The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) UK hosted an inspiring evening on 31 March 2026 through its International Association of Arts and Culture for Peace (IAACP), bringing together film, dance, poetry, and reflection under the theme “Leading Through Stories: Culture, Resilience, and Voices of Change in Nepal.” The event, held at UPF UK in London, explored how storytelling can preserve heritage, strengthen resilience, and open space for dialogue across communities.
Opening the programme, Dr Sangita Swechcha, Chair of IAACP UK, welcomed the guests and reflected on the transformative power of art and culture. She emphasised that storytelling helps people connect across borders and brings us closer to real lives, real struggles, and real hope. She introduced the poet, Hannah Stanislaus, to the stage to share one of her poems, and to be the MC for the evening.
The evening’s focus on Nepal highlighted not only its rich national heritage, but also its emphasis on universal values, including dignity, perseverance, identity, and courage. In this sense, storytelling was not only the subject of the event, but also its method: a way of preserving memory, honouring experience, and creating deeper understanding.
A central part of the programme was the screening of Krishna: A Story of Self Dependence, directed and produced by Sanjok Basyal. The documentary follows Krishna Thapa, who lives with a physical disability and begins each day before sunrise selling newspapers in Pokhara. His story offered a moving testimony of self-reliance, effort, and resilience.
In a message shared with the audience, the filmmaker said that Krishna’s life reminds us that dignity comes through perseverance and that life becomes meaningful when lived with purpose and gratitude. The screening offered a powerful example of how one personal story can illuminate wider themes of hardship, courage, and hope.
The evening also featured a contribution from Eva Pejkofski, IAACP Coordinator for Europe and the Middle East, who joined online. Drawing from her own experience in music and peacebuilding, she spoke about the unique ability of the arts to touch the heart, overcome barriers, and create understanding where words alone may fall short.
Her remarks reinforced a key message of the evening: that arts and culture are not secondary to peacebuilding, but an essential part of it. While institutions and policies remain important, the arts can open people up emotionally, helping them recognise shared humanity across different backgrounds, languages, and experiences.
Nepal’s living heritage was further celebrated through Nepali cultural dance performances, which brought warmth, beauty, and energy to the programme. These performances helped create an atmosphere in which culture was not only discussed but experienced.
Guests also heard about the creative collaboration between Nils Lund and Dr Sangita Swechcha in the photo-book project “A Purpose in Life”, combining Nils Lund displaying his Nepalese photo exhibition during a UPF UK - IAACP event, with photography and poetry in a shared act of visual storytelling across cultures. Together, these contributions highlighted the value of preserving heritage, while also giving it fresh expression through artistic partnership. Nils shared his photographs from his first visit to Nepal in the early 1980's, highlighting the people and their day to day lives, in a way that brought their personalities to the fore. Sangita recited a moving poem about 'Motherhood', that will be in their shared book.
Keith Best, Chair of UPF UK, agreed on the importance of understanding different cultural backgrounds to bridge the current large gaps of misunderstanding. He shared his experience of travel to Nepal, during a journey from Europe to Singapore in the late 1960's. He said he had been so moved by the warmth of the people, who had been so generous and welcoming even though they had so little.
Taken as a whole, the evening created a rich and thoughtful programme, showing that culture is not only something to preserve, but something through which people actively shape meaning, community, and hope. Through documentary, performance, and discussion, the event demonstrated that stories can humanise struggle, honour heritage, and inspire positive change.
As part of UPF UK’s continuing work through IAACP, the evening also looked ahead to future programmes, including the next IAACP event planned for the evening of 18 June 2026. The event stood as a timely reminder that the arts remain a powerful partner in peacebuilding, helping people to see one another more deeply and to imagine a more peaceful and humane world.