U.S. Embassy’s Book Bus

The Book Bus is one of the nine American spaces run by the American Library. It is sponsored by the American Embassy in Kathmandu and is operated by Satori Centre for the Arts. Since November 22, 2013, the Book Bus has traveled over 43,642 kilometers in Nepal. It has visited over 1,700 schools, colleges, and community centers and directly worked with over 339,314 people.

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How We Work

A Book Bus visit can be as short as three days or as long as three weeks, depending on the nature of the program plan. The Book Bus works with schools, colleges, libraries, and community-based organizations all over Nepal.

School Visits

Students and teachers take part in various educational and creative activities like readings, exhibitions, workshops, performances, presentations and screenings on art, language, science and technology. Each school/college visit is typically around three to five days, depending on the size of the institution.

Community Visits

The Book Bus creates spaces for communities to experience educational programs on art, language, science and technology. Community-based programs are seven days to three weeks long.

Community Visits

The Book Bus creates spaces for communities to experience educational programs on art, language, science and technology. Community-based programs are seven days to three weeks long.

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What We Do

Arts & Letters

Book Bus's Language and Arts programs are geared to urge creative expression, with interdisciplinary writing and art projects. Our programs create learning experiences that are drawn from local histories and contexts to illustrate the value of personal narratives. Our participants are encouraged to discuss of social inclusion and feminism in our sessions with empathetic and critical approaches.

Media Literacy and Writing Workshop 2020-05-22

In today’s world, what we know is dependent on us being able to separate misinformation and disinformation from reliable and credible sources. But, in the age of information - how do we do this? Our Media Literacy and Writing program is designed to help us become better at filtering information and creating content that is reliable. 

Nepal Reads 2020-05-22

Nepal Reads is a program that allows participants to engage in discussions on books and ideas, preparing them for their role as citizens of a democratic constituency.

Read-Alouds 2020-06-03

Combining story-telling and maker components, the film making workshop acquaints students with a basic understanding of the making of movies and animations. Participants work with pre-film animation devices to understand the creation of motion picture animation.

Steam

STEAM Programs 2020-09-01

A Book Bus program that fosters a collaborative, entrepreneurial, and problem-solving culture among the Nepali youth through experiential engagement with scientific concepts and theories. 

Social Justice

Breaking the Bracket 2020-05-22

Breaking the bracket is  an annual year-long feminist fiction writing program geared toward Nepali female and non-binary writers,Breaking the Bracket seeks to build communities of feminist writers and change the mainstream narrative

Histories from Home 2020-05-22

At Satori, we are committed to creating platforms for the sharing of stories and the lived experiences of those who have traditionally been marginalized. Through the Histories from Home program we work with different communities to help them tell their own stories and share them with a wider community.

Civil Rights and Liberties 2020-05-22

Workshops, discussion, exhibitions and film screenings introducing the concept of inequality and the importance of civil rights and liberties to institutionalize democratic procedures, ensure the protection of human rights, and establish the rule of law to create stability, peace and prosperity.

Teacher Empowerment

Innovation in Education Fair 2020-05-22

The Innovation in Education Fair (IEF) is an annual forum for educational professionals to discuss how to make our teaching and learning practices more engaging,  meaningful, and memorable for students and teachers. 

Professional Development for Teachers 2020-05-22

Our Teacher Empowerment Program includes three teacher training programs that support teachers in implementing progressive teaching practices. These includes Literacy through Literature for primary school teachers, Everyday Science for science teachers, and Write to Think for secondary school teachers.

Community Programs

Experiential Learning Programs 2020-05-22

Our Experiential Learning (EXL) Programs are designed to provide immersive experiences for students and visitors to learn about social justice, climate change, and art history. They can take the form of exhibitions, fairs, and interactive events. In the past, we have worked with the Natural History Museum in Kathmandu to design activities that encourage students to engage and learn about the various exhibits in the museum

Rainbow City: Community Murals 2020-05-22

Rainbow City is a thematic mural series that exchanges murals designed in one region with murals from another, encouraging cross community engagement.

Folk Lok 2020-05-22

Folk Lok is a community-based arts program focused on the revitalization of the Dāphā music tradition practiced by the Tahnani Dāphā Khalah, a traditional musical group in Kirtipur. It supports the documentation of Dāphā music, builds community linkages to Dāphā music, and is hoping to revive the Lal Hira Pyākhã, a musical theatrical performance based on a local folklore in Kirtipur.

eKāsā 2022-07-20

eKāsā: The Book Bus eSports Alliance is an eSports club by the U.S. Embassy’s Book Bus in collaboration with North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF). The name eKāsā originates from the word ‘Kāsā’ from Nepal Bhasa, which means sports. eKāsā aims to create an inclusive community-based space for youths interested in gaming to come together, play, and socialize, while learning different technical and interpersonal skills.

Arts & Letters

Book Bus's Language and Arts programs are geared to urge creative expression, with interdisciplinary writing and art projects. Our programs create learning experiences that are drawn from local histories and contexts to illustrate the value of personal narratives. Our participants are encouraged to discuss of social inclusion and feminism in our sessions with empathetic and critical approaches.

Media Literacy and Writing Workshop 2020-05-22

In today’s world, what we know is dependent on us being able to separate misinformation and disinformation from reliable and credible sources. But, in the age of information - how do we do this? Our Media Literacy and Writing program is designed to help us become better at filtering information and creating content that is reliable. 

Nepal Reads 2020-05-22

Nepal Reads is a program that allows participants to engage in discussions on books and ideas, preparing them for their role as citizens of a democratic constituency.

Read-Alouds 2020-06-03

Combining story-telling and maker components, the film making workshop acquaints students with a basic understanding of the making of movies and animations. Participants work with pre-film animation devices to understand the creation of motion picture animation.

Steam

STEAM Programs 2020-09-01

A Book Bus program that fosters a collaborative, entrepreneurial, and problem-solving culture among the Nepali youth through experiential engagement with scientific concepts and theories. 

Social Justice

Breaking the Bracket 2020-05-22

Breaking the bracket is  an annual year-long feminist fiction writing program geared toward Nepali female and non-binary writers,Breaking the Bracket seeks to build communities of feminist writers and change the mainstream narrative

Histories from Home 2020-05-22

At Satori, we are committed to creating platforms for the sharing of stories and the lived experiences of those who have traditionally been marginalized. Through the Histories from Home program we work with different communities to help them tell their own stories and share them with a wider community.

Civil Rights and Liberties 2020-05-22

Workshops, discussion, exhibitions and film screenings introducing the concept of inequality and the importance of civil rights and liberties to institutionalize democratic procedures, ensure the protection of human rights, and establish the rule of law to create stability, peace and prosperity.

Teacher Empowerment

Innovation in Education Fair 2020-05-22

The Innovation in Education Fair (IEF) is an annual forum for educational professionals to discuss how to make our teaching and learning practices more engaging,  meaningful, and memorable for students and teachers. 

Professional Development for Teachers 2020-05-22

Our Teacher Empowerment Program includes three teacher training programs that support teachers in implementing progressive teaching practices. These includes Literacy through Literature for primary school teachers, Everyday Science for science teachers, and Write to Think for secondary school teachers.

Community Programs

Experiential Learning Programs 2020-05-22

Our Experiential Learning (EXL) Programs are designed to provide immersive experiences for students and visitors to learn about social justice, climate change, and art history. They can take the form of exhibitions, fairs, and interactive events. In the past, we have worked with the Natural History Museum in Kathmandu to design activities that encourage students to engage and learn about the various exhibits in the museum

Rainbow City: Community Murals 2020-05-22

Rainbow City is a thematic mural series that exchanges murals designed in one region with murals from another, encouraging cross community engagement.

Folk Lok 2020-05-22

Folk Lok is a community-based arts program focused on the revitalization of the Dāphā music tradition practiced by the Tahnani Dāphā Khalah, a traditional musical group in Kirtipur. It supports the documentation of Dāphā music, builds community linkages to Dāphā music, and is hoping to revive the Lal Hira Pyākhã, a musical theatrical performance based on a local folklore in Kirtipur.

eKāsā 2022-07-20

eKāsā: The Book Bus eSports Alliance is an eSports club by the U.S. Embassy’s Book Bus in collaboration with North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF). The name eKāsā originates from the word ‘Kāsā’ from Nepal Bhasa, which means sports. eKāsā aims to create an inclusive community-based space for youths interested in gaming to come together, play, and socialize, while learning different technical and interpersonal skills.

The Book Bus in Numbers

1303

Schools reached

431

Community Centers Visited

8075

Teachers Reached

6036

Workshops/ Sessions Held

339314

Participants reached

43642

Kilometers Travelled

407

Online Programs conducted

86139

Online Participants reached

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