January 16, 2026 | An interactive storytelling workshop in a Forum Theatre based approach for Nursery to Class 5 students attending Winter Camp at Bal Deeksha Sadan, Kathmandu

This session was conducted for around 33 students from Nursery to Class 5 during the winter camp at Bal Deeksha Sadan School in Kathmandu.

Designed as a forum theatre experience, the children were not just observers—they role-played as the ducks in the story. Moving through the space with music and rhythm, they travelled from one pond to another, fully immersed in the narrative. But the journey soon paused at a moment of conflict—when some ducks refused to share their pond.

The story stopped. And the space shifted. Children began to think, question, and respond.

What does it feel like to not be allowed in?
What does it mean to not have a space of your own?

As they discussed and debated, their ideas began to shape the direction of the story.

Some suggested dividing the ponds.
Some explored finding a new pond.
Some questioned the idea of ownership itself.

Each idea was not just spoken—but enacted.

They tested their solutions within the story, experiencing what worked and what did not. Slowly, through this process, they arrived at a shared understanding—breaking the idea of division and choosing to share all ponds freely. A solution they discovered together.

Younger children immersed themselves in the imaginative play—moving like ducks, responding instinctively to the story. Older children engaged more deeply in discussion—analyzing the problem, questioning fairness, and proposing solutions. Together, they created a balance between imagination and critical thinking.

About the Story

Looking for a Pond is an interactive adaptation of It’s My Pond by Claire Garralon, reimagined and adapted by Bansri Pandey to explore ideas of belonging, ownership, and sharing.

The story follows a group of ducks searching for a place they can call their own. As they travel from one pond to another, they encounter a recurring challenge—what happens when spaces are not shared?

Through this journey, the story invites children to experience exclusion, question fairness, and explore what it means to create a space where everyone belongs.

Follow-up Activity: Making Their Own Ducks

After the storytelling session, children continued their engagement through a simple creative activity.

Using handprints, they created their own ducks—each one unique in color, pattern, and personality. These duck puppets became more than just craft. They became a way for children to hold onto the story—
to remember it, personalise it, and carry it forward in their own way.

Through this, the children slowly transitioned from participants in a story… to storytellers themselves.

The Approach

This workshop follows an experiential storytelling approach rather than a narrative one.

Children are not told what the story means. They experience it. By stepping into the role of characters, they feel the emotions, dilemmas, and conflicts firsthand. This allows them to develop empathy, explore multiple perspectives, and build critical thinking skills.

Through stories, children begin to make sense of the world—
and of themselves.

Many Thanks To

• Prerna Adhikari – Coordinator at Bal Deeksha Sadan
• Principal, teachers, and students of Bal Deeksha Sadan School
• Bansri Pandey – Storyteller and Performer
• Pragya Pandey – Photography and Support

Concluding Remarks

Sometimes, a simple question—
“Where do we belong?” can open up many possibilities.

Through play, discussion, and shared experience, children explored not just a story—but ideas of fairness, empathy, and coexistence.

And in that process, they didn’t just find a pond— they created one together.

To know more about our work, please feel free to Contact Us