December 5, 2025 | PhotoKTM festival organized at Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal

An interactive story telling workshop titled Looking for a Pond was conducted for around 30 students of Class 3 and 4 from Bright Horizon Children’s Home during PhotoKTM Festival 2025. The session took place in the Reading Room at Nepal Art Council, where children gathered to experience a story not just as listeners, but as active participants.

About The Story

For this workshop, the Reading Room transformed into an imaginative pond where children stepped into the roles of colourful ducks. The story, adapted from It’s My Pond by Claire Garralon and reimagined by Bansri Pandey, follows ducks travelling from pond to pond in search of belonging. Along the way they encounter resistance from other ducks who claim ownership of their ponds. The story gently introduces themes of inclusion, sharing, and the emotional experience of being excluded.

What is PhotoKTM ?

PhotoKTM is an international photography festival based in Kathmandu that brings together artists, curators, educators, and communities to explore photography as a powerful medium for storytelling and dialogue. Through exhibitions, workshops, and learning programs, the festival encourages creative engagement and critical thinking around visual culture. The Reading Room at Nepal Art Council serves as a welcoming space within the festival where children and visitors can explore stories, books, and creative activities alongside the photographic exhibitions.

Stepping Into the Story Through Forum Theatre

Designed using a Forum Theatre approach, the workshop invited children to actively enter the story world. Through music and rhythmic movement, participants travelled together as ducks searching for a new pond. When the conflict appeared — ponds being guarded and not shared — the story paused. Children debated the situation, discussed possible solutions, and tested their ideas through enactment. This process allowed them to experience the characters’ dilemmas and reflect on fairness, empathy, and community.

During the discussions, children openly spoke about how it felt when ducks were not allowed into the pond and what it meant to feel without a home. As their thinking evolved, they proposed dividing the pond among the ducks. Soon, however, they began questioning that rule themselves. Eventually, they collectively decided to abandon the idea of division altogether and share the ponds freely, respecting each duck’s freedom to move and belong. The solutions emerged from the children themselves, demonstrating how storytelling can nurture critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving.

After the storytelling session, the children continued their engagement through a creative activity. Using their handprints, they crafted their own duck puppets and decorated them with colours and patterns inspired by their imagination. These handmade ducks became small reminders of the story they had experienced, allowing the children to personalise the narrative and carry it forward in their own way.

Throughout the workshop, the Reading Room echoed with curiosity and enthusiasm. Children eagerly stepped into roles, negotiated ideas with their peers, and responded to the unfolding story with genuine emotion. The space felt lively and collaborative, with moments of thoughtful silence followed by energetic discussion as new ideas surfaced.

To make this event a success, we would like to thank:

• Sharareh Bajracharya – Founder of Srijanalaya
• Team of PhotoKTM and Srijanalaya
• All the children and teachers of Bright Horizon Children’s Home who participated
• Bansri Pandey – Storyteller and Performer
• Himal Bhujel – Photography
• Rasodita Adhikari – Support
• Vijaya Karki – Support

Through this workshop, storytelling became more than a narrative activity. It became a shared exploration of empathy, belonging, and collective decision-making. When children are invited to step inside a story and shape its direction, they begin to see how their voices and ideas can influence the world around them.

We look forward to sharing more storytelling journeys and collaborative learning spaces in the days ahead. If you would like to organise a session for your school, event, or institution, please connect with us via our Contact Us page.