December 07, 2025 | PhotoKTM festival 2025, Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal, Kathmandu

As part of the vibrant PhotoKTM Festival 2025, an imaginative storytelling workshop unfolded at the Nepal Art Council, where 37 students of Class 5 from Rajarshi Gurukul stepped into a world of ducks, ponds, and powerful questions about sharing and belonging.

About the Story

Looking for a Pond is an adaptation of the book It’s My Pond by Claire Garralon, reimagined by Bansri Pandey as an interactive forum theatre experience. The story follows a group of ducks searching for a place to belong. As they travel from one pond to another, they face rejection, exclusion, and difficult choices about sharing space and resources.

Rather than offering a fixed ending, the story pauses at moments of conflict—inviting children to step in, question the situation, and reshape the outcome through their own ideas and actions.

A Reading Room Turns into a Living Pond

The workshop took place in a quiet hall of Nepal Art Council, transformed into a Reading Room during the PhotoKTM festival. Within moments, this space evolved into a lively, imaginative pond.

Children became colorful ducks—moving, reacting, and exploring the space with excitement. Through music and rhythm, they travelled from one “pond” to another, fully immersed in the story world. The atmosphere was playful yet thoughtful, allowing children to feel both the joy of imagination and the weight of the story’s challenges.

Forum Theatre in Action

As the ducks searched for a home, they encountered a problem—ponds that were small, congested and not shared.

The story paused, and the children stepped into discussion. How does it feel to be denied a place? What happens when we divide instead of share?

They expressed their feelings openly—talking about exclusion, fairness, and belonging. When dividing the ponds did not solve the problem, they imagined new possibilities. They went on an “adventure” to find another pond, only to realize that the same issue repeated itself.

Finally, the children themselves arrived at a powerful idea—to break the rule of division and share all ponds freely, respecting each duck’s choice.

They didn’t just talk about it—they enacted their solution, testing whether it truly worked.

“I love it. Love how kids were so involved and giving themselves fully.”
– Surbhi Darnal, Volunteer at PhotoKTM

The Experience

The children were deeply engaged throughout the workshop. Their reactions shifted from excitement to reflection as they experienced the story firsthand. They listened to each other, debated ideas, and collaboratively built solutions.

The space was filled with movement, discussion, and moments of realization. What stood out was how naturally children connected the story to real-life feelings—of not belonging, of wanting space, and of learning to share.

After the storytelling, children created their own duck puppets using handprints and art materials. Each duck reflected their imagination and became a personal connection to the story—something they could carry forward and retell in their own way.

A Learning Experience Through Story

This workshop followed an experiential storytelling approach. Instead of simply listening, children became part of the narrative. They felt the emotions of the characters, experienced conflict, and explored solutions together.

Through this process, they developed:

• Empathy by stepping into the lives of the ducks
• Critical thinking by questioning and solving problems
• Creativity through role-play and puppet-making
• Confidence in expressing their ideas

Stories became a way for them to understand the world—and themselves.

About PhotoKTM Festival

PhotoKTM is Nepal’s international photography festival that brings together artists, educators, and communities through exhibitions, workshops, and public programs. It creates spaces for dialogue, storytelling, and learning by connecting visual art with social themes and everyday experiences. The festival encourages participation, making art accessible and meaningful for diverse audiences, including young learners.

Conclusion

In a simple room turned into a pond, children explored one of life’s most important questions—what does it mean to share space with others?

Through play, discussion, and imagination, they discovered that belonging is not about ownership, but about openness. And sometimes, the solution is not to divide—but to come together.

Many Thanks To

• 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 Facilitator
• Himal Bhujel – Photography
• Shishir Siwakoti – Support

With gratitude to all the young storytellers who reminded us that even the smallest pond can hold big ideas.

To learn more about us, Contact us at
The Joy House Collective