BarCamp Kathmandu: Ideas for Innovation

From politics to sports, economics to music, youth often have ideas and opinions on everything. Often, these ideas and opinions are interesting and innovative, but goes unheard and often neglected, their ideas labeled juvenile and disregarded. But the newly established BarCamp Kathmandu 2009 provided a unique opportunity for youngsters who want to share new ideas to come together and work in cooperation.


BarCamp is an ad-hoc gathering born from people’s desire to share and learn in an open environment. It is an event with discussions, demonstrations and interaction between participants. Anyone, of any age, can take part in the session to talk about any topics that they find interesting. But this is not a formal event with strict procedures and rules; it is a casual informal event that is friendly and welcoming. The first ever BarCamp Kathmandu took place at the Yala Maya Kendra, Patan Dhoka on August 8th, 2009.

The main idea behind BarCamp was to get together a group of smart innovative people and get them talking. These people would meet over the weekend and start sessions discussing various issues that they are passionate about. BarCamp represents the international network of user-generated conferences, ones that are open and participatory where the content is provided by participants.

BarCamp Kathmandu 2009 began with presentations from two students studying in the United States—one from Washington DC and the other from California. In ‘Small’s Beautiful’ Shirish Bashyal from Los Angeles talked about the growing potential of small ideas that can snowball into bigger ones, by focusing on online social network and its potential to be turned into business endeavors and help solve problems. Chandan Sapkota from Washington DC, in ‘Dig In and Let it Be Heard,’ discussed methods to involve yourself in developmental debates and ways to influence policymaking at both and individual and national level. Other interesting sessions included a short documentary on Mahabir Pun, the wireless internet pioneer who won the Magsaysay award for introducing wi-fi for communication in his remote village of Nangi. Thames College presented a session entitled ‘Stand for It’, an initiative to help youth become more independent and problem-solve on their own. Following this were two presentations on the Nepali IT industry and the collaboration between Nepali IT companies and entrepreneurs to create a stronger industry. Various other eclectic sessions included one on microblogging and Twitter, another by flutist Sunil Pariyar on the importance of music in our lives.

The very first BarCamp was a success with 18 registered sessions on diverse issues and interests. What drove the program forward was the thought behind each session and each project. These innovative ideas came from young Nepalis who often don’t get a say in policymaking and/or governmental matters. As the discussions ended, people spilled out of the halls, eager to share their thoughts to continue lively debates and expand on their ideas. By witnessing the entire program, and the energy and enthusiasm of the participants, one cannot help but notice that BarCamp’s slogan for this event,  ‘Innovation for the Development of Nepal’ was just the perfect catalyst.  

Poster design by Anjan Shrestha. Photography by Prashant Shrestha.