SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2026
Every person has a story.
"Some are celebrated. Many are forgotten. Countless others are never heard."
Stories of Nepal was founded on a simple belief: every life deserves to be listened to with dignity, compassion, and respect. We exist to document the lived experiences of ordinary people across Nepal—stories that rarely make headlines but reveal the extraordinary strength, complexity, and humanity of our society.
For more than a decade, we have travelled to every corner of Nepal, from the Himalayan highlands to the plains of the Tarai, from bustling towns to some of the country's most remote villages. Along the way, we have sat with farmers, widows, teachers, migrant workers, former bonded labourers, conflict survivors, artisans, Indigenous communities, Dalit families, persons with disabilities, climate-affected communities, and countless others whose voices are too often left unheard.
Our work goes beyond storytelling. We preserve memory, challenge stereotypes, build empathy, and create spaces where people can speak in their own words. We believe stories have the power to connect people across geography, class, caste, language, and politics. They remind us that behind every statistic is a human being with hopes, fears, struggles, and dreams.
Over the years, Stories of Nepal has documented more than 2,000 human stories, reaching millions of people through digital platforms, exhibitions, documentaries, and publications. What began as a passion project has grown into one of Nepal's leading independent storytelling initiatives, committed to ethical, long-form, and community-centered journalism.
Our work spans a wide range of issues that shape people's everyday lives, including social justice, education, public health, migration, climate change, livelihoods, gender equality, water and sanitation, mental health, conflict, disability, culture, and Indigenous knowledge. Regardless of the subject, our approach remains the same: to listen first, to understand deeply, and to tell stories honestly.
In addition to our independent work, Stories of Nepal has collaborated with national and international organizations to document development initiatives and community-led change across Nepal. Our partners have included the World Bank, United Nations Nepal, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Save the Children, SUSWA, and numerous other organizations working in areas such as climate resilience, education, WASH, migration, gender equality, disaster recovery, and community development. These collaborations have enabled us to bridge human storytelling with development communication while ensuring that the voices of communities remain at the heart of every project.
At Stories of Nepal, we do not believe in speaking for communities—we believe in creating the space for people to speak for themselves.
Every story begins with listening. We spend time understanding people's lives, building trust, and allowing conversations to unfold naturally. We avoid sensationalism and stereotypes, choosing instead to present stories with honesty, dignity, and context.
Photography, documentary filmmaking, writing, and audio are not simply creative tools for us; they are ways of preserving memory and encouraging dialogue. Whether documenting the impact of climate change in the mountains, the daily lives of fishing communities along Nepal's rivers, or the experiences of families affected by conflict, our commitment remains the same: to tell stories that are authentic, ethical, and deeply human.
Jay Poudyal
Founder & Lead Story Listener
Stories of Nepal was founded by Jay Poudyal, photographer, documentary filmmaker, and storyteller.
Jay is the founder of Stories of Nepal and serves as its Lead Story Listener—a title that reflects the philosophy at the heart of the organization. Before asking questions or telling stories, he believes in listening.
For more than a decade, Jay has travelled extensively across Nepal, documenting the lives of people from every province and community. His work has focused on amplifying voices that are often overlooked and creating space for people to tell their own stories with honesty and dignity.
His storytelling has been featured by international media including BBC, The Associated Press (AP), The Kathmandu Post, Daily Mail, and the Los Angeles Times. He has also collaborated with numerous national and international organizations to produce documentaries, visual narratives, and communication campaigns that connect policy with people's lived experiences.
Under Jay's leadership, Stories of Nepal has grown into a trusted platform for human-centered storytelling, known for its authenticity, ethical approach, and long-term engagement with communities across the country.
We envision a Nepal where every person's story matters, where empathy is stronger than prejudice, and where listening to one another helps build a more just, inclusive, and compassionate society.
To document, preserve, and share authentic human stories that inspire understanding, strengthen communities, amplify marginalized voices, and encourage meaningful social change through ethical storytelling.
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