My Exposure Visit Experience: A Journey of Learning, Culture and Community

[Sandhya Bhandari]

 Sometimes, the most valuable lessons come not from classrooms or offices but from real-life experiences. Our six-day exposure visit was one such journey that provided opportunities to learn from different organizations, communities, cultures, and people. It was a memorable experience filled with learning, sharing and personal growth.

Me along with ARC team and our executive director and finance manager went for an exposure visit from 24^th May to 29^th May. The main objective of our exposure visit was for our refreshment and also to learn from the different organization and community that we did same work. Our journey began on the 24^th May, 2026 when we departed from Pokhara. After a long journey, we reached Birgunj. After checking into the hotel and settling our belongings, we went to explore the nearby Indian border area. During this visit, I had the opportunity to experience coconut water for the first time. It was a completely new and exciting experience for me and we took some photos, bought some clothes there.

The next morning, we left early to visit a famous temple in Kalaiya which is also known as Gadhimai Temple. The visit was both spiritual and educational. We learned about local religious practices and traditions. One interesting thing I discovered was that many newly married couples visit the temple after their wedding to perform special religious rituals. After completing the temple visit, we headed to SAKHI Organization for an organizational learning visit. Upon our arrival, we received a very warm welcome with a traditional Pachauri from terai. Their hospitality made us feel comfortable and respected. During the session, both organizations participated in a Dream Sharing program where we exchanged information about our work, achievements, challenges, and future goals. It was inspiring to learn from each other's experiences and approaches.

Later, we visited the Triveni Community. This was one of the most meaningful parts of the exposure visit. We interacted with community members, listened to their stories, and learned about their daily lives. Many of the people were engaged in farming and labor work. At the beginning we thought that the woman from Terai doesn’t stand for themselves and doesn’t involve in meetings and everything. But there all the women shared their problems and also, they spoke proudly in front of everyone. Through discussions and group activities, we learned about the challenges they face, particularly issues related to water supply and other community needs.

I was especially impressed by the place where we stay while doing Group SALT under the Mango Tree and facilitation methods used during the community interaction. The facilitators encouraged everyone to participate actively rather than simply listening. Through group discussions and participatory activities, community members openly shared their experiences and ideas. This helped us understand the importance of inclusive participation in community development.

The exposure visits also allowed us to enjoy local culture and food. We tasted local dishes called Dal Puri and Thekuwa and explored different places, making the learning experience even more enjoyable. And the third day we visited nearby temple and Ghadiyara Pokhari. We took some pictures and made some TikTok videos. After visiting nearby temples, we went towards Bhatbhateni and returned back to hotel and then we check-out from the hotel and returned back to Pokhara. Every activity offered a new opportunity to learn and connect with people from different backgrounds.

Then we return back to Pokhara and next Day a team of 5 staffs including executive director prepare to leave Pokhara. And planned to visit P4P at Dhading.

As the journey continued, on 27^th May 2026, we departed for another destination at around 11:45 AM. Along the way, we enjoyed the beautiful scenery.  At Galchi we took khuwa and moi which is famous at there and we head towards our destination. Around 6 pm we reached at Inner Village Retreat. The hospitality over there was really impressive.

The next day, we participated in another community visit. We woke up early and we also got the opportunity to do sound healing which was really amazing by the founder of Peace 4 People and we took lunch over there. We went for the community visit by jeep. We really enjoyed by going on jeep. I think this was the best memory ever that we sang while going on jeep. After reaching their community people welcomed us with a bouquet of flowers. Then we did Group SALT with them. We had opportunities to interact closely with local people and learn about their way of life. Before going to Chepang community I thought that they weren’t interact with us properly but after having conversation with them they were far aware than we think and   observing their daily activities and listening to their experiences helped us gain a deeper understanding of community resilience and local development practices.

On the third day, we participated in another Dream Sharing session. This program brought together participants from different backgrounds to share their experiences, achievements, challenges, and aspirations. After taking lunch we returned back to Pokhara. Throughout the exposure visit, I learned valuable lessons about teamwork, communication, participation, and community development. Beyond the formal activities, the friendships, conversations, and shared experiences with fellow participants made the journey even more meaningful.

Looking back, this exposure visit was much more than just a trip. It was a journey of learning, discovery, and personal growth. It allowed me to understand different communities, appreciate diverse cultures, and gain practical knowledge that cannot be learned from books alone. The memories, experiences, and lessons I gained during this visit will remain with me for a long time and continue to inspire me in my future work and personal life.

Overall, this exposure visit was an unforgettable experience that broadened my perspective, strengthened my confidence, and reminded me that meaningful learning happens when we step outside our comfort zones and connect with the world around us.

At last, I want to thanks CWSN for providing this great opportunity to learn and visit different places and also Shakhi, Peace 4 People, Kopila Nepal team for making this journey more memorable and for cooperating with us.

[santosh bishowkarma]

really this journey is very meaning full,we visit both sakhi and p4p same community triveni and chepang community actually they are in the way on the mordanize .we feel reality and undrestimate are totally different as we imagine. thank you for share miss sandhya