Informed, empowered and involved | Feature

Twenty seven strangers gather at Youth Initiative (YI)'s office in the early morning of 7 May 2008. A few days earlier, each of us had received an invite saying we could play a role in changing the future of Nepal. Though an often used phrase, there was something about this particular invite that made me question myself. A short conversation over the phone and a few days later, I found myself in the room, carrying a bag too big for a five day trip.

As we waited, we smiled nervously at the new faces around us, clueless about what the next five days would be like. I had no inkling that in just three days time I would be jumping off a six meter high cliff into icy-cold water as these people cheered on. Neither did I expect to find so many good friends in such a short span of time. As part of the second batch of YI's Civic Leadership School (CLS)-2, my 26 friends and I felt empowered and recharged enough to make a difference personally and nationally. CLS is a rigorous five day residential workshop for individuals from various fields in the country.

Often referred to as leaders in our respective fields, from the beginning of our three hour bus journey, we were encouraged to interact with the other participants. "The main objective of this workshop is to build a network of trust among the participants who come from various fields in neutral ground," said Sudyumna Dahal, general secretary of YI. Divided into in outdoor and indoor components, the workshop forced us into unknown situations compelling us to get out of our comfort zones and act upon each situation as part of a group.

"This is the mantra of my life," said Dan Wright, as he pointed to a white board with "SUCCESS = 90% attitude + 10% Experience" written on it. Dan is one of the instructors at the workshop and as he spoke he handed us a marker each and made us write the equation on our arm, instructing us to keep it readable throughout the course of the workshop. "This equation made the most powerful impact on my perception, that too, in such a short span of time," said Srijana Shrestha, a participant of CLS-2, Batch 1 and an employee of the British Council. Throughout the course of the workshop we were constantly reminded of the equation; it worked as a motivator as well as a reassurance that you were responsible for every change you wanted, within you and around you.

I personally implemented the equation while standing on top of a cliff scared to death of the height and the water. I didn't want to jump; I even made up excuses but there was nothing Dan would listen to. He wasn't heartless, nor was he pressurising me to jump either but he understood what stopped me and just aided me in clearing my head, like he did for other participants taking the risk. "It's the trust the participants build between each other that make jumping off a cliff, even for people who are scared of it, an easy task," said Sudyumna. And this was just on the third day. Sitting in a cosy room in Dhulikhel, exhausted by the day's adventure, each one of us was filled with a sense of achievement, not just individually but as a group. Guiding a leaderless raft in one of the most dangerous rivers of Nepal, we realised that we were just one line in the painting, meaningless without other lines. And if backed by a collective force we could overcome fear and reach the finish line easily.

Teaching important life skills through play, the outdoor sessions at the Borderlands Resort educated us with important lessons which could be implemented in our daily personal and professional lives. One of which was the importance of communication, but they wouldn't just let us realise it so easily. On the evening we got there, we were asked to wear a waterproof jacket and hiking boots and report to the dining area; and like obedient children, we did so. Then we were all handed a blindfold and asked to cover our eyes with it. This was the beginning of an activity called Night Line. With one hand on the shoulder of the person in front of us and the other holding on to a rope we were made to walk through the jungle. The forced blindness compelled each one of us to rely on the information given to us by the person in front of us for our personal safety and that of those behind us.

Walking through the jungle, trees and tunnels we felt the responsibility to listen and communicate the best way possible as no one wanted to fall into the Bhote Koshi that roared besides us. Put in a situation where we had no option but to listen to and relay information correctly, our individual personalities and leadership styles took a backseat and gave way to collective organisation of thoughts. This for me was the most important lesson learnt.

There was plenty of insight and an equal number of personal flaws unveiled at the workshops that are impossible to put to words in this space. The camaraderie grew and with it came an immense desire to make a difference in the field one worked in. This passion was fanned by various speakers in indoor component which took place in Dhulikhel. The information they gave us left us in awe about the possibilities Nepal has and the positive revolution we as young Nepalis could bring about for a better Nepal.

By the end of the workshop each of us had a plan, personal and professional, but most of all, we were all driven. "After CLS, I have new found courage and guts to do anything," said Balika Chaudhary, a participant of CLS1, Batch 3 and currently working at Search for Common Ground. The moral boost and positive encouragement we were given changed us in many ways than one. And they were all visible to all of us. We had all evolved as individuals and the notion of accomplishment and possibilities at the end of the five day workshop is the difference that my CLS t-shirt talks about.

For more information about CLS and participation please visit www.youthinitiative.org.np or call 4107599.