Empower Bhutan's Citizens to Engage in Democracy

Youth Learn to Bring Changes

Students from 23 schools across Bhutan presented six proposals for action at the end of the 5th Youth Summit, “Change Begins With Me” held at the Royal Thimphu College in the capital city Thimphu from 11-14 July. 

A total of 117 youths of schools from Dagana, Zhemgang, Samtse, and the Royal Academy  conceptualised action plans that they would take on on issues such as:

1. Global warming;
2. Women empowerment;
3. Divorce and its effects on youth;
4. Mental health;
5. The negative impact of social media; and 
6. Promoting self- reliance. 

"From the outside, it always looks so good (referring to society and mental health situations ) but from the inside, it is terrible. It's full of fear. I and my friends want to create a more positive society by helping to spread awareness of mental health. We always tend to show that things are alright, but many youths face anxiety and challenges...,” said a student from Gomtu Middle Secondary School.

The summit was facilitated by 12 youths mostly from colleges who were trained in peer facilitation to co-facilitate with Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy. UNICEF Bhutan funded the Youth Summit.

Youth Present Research Papers 

As a follow up to the Winter Youth Initiative in January, 21 college-bound and out-of-college youth presented their research paper findings on a number of issues at the Summer Youth Initiative held from 2-5 July at the Royal Thimphu College. 

The five research topics included Thimphu’s plastic ban, perceptions on LGBTQI, Internet consumption pattern, nutrition in boarding schools, recycled paper-based souvenirs. The participants also underwent training in Media Literacy to become smarter consumers of information and news.  Participants explored values from the Five Habits of the Heart to be better prepared for daily challenges as citizens. 

A 21-year-old college student from Thimphu said she had stopped being just somebody who complains and became one ‘who would change what I want changing’. Another participant remarked that he has gained the confidence to ‘influence the society and make a huge difference’. CISU supported the summer YI camp.

Teachers Prepare to Make an Impact in Communities

Speaking at the closing of Community Mapping Workshop on 9 August, Education secretary Yeshey encouraged teachers from Drukgyal Central School (DCS), Shaba Higher Secondary School (SHSS) and parents from Paro to inspire more people to take proactive citizen initiatives to resolve issues in communities. 

"Community Mapping is a critical exercise - you have been trained to look at issues differently and solve these issues - you must now pick up from here so that it doesn't remain in the paper," said Yeshey.

Paro Dzongda Thinley said that it is more important now than ever that people learn to make a collective effort to resolve issues. "Community must think about what it can do to solve these issues...,'' said Thinley. 

At the mapping training, which began from 4 August, teachers and parents learned the essence of studying communities by mapping strength, resources, and assets to tackle some of the issues of common concerns. Community Mapping guides the participants into developing skills such as interviewing, research that will enable them to engage proactively in their communities. "... I learned that posting on social media forums and pouring out frustrations to the leader is wrong. There is always an alternative like asset-based community mapping to resolve some of the issues in the locality," said Choki, DCS.

Bhutan Foundation supported the Project Mikhung. 

 CSOs Endorses Strategic Document

Under the theme of 'Building Solidarity', the 2019 Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Retreat held at Paro brought together 41 members from 24 CSOs of Bhutan to establish a collective voice in tabling pertinent issues and charting the way forward into the future of civil society landscape. 

As such, the CSOs gathered were able to successfully review and endorse a strategic document that would guide the direction of civil society, which remains the greatest accomplishment of the retreat. Moreover, CSO Rules & Regulations were also reviewed, thematic groups updated to reflect the current realities of CSOs, and a Working Committee formed to steer the CSO development fund. All these efforts were ultimately directed towards making the landscape more enabling for CSOs to contribute towards the nation-building. 

“It was the most participatory retreat that I have ever seen. All the decisions were taken democratically so we are actually being a really important element of democracy. I really appreciated it” said executive director of Handicraft Association of Bhutan, Chorten.  

Helvetas Bhutan supported the CSO Retreat 2019.

Student Mappers to Implement Six Projects

The grade 9 student looked nervous as he made a pitch to the Paro town hall committee for his school to develop a volleyball court for youth in the Drugyel neighbourhood.  

Recognising a lack of recreation for youth, the proposal was to enable youth to play volleyball and occupy themselves with a healthy sport. 

“Dasho la, will (the Paro municipality) provide the school with a space for the court, la?” 

This was one of six activities that students of Paro will undertake as part of the Building Community project being carried out in partnership with the Paro Thromde ( municipal authority). 

Students mappers of Drukgyal Central School (DCS) and Shaba Higher Secondary School (SHSS) will implement six Local Action Projects (LAP) in their respective communities in October.

The Townhall Committee endorsed the projects after deliberating and providing guidance on the practicality of the solutions the student mappers presented at the 2nd Townhall Committee meeting on 27 September at Paro. 

The six LAP are mostly awareness and advocacy campaigns on community cohesion, drinking water management, community safety, Menchu (hot spring) preservation, waste management, pedestrian safety, and building a volleyball court for youth. The Townhall Committee will also support the student mappers in their endeavour to improve community safety, drinking water and waste management, and youth engagement. 

“Until I attended the community mapping workshop, whenever there were issues in school, I was like ...maybe the school will do it or the teachers will do it because I’m just a student and I have no role. But being in community mapping made me realise that I’m that ‘someone’ who can make a difference for my community,” said a student mapper from DCS, Wangmo. 

Project Mikhung is supported by Bhutan Foundation. 

Youths Undergo Podcast Training 

A group of youths who were undergoing a week-long podcast training at Media Lab from 25 September will be presenting five stories, “Listening in the Dark” on pertinent social issues on Wed. 2 October.   

Unlike previous years, this year's podcasting workshop was extended by five more days to allow participants to develop a podcast through meaningful storytelling. This was done to leverage on the power of stories within the context of existing social issues of democracy, to explore in-depth and not just skim the surface of problems they present. 

The workshop was titled 'Dha Rei Na Ba' ( Now and the Future?) and was able to gather youths from various aspects such as counsellors, out-of-school, freelancers, young radio hosts and members from CLCS. 

“The use of examples and analysing the audio makes the training very different. I plan to improve the radio station at College of Language and Culture Studies and also train some of the club members after going back to college” said a faculty member from CLCS Choney. The workshop is funded by CISU. 

Picture Captions

1. Students learn how to start change at an individual level.

2. Youths learn research at the policy level and its effectiveness, challenges, and shortcomings.

3. Teachers present their findings from the Community Mapping. 

4. The retreat enabled CSOs to update their thematic group.

5. Students Present their Local Action Projects in the 2nd Townhall Meeting.

6. Youths edit their programmes at the media lab.

Bhutan Democracy Forum 2019

In what appeared to be the first such forum following the 3rd Parliamentary elections in 2018, Bhutan Democracy 2019 brought together politicians and members of the academia, students, civil society, civil servants, representatives of Constitutional agencies to talk about ‘Democracy as a path to Good Governance’ on 30 April. Representatives from the four political parties, Bhutan Kuen-Nyam Party, Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa, Druk Phuensum Tshogpa, and People’s Democratic party represented their parties at the forum.

The second panel of speakers consisted of an academic, a gup (Local Leader), a journalist, and a Member of Parliament from the National Council. The representatives of the political parties touched on the trust between the people and the government. They also discussed whether the media in Bhutan is becoming sensational and has become part of the problem or is providing solutions. Women representation in politics, corruption, youth, and the complexities of being “apolitical” were some other pertinent issues covered during the discussions.

The Druk Journal Publishes Issue on Education

The 9th Druk Journal issue “Educating Bhutan - Nurturing a Society that Learns to Learn”, has been published and is readied for distribution across the country. Containing 18 articles by academicians from within and outside the country, ‘Educating Bhutan’ looks at education as learning beyond the classroom.

This issue of the journal is intended to enable the society to see education not only as preparation for jobs but as a lifelong endeavour to learn. Four political parties also shed light on the respective party’s stance on education. They discuss and debate on pertinent issues, removal of cut off point for class ten, pruning of curriculum, off Saturdays and central school and education as their long-term goal.

With education overwhelmed with issues, it outlines some recommendations on Educating for Gross National Happiness (EGNH), 21st Century learning, research culture, vocational education in Bhutan. A ministerial adviser from Finland shares how her country has excelled in education every year. It also highlights the exceptional progress that Bhutan had made to educate its elderly citizens in rural areas with the inception of Non-Formal Education. This edition of The Druk Journal is partially supported by DIPD.

Paro Town Launch Campaign

Residents, local leaders, and Paro Dzongkhag (District Administration) came together to work towards realisation of their town’s vision “safe, clean, green, and culturally vibrant town” through the launch of campaign “I am my community” at Paro on 29 June. Finance minister lyonpo Namgay graced the launch.

Reflecting on the skit staged by students of Paro College of Education, Lyonpo highlighted the dangers of accelerated change and modernisation without foresight and the need to draw wisdom from Bhutan’s guiding philosophy -- Gross National Happiness. The launch of campaign signifies that the residents, local leaders, and planners will hereon make an effort to integrate the town vision, mission, and strategy in the developmental activities. Jute Tote bags were issued to the participants to create awareness on the campaign “I am my community”.

Tshering, a local resident remarked, “I was so moved by the students’ performance; it is different, it makes you think. You should film the skit”. About 200 people including residents, civil servants, civil society members, elected local leaders, students, and teachers from schools in Paro attended the launch.

Youth Initiative Empowers Young Minds

This year 24 youths mostly from colleges across the country underwent a four-day Youth Initiative Summer Camp where they learned policy research, media literacy, citizenship, and social consciouness.

"YI has helped me in many ways - firstly it encouraged me to self-reflect that ultimately helped me see from another's perspective, appreciating and valuing otherness. It also helped me in molding my personal capacity to solve social issues," said Choeki from Sherubtse College. Nima from the Royal Thimphu College learned on basics of finding solutions. "To find solutions, we first need to need to follow some fundamental steps such as research. This is what I learned in the YI and by applying these aspects to my project, I have been able to carry it out effectively and significantly" said Nima.

The conclusion of the 6th annual Youth Initiative (YI) was marked with five diverse presentations of research findings from the members on recycled paper souvenir products, perceptions on LGBTQI, Internet usage pattern among youths, and effectiveness of plastic ban and Nutrition.

5th Youth Summit, Learning Space for Children

Participants of the 5th Youth Summit, “Change Begins With Me” presented six proposals for action at the end of a weeklong programme at the Royal Thimphu College, Thimphu that began from 11 July.

Youths from over 23 schools including Yebilaptsa Central School, Zhemgang and Geserling Central School (GCS) in Dagana conceptualised action plans on issues such as global warming, women empowerment, divorce and its effects on youth, mental health, the negative impact of social media, and self- reliance. "From the outside, it always looks so good (referring to Bhutanese society) but from the inside, it is terrible. It's full of fear. I and my friends want to create a more positive society by helping to spread awareness of mental health. We always tend to show that things are alright, but many youths face anxiety and challenges...,” said a student from Gomtu Middle Secondary School, Bireshpati.

Another participant from GCS Kelzang wanted to work towards women empowerment. “I want to start with my family by talking about women empowerment, to start small. Then, (I) will plan to take it to school and community levels by organising a sensitisation meeting to talk about creating a conducive platform for women to express their feelings and opinions,” Kelzang said.

The residential camp brought together 117 youths aged 14-18 on a journey of self-discovery and reflection on their roles as citizens of a democracy. The summit was facilitated by 12 youths mostly from colleges who were trained in peer facilitation to co-facilitate with Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy.