SOCIAL IMPACT TOUR
An insider's journey through Nepal
Itinerary
April 23-26
Sunday
- Arrival to Kathmandu
- Massages by the visually impaired at “Helping Hands”
- Welcome dinner
Monday
- Discussion with Nepali business leader and author Sujeev Shakya
- Sightseeing & walking tour in Patan with Anil Chitrakar
- Pitch and mentoring sessions with the accountapreneurs at the Kathmandu OpenGov Hub
- Dinner & film screening
Tuesday
Early-morning yoga
Field visit to the Mobile Citizen Helpdesk efforts’ in an earthquake-affected village
Event commemorating the 2-year anniversary of the 2015 earthquake
Wednesday
- Strategy and feedback workshop
- Visit to Boudha and Pashupatinath (UNESCO World Heritage Sites)
- Shopping for souvenirs
- Fly home, or travel outside Kathmandu for additional excursion(s)
Excursion to Pokhara (optional)
April 26-28
Enjoy a relaxing getaway
Just a 40-minute flight from Kathmandu, Pokhara is a small lakeside city that offers breathtaking views and exciting adventure. Stay at Temple Tree Resort & Spa, with an infinity pool, jacuzzi, spa treatments, and more.
Choose your adventure(s)
World-class paragliding, bungee jumping, zip flying, or ultra-light flight
Canoe across Phewa Lake to the World Peace Pagoda
Mountain bike around the lake or nearby trails
Hike at the base of the Annapurna Mountain Range
Whitewater rafting on the Upper Seti River
Explore local caves
Take a yoga and/or meditation class
Meet the Accountapreneurs
During the tour, you will have the opportunity to talk with, learn from, and mentor the ten “accountapreneurs” participating in our Accountability Incubator. These creative, young change-makers work tirelessly to create a community for accountability, engage and empower youth, and develop practical tools to help fight corruption. Read more about each of their projects below.
Medha Sharma
Medha is training, mentoring, and resourcing adolescent
girls in the earthquake-affected of Nuwakot to become pioneering citizen journalists.
Govinda Siwakoti
Govinda runs an Accountability Film School to empower young people to speak up about economic, social and political
issues in their communities.
Anita Thapa
Anita runs an interactive civic education program that evaluates schools, builds custom curricula, and enables students to lead community improvement projects.
Basanta Adhikari
Basanta is leading youth groups in conducting performance surveys
of local government agencies in the eastern city of Biratnagar.
Yubaraj Nepal
Yubaraj is addressing corruption and
misinformation in the labor migration sector by developing an
society. open data initiative with reliable
information on migrants’ rights.
Kabita Rai
Kabita empowers youth to use art and theater to promote accountability at all levels of society.
Prakash Koirala
Prakash is educating citizens on financial literacy and how to
hold the government
accountable for providing public services.
Prakash Bhattarai
Prakash is advocating for the disadvantaged and addressing root causes of corruption in the migration sector.
Brabim Kumar
Brabim is closing feedback loops by researching and compiling a knowledge base on post-disaster relief efforts and the reconstruction process.
Busan Prasain
Busan is building an information provide voters with consistent and surveillance portal to access to information on electoral and political processes.
Accommodations & Logistics
Hotel
Stay in a peaceful, well-located and modern bed-and-breakfast, Tings Lounge Hotel, which offers free WiFi, hot water, private bathrooms, a fan, newspapers, and a full breakfast (eggs, coffee, tea, orange juice, yogurt, bread, fruit, müsli, etc).
Meals
Let us introduce you to Nepal’s incredible cuisine (dal bhaat, momos, biryanai, and more)
at our favorite restaurants. You’ll also get to enjoy a homemade meal in a Nepali home, and even learn how to cook a dish or two if you’re interested.
Transportation
We’ll travel around in an air-conditioned, luxury minibus.
Our friendly team of Nepali and US staff will be by your side to show you around, answer questions, and translate when needed - though many people in Kathmandu speak English.
Testimonials
Hear what past Social Impact Tour participants have to say
“The ‘accountapreneurs’ that the Lab identifies have chosen to channel their entrepreneurial ambitions and talents to address the most pressing market gap - the gap between citizens’ expectations and the ability of the government to deliver services. Their approaches to address this gap helped me see what can be done in my own country. I learned from the young people I met the power of hope and persistence, and returned home even more inspired about what I can do to make a change.” - Can Atacik
“After 6 days on the road, from early mornings to late evenings, under the sun and rain, we came out of the Tour standing, inspired and more committed than ever to help ‘unleash’ Nepal. During the tour we learned about important and creative initiatives to empower the youth to address corruption, participated in national TV programs, and met with government officials, local entrepreneurs, business leaders, emergent politicians. The work that the Accountability Lab team is doing is exceptional. We need to create a critical mass of people that are willing to work and invest in long-term initiatives like this. After this trip, I am certainly one of them.”
- Andrea Albornoz
"Visiting Accountability Lab in Nepal was truly one of the best experiences of my life. The staff and community members were incredible, and it offered an opportunity to gain insights into how such an impactful organization operates on the ground. I left thinking differently about how communities can drive change that is so needed throughout the world." - Kate Hayes
Photo Gallery
