government counterparts to enhance technical capacity in key areas that require attention. We strive to make public services more accessible and gender-responsive, and we have made significant progress in that regard. These various processes create an enabling environment for prioritizing identified issues within government plans and policies. ActionAid has been working in Nepal since 1982, and our success is largely attributed to the indispensable role played by our partners and communities. By partnering with people living in poverty and exclusion, we have recognized the importance of shifting power dynamics in their favor. This realization led us to form groups that actively participate in savings and credit initiatives, empowering themselves and mobilizing their communities to tackle shared issues and challenges. To capture the voices and stories of communities and frontline workers, both our partner staff and ActionAid personnel play a critical role in regularly documenting evidence that demonstrates the positive changes in the lives of the people we work with. We conduct periodic evaluations of program areas, seeking anecdotes, stories, and the perspectives of government authorities and other stakeholders. During organizational events, we prioritize the voices of community members, enabling them to share their reflections and experiences regarding our program interventions. These stories and anecdotes are shared through various communication platforms, showcasing our efforts to transform the lives of communities and individuals. ActionAid is widely recognized as a human rights-based organization. In Nepal, we have pioneered the REFLECT Circle and organized social audits, garnering admiration for these initiatives. We rely on these processes to showcase the quality of our work. However, measuring program impact and assessing empowerment are challenging tasks that require collective efforts. ActionAid acknowledges that impactful results require collaboration among many individuals and organizations, networks, and alliances. Positive change is brought about through a collective and mindful endeavor, where lessons are learned from both successes and failures. Through our interventions, we have witnessed activists, staff members, community group facilitators, and beneficiaries rising to leadership positions within local government organizations, some even attaining regional and national roles. This success speaks to ActionAid's ability to adapt and integrate valuable lessons and experiences, influencing our identity and priorities in a positive way. Our approach to activism and social mobilization is grounded in praxis mode, where we take action, reflect, learn, and strategize to improve our work. Learning from both successes and failures is essential in our continuous efforts to create a meaningful impact. Narayan Pd Sitaula Narayan Pd. Sitaula is a highly accomplished professional leading the Organizational Impact and Communication department at ActionAid Nepal. With a robust background in strategic planning and communication, Narayan brings a wealth of experience to his role, fostering positive change and creating substantial impact within the organization. His expertise lies in designing and executing innovative communication strategies that effectively engage stakeholders and raise awareness about critical social issues. Narayan's visionary leadership and unwavering commitment contribute to ActionAid Nepal's mission of promoting social justice, equality, and sustainable development. Guided by his exceptional communication skills and a deep passion for driving social change, Narayan Pd. Sitaula continues to play a pivotal role in advancing ActionAid Nepal's mission and building a more equitable and just society. Saroj Pokhrel   Saroj Pokhrel, a highly regarded professional, currently holds the position of Head of Program Policy at ActionAid Nepal. With an impressive background in policy formulation and program management, Saroj brings extensive knowledge and expertise to his role. His unwavering dedication to social justice and sustainable development is evident through his strategic leadership in designing and implementing impactful programs. Saroj's visionary approach to program policy development ensures that ActionAid Nepal's initiatives align with the organization's mission and effectively address pressing social issues. With a strong commitment to empowering marginalized communities and promoting gender equality, Saroj spearheads transformative projects that bring about positive change. Leveraging his exceptional analytical skills and deep understanding of local contexts, he identifies key areas for intervention and develops evidence-based policies that create lasting impact. Through his relentless efforts, Saroj Pokhrel continues to propel ActionAid Nepal's mission, making a significant difference in the lives of vulnerable populations and contributing to the realization of a just and inclusive society.

Rabindra Puri Foundation for Conservation (RPFC) on Friday organized a farewell program for Jorg Bahr, who has been doing philanthropic work in Nepal for over two decades. Born in Germany in 1940, Bahr came to Nepal in 1999 after his retirement as German Army Colonel and started working for the improvement of Nepal’s education with a main focus on rural areas, it was informed at the program.

Realizing that there will be no development of the community and the country without education, his organizations have been supporting the construction of infrastructure for 12 community schools like school buildings, science labs, computer labs and providing scholarships as well as educational materials.

“After retiring from my job 22 years ago, a Rotarian professor friend brought me to Nepal and since then I started visiting Nepal 2-3 times a year,” Bahr said. I have become a part of education-health programs in operation in Nepali villages. Thus, I have become a German by birth and a Nepali by deed.”  In 2009, he established ‘Schulerhilfe fur Nepal’ (School help for Nepal), which has constructed nine out of 12 planned school buildings and associated infrastructure—in Kavre, Gorkha, Bhaktapur, Ramechhap, Gorkha and Nawalparasi through RPFC—per information provided at the program.

Nepal Vocational Academy (NVA), operating from Kamalbinayak (Bhaktapur) in collaboration with the Schulerhilfe fur Nepal and RPFC, aims to produce 100 skilled personnel every year. In Thambesi, a village in Nawalparasi, around 250 students study at Chhatisdevi Secondary School, which boasts of a well-equipped and solar-powered computer lab, courtesy of Schulerhilfe fur Nepal.

Saraswati Primary School in Kavre, Bhimeshwar Basic School, Sri Krishna High School and Shatlingeshwar Higher Secondary School in Ramechhap have new infrastructure, with help from Schulerhilfe fur Nepal, benefiting around 5,000 children studying there. RPFC has been coordinating with the campaign of Schulerhilfe fur Nepal to construct community school buildings, associated structures and rehabilitating heritages, with about Rs 10m already collected reportedly for the campaign.

After the 2015 earthquake, Schulerhilfe fur Nepal helped with the distribution of Pall filters, reconstruction of damaged school buildings as well as some houses. It has also provided support to Dhulikhel Hospital, Scheer Memorial Hospital in Banepa, Sushma Koirala Hospital in Sankhu, Tilganga Eye Hospital, Iwamura Hospital in Bhaktapur, Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Shechen Clinic in Boudha and Manthali Hospital in Ramechhap through German Rotary Volunteer Doctors’ Organization.  

Besides, in coordination with Schulerhilfe fur Nepal, Nepali doctors were sent to Germany for special training, according to Rabindra Puri. “Bahr also supported the construction of high temperature incinerators for waste disposal centers and smokeless stoves in rural areas for hospital waste management.”