Empower Bhutan's Citizens to Engage in Democracy

Being change-maker in democratic setup

Thimphu, 14 July: Participants of 4^th Youth Summit (YS) proposed a number of projects to tackle rural-urban migration, promote the waste management, empower women, and promote organic food production in their communities. Students will try to implement these projects through fundraising in their respective project site

The Youth Summit is BCMD’s annual event to engage young minds during summer vacation to supplement the government’s efforts to nurture socially conscious and responsible citizens.
 
This year, over 115 students and teachers from a number of schools colleges in the country attended the Summit with the theme: “Be the Change” held at Royal Thimphu College from 11-14 July. Among them were recent graduates and out of school youth. BCMD also trained 12 youths to facilitate the summit with support from four teachers.
 
Many students from Gomtu Middle Secondary School (GMSS) in Samtse and Yebilaptsa Central School (YCS) in Zhemgang were in the capital, Thimphu, for the first time. Some of the students from the two schools come from villages without access to roads. Six of the total 10 students from GMSS are also single-parent children from economically challenged families.
 
“We brought students from these places since we wanted to give an opportunity to the underprivileged,” said a teacher from YCS Ratna.
 
On the final day of the summit, participants including a number of students from YCS and GMSS presented projects their groups planned to tackle issues in their communities.  Two groups including Yebilaptsa Central School from Zhemgang proposed production of compost from food waste in schools and colleges. “If making compost from kitchen waste in schools and colleges is successful, we can expand the project to the national level,” said one of the group members.
 
The other groups will work on reducing rural-urban migration and women empowerment through advocacy on women health and hygiene and distribution of sanitary pads. Another group will advocate waste reduction through the use of filter water to bottled mineral water.

“We will also bring success stories of people who have returned to the villages to inspire and encourage young people to live in the rural backwaters,” said the group’s presenter, Kinley from Motithang Higher Secondary School.
 
Speaking to BCMD, both students and teachers agreed that Youth Summit really helped youths reflect on their role as a young citizen. “Through interaction with National Commission for Women and Children director I came to know that I can be instrumental in reducing child abuse in my community,” Tsheyang said.
 
Laxuman said that he’s seen a dramatic improvement in students from his schools. “These are children I have never seen participate in debates or quiz while in school and four days after bringing in the summit – they were making presentations to over 100 people. That’s the greatest achievement they have achieved,” Laxuman said.
 
Apart from learning to exercise voice, participants learned to explore the values of diversity, inclusiveness, and the role of citizens in a democracy. We thank UNICEF Bhutan for being a valued partner and for supporting this workshop. Catch some of the action at the Summit on a short film soon on BCMD’s YouTube.

Youth Initiative Summer Camp

Thimphu 5 July: In a move to enhance the knowledge and skills youths acquired during the winter Youth Initiative (YI) Camp last year, 24 youths from various schools and colleges participated in Summer YI Camp from 5-7 July at Media Lab in Nazhoen Pelri Complex.
 
Last winter the youths from different schools and colleges with diverse backgrounds attended seven-day residential training to reflect on their role as citizens. In the following months of the training, the participants initiated and implemented a number of Local Action Plans in their schools, colleges, and communities.
 
This year, the three-day camp focused on News and Media Literacy and news report writing. They also presented their Local Action Plans on the first of the camp.

One of the sessions of the summer training guided the participants through an interactive activity to reflect on what it means to be a good citizen.  At least 21 of the total 24 participants agreed that the activity helped them understand their strengths and weaknesses better. “I learned that I have the capability to accept all diversity of people and love them for who they are,” said a graduate from Sherubtse College Shanti.
 
Participants most of who are media savvy also found News and Media Literacy useful and educative to learn about online behaviour. A student from the College of Natural Resources (CNR) Pema said that after attending the Media Literacy he will always ‘think’ before posting or sharing anything on social media. “Besides that, I can also now distinguish news from the fake news,” Pema said.
 
Another participant from Gaedu College of Business Studies said that he learned that not all the information such as promotion and the raw information is news. "The Media Literacy taught me that we should not buy everything we read and see online and on television but use our judgment to discern the credibility and reliability of information," Yeshi said. BCMD would like to thank UNICEF Bhutan for funding the YI Summer Camp. The participants also learned news report writing. UNICEF Bhutan supported the summer YI Camp. 

Youths and Teachers Learn Peer Facilitation

Thimphu, 9 July: A group of 11 Youth Initiative (YI) members from schools and colleges and four teachers underwent training on Peer Facilitation at Media Lab to help Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy (BCMD) in facilitating 4^th Youth Summit.
 
In a two-day training, YI members mostly youths from schools and colleges learned appreciative inquiry to facilitate Youth Summit slated for July 11-14 using positive probing questions to prompt reflections, imagination, and story sharing. The participants also learned the use of a contextualised version of Palmer’s Habits of the Heart to generate reflections and discussions around values of citizenship.
 
Besides learning coordination and co-facilitation, the peer facilitators learned the use of icebreaker, grouping, debrief, and organisation of ideas. Following the training and successive facilitation of Youth Summit participants was positive about their experience. They discovered a lot of new things about themselves and teamwork. “I learned to patiently engage with a variety of children of different age groups without sharing my personal opinion to influence them,” said a high school graduate, Pema.
 
A 2nd-year student from Sherubtse College, Tenzin said that the training and opportunity to facilitate YS boosted her confidence. “I discovered that I have the capability to interact with new people and work well in a team. I feel confident enough to lead sessions for youth in the future,” said Tenzin. BCMD would like to thank UNICEF Bhutan for supporting Peer Facilitation.

Women want to improve online behaviour

Women from Gomtu in Samtse who underwent a two-day News and Media Literacy from 11-12 August at Gomtu Middle Secondary School wanted to improve their online behaviour.
 
“I want to reduce the time I spend online and want to limit how much my children can be with their phones,” Tshering said, adding that she now knows that there is a difference between news and information shared online especially social media.
 
Gomtu is located at a two-day drive from Thimphu towards the southwest of the country via India. During interaction with 30 women participants, most found the News and Media Literacy relevant, timely, and useful. According to most participants, the training was an eye-opener about social media – its benefits and harms.

One of the participants, Pema, said that she would now be more mindful when commenting on social media. “I will think before posting anything about others, which I never thought before,” Pema said. 

Kinga, who also participated in the training, has asked her WeChat group friends to refrain from sharing and posting disturbing images of accident and rape victims. “They have also agreed to refrain from sharing such images and videos in the group,” Kinga said.
 
Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy (BCMD) conducted the training at Gomtu following a proposal from the Royal Bhutan Police since the small town of over 1,000 has been seeing an increasing number of social-media related domestic violence. EU and Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation supported the News and Media Literacy. 

Nuns to be smart on use of social media

For the first time, 16 nuns from nunneries in Thimphu attended a three-day News and Media Literacy Training from 30 August – 1 September at Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy’s Media Lab at Nazhoen Pelri Complex in Thimphu.

The nuns were trained in News and Media Literacy to help them become smart consumers of information and news since increasing number of nuns and monks many are highly active on social media like Facebooks, WeChat, and WhatsApp. Following the training, nuns wanted to improve their online safety and privacy. “I want to deactivate my existing Facebook account that has over 3,000 friends and start a new one. Then I will add only the people I have met and I know in real life,” said Choden.

Sonam Choden from Bhutan Nuns Foundation said that she would be more careful about what she likes, posts or shares on social media. “I will not like or share everything on social media without thinking about its consequences,” Sonam said.

Another participant, Rinchen, from Drubthob Thangtong Dewachen Nunnery said that she now knows the importance of being critical while sharing and reading information and news. “I will now check whether the news is real or fake,” Rinchen said.

EU and Helvtas Swiss Intercooperation supported the training.

Dewathang Mappers construct vegetable shed

Mappers of Dewathang in Samdrup Jongkhar constructed a vegetable shed at Rekhay following the Community Mapping programme in early 2018.

The vegetable shed has been handed over to the community after drafting a guideline on its management and maintenance. Construction of vegetable shed was one of the three local action plans proposed during the Community Mapping from Dewathang, which is located in the southeast of Bhutan. Dewathang is a two-day drive from the capital city Thimphu.

Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy implemented the project with support from UNDP in collaboration with Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative. Yangchenma Private Limited, Sonam Drukpa Eastern Bhutan Coal Company Limited, Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative, and Chokyi Gyatso Institue in Dewathang also contributed to the construction of the shed in kinds and in money.

Ranjung Central School Launches News Letter

Featuring events within its campus, Rangjung Central School (RCS) launched its newsletter, ‘The Lens of Rangjung CS’ in September this year.
 
The coordinator from RCS, Yeshey, said that he was very happy with the efforts the students invested in producing the newsletter. “Media club is a good platform for those genuinely interested students in media to learn media and multimedia skills,’ Yeshey said.

A media club member Kinzang said that he was very proud to be involved in the making of the newsletter.’ “I learned photography and news reporting in the media club,” Kinzang said.
 
The newsletter featured stories on Women’s Day Celebration, Social Forestry Day, academic awards, Teachers’ Day, and International Children’s Day, among others. CISU supported the production of the newsletter.

Students Maps Communities in Paro

The students of Utpal Academy in Paro visited the nearby communities – Lango, Drugyel, and Satsham to understand people and the communities they are living in.
 
During the community mapping - young people to talk to community people to understand their issues and design and plan simple local actions to help resolve issues plaguing the communities. The step-down training is a part of Building Community Initiative in Paro.
 
Through community mapping, young mappers learn to interact with people and enable them to work in a team, and to realise their potential to bring about changes in the communities. A class 11 Arts ‘C’ student Tandin attending the training for the first time said that the training helped him overcome nervousness when talking to other people.
 
“I realised my confidence level was growing. I still have more platforms to face and work on it,” Tandin said. International IDEA funded the project.

Turning Teachers into Media Literate Citizens

Teachers from a number of private schools and colleges in the country were trained on Media and Democracy Literacy during a two-day workshop Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy conducted from April 23-24 at its Media Lab in Nazhoen (Youth Development Fund) Pelri Complex in Thimphu. 

A total of 24 teachers and lecturers from private schools and colleges including, Norbuling Rigter College in Paro, Sherub Reldri Higher Secondary School in Mongar in the east, Kuendrup Higher Secondary Schoo of Gelephu in the south attended the training. Four teachers from the public schools including, Tendru Central School from Samtse and Wangbama Central School in the outskirts of Thimphu also attended the workshop. 

Media and Democracy Literacy is one effective activity BCMD has been conducting over the years to educate teachers and youth to be a smart consumer of news -- in the age -- where news finds its readers and goods and services finds its consumers. People no longer have to spend hours looking for news and goods and services, they are all now only a click away. Instant availability and access to information have changed the dissemination of information, communication, business, and entertainment. The unprecedented growth in ICT and technology has changed lifestyle accross the board. 

But all is not well. The onslaught of information online has caused disharmony, discord, confusion, and chaos in the society. Often, harms of social media have led to misinformation, crime, and violence. Bhutan had its own share of such issues because of its ill-preparedness to negative effects of social media, fake news, and disinformation because of people lacking knowledge and understanding of news. 

BCMD for last few years has been training teachers, civil servants, and youth on News and Media Literacy to educate on the citenzenship, democracy, rights and responsibilities, and news and media. This time the workshop was conducted for teachers and lecturers from private schools and colleges. Teachers attending the workshop found the workshop relevant to their school media studies curriculum. According to teachers, the workshop did not only educate them on democracy, citizenship, news, and media but would go a long way in helping them impart the knowledge about news and journalism to their students taking media studies in schools. 

"The workshop will really help us in classroom teaching about the media studies," said a teacher from Jampel Higher Secondary School in Haa. 

Another teacher from Nima Higher Secondary School, ..... said that the workshop was important for her to attend as it helped her cement the understanding about news and its difference between the information, social media posts, fake news, and judging the credibility of a news report. "I knew what is news but this workshop really helped me understand the difference between news and other information," she said. 

During the workshop, a copy of the Educating for Citizenship Guidebook was also distributed to each participant. BCMD developed the guidebook as a resource for schools to help educate students on being a smart news consumer. Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy would like to "Thank" Bhutan Foundation for supporting our initiative to inspire and support youth and teachers to be smart consumers of news. 

Bhutan Democracy Forum

The State of Bhutan’s democracy was the topic of a riveting forum where speakers from Bhutan’s four political parties came together to share their views in an election year. The Bhutan Democracy Forum took place on May 11th with more than 490 people packing the auditorium at the Royal University Convention Hall in Thimphu leaving many persons standing along the corridors.

Political party representatives who spoke included Lyonpo Damcho Dorji from People’s Democratic Party, Aum Lily from Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT), Dasho Neten from Bhutan Kuen-Nyam Party (BKP), and Dr Tandin from Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa. Finance minister Lyonpo Namgay and home and cultural affairs minister Dawa Gyeltshen also attended the forum along with members of the newly elected National Council.

Members of the press, civil servants, civil society members, and students from schools and colleges, and international non-governmental organisations  also attended the forum.
The four speakers shared their thoughts on the state of Bhutan’s democracy based on their own experiences with democracy. Lyonpo Damcho said that Bhutan’s democracy is unique. “As the former chief justice, Lyonpo Sonam said Bhutan’s democracy is an evolutionary process, and not revolutionary,” he said. Lyonpo also called on the audience to take a matured and constructive approach to politics to avoid divisive politics. “The politicians must join hands to take a constructive approach and we must also define the role of MPs whether as NC, ruling or opposition,” he said.

Aum Lily said democracy is too important to be wasted away in petty arguments, wrong judgments or gotcha statements. To engage, we must connect, understand, and work in a spirit of harmony and respect. “... I humbly call upon all politicians, media, voters - let us set our differences aside and work on setting Bhutan off on a journey towards the best democracy in the world because Bhutan and Our Kings deserve this for their sacrifices,” she said.  

Sharing her experiences of visiting six dzongkhags, Dasho Neten said that there is a need to educate people that democracy is not just about voting every five years. “We need to advocate that democracy is not only about elections…“Everyday people have to be important – citizens have to be important. Citizens cannot be passive recipients – there has to be space for citizens voice,” she said. Dr Tandin raised concerns over the existing practice of Bhutanese voting entirely based on the promises parties to make during the campaign period. “…Therefore it is also important for our political parties to have strong ideologies on which we stand so that our voters can predict what to expect …” Dr Tandin said.

In the question and answer session, the speakers responded candidly on a number of issues including the widening gap between the rich and the poor, sustainability, sovereignty, and foreign relations.  Civic education, civil society, and media were some other aspects of democracy covered during the question and answer session. Participants talked about the importance of such open forums to enable them to meet with and better understand how politics and democracy are evolving in Bhutan.

BCMD conducted the Bhutan Democracy Forum in collaboration with Royal University of Bhutan and Bhutan Democracy Dialogue (BDD). We thank the DIPD for supporting the forum. The Bhutan Broadcasting Service will soon be screening the forum on TV. Look out for the dates to be trailed soon on our FB page and on BBS.

Second Photo Exhibition by Adolescents

Monks and nuns with 10 other out-of-school adolescents concluded their second photo exhibition on May 4-5 that was held at Royal Textile Academy.

Sharing his experience at the exhibition, one of the participants, Deyon said that the training made him realise that attractive photography is not just about the filters or the stickers. "It’s the story behind and once you move from 'what you have captured' to 'why you have captured that moment. That's when the picture truly becomes beautiful…” said Deyon.

Timeline 

17 October 2017: Five-day Basic Photography Training Begins.

October 19: Adolescents Starts Taking Pictures, some of which are sent to ROSA in Nepal for an exhibition.

October 20-21: Adolescents learn picture Caption.

October 22-November 1: Starts photography for an exhibition to be held in November.

November 20: Adolescents Hold Their First Exhibition at Royal Textile Academy coinciding with World Children’s Day.

20-22 March 2018: Adolescents Attends Advanced Photography Training.

May 4: Conducts Second Photo Exhibition at Royal Textile Academy.

The second photo exhibition comes after the second round of training from March 20-22 at Media Lab on advanced photography. The initial training began in October last year with support from UNICEF to train five nuns from Drubthob Thangtong Dewachen Nunnery and five monks from Dechenphodrang Monastery with 10 out-of-school youths and members of civil society.

Graphic Novel JURWA II Launched
 

Adding another resource for youth in Bhutan’s young democracy, BCMD launched graphic novel - JURWA II on May 11 at the Bhutan Democracy Forum held at Royal University of Bhutan, Convention Hall.

Royal University of Bhutan Vice Chancellor, Nidup Dorji launched the graphic novel which captures a slice of life in a democratising country. JURWA II is about an idyllic village Gakithang on the outskirts of Thimphu caught up in a dramatic change spurred by Bhutan’s transition to democracy. The story revolves around a young civil servant, Sangay Penjor from Gakithang and his interest to pursue a career in politics.

But as is the norm in the real world of politics, following his dreams isn’t easy. People already making assumptions and speculations about his inexperience. His will to join politics also throws his own love life into trouble. Add to this, chorten (stupa) vandals, rumours, and reporters hunting stories, we have JURWA, the story of “Changing Times in Gakithang.”

The year is 2008, when the villagers of Gakithang are overwhelmed with a historic election year – political parties, campaigns, candidates, and the hard decisions of making a choice. Jurwa is based on a 43 episode radio serial, and the first part of the graphic novel was launched and distributed last year.

The graphic novel was distributed free to over 250 students, civil servants, civil society members, and International Non-Governmental Organisations at the forum. JURWA II will be distributed to parliament, ministries, colleges, schools, and public libraries.

Another Milestone for BCMD

Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy (BCMD) marked its 10th year of educating the Bhutanese people on citizenship, media, and democracy on May 19 with 150 of its youth alumni at Royal University of Bhutan, Convention Hall. 

The half-day event themed “Celebrating Youth Voice” included six young people sharing their reflections, journey, and aspirations. The youth speakers pointed out that BCMD was instrumental in stimulating self-discovery, inspired to be an active citizen. Its activities on media also helped youth people to make mindful use of social media and be smart news consumers. Attending BCMD’s events also enabled youth to understand rights, responsibilities, build leadership skills, volunteerism, and personal development.

Sonam, Youth Initiative (YI) alumni and MC at the event said that attending BCMD’s events boosted her confidence. “I wasn’t like this before. I wasn’t good at public speaking. Being part of YI gave me confidence and the belief that I can have an impact,” Sonam said. 

Another BCMD alumni, Karma who is a teacher at Druk School also shared about impact BCMD had in her life. Youth from schools and colleges in and around Thimphu attended the event. Some students shared that the event was an opportunity for them to connect, and get inspired by stories of youth leaders, and learn how they can also contribute as citizens.

Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy (BCMD) was established in 2008 with a commitment to strengthen a “GNH-inspired and vibrant democracy to engage all”.  In the past decade, BCMD has organised forums that created opportunities and safe spaces for youth, academics, bureaucrats, media personnel and elected leaders alike to engage in open discussion, deliberation, and debate on current and pertinent issues.“The speakers really inspired me”, said a student of Yangchenphug Higher Secondary School who attended the event.

Think Critically When Consuming Information

Increasing number of people including the members of civil society, teachers, nuns, and monks found News and Media Literacy workshop relevant and felt the need for more such workshops across the country. 

Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy conducted another round of News and Media Literacy workshop for members of civil society orgsanisation (CSOs) on 29-30 June. Over 24 CSO members including communication officers and programme officers attended the workshop. A monk from Gangtey Monastery in Wangdue Phodrang and two nuns from Pema Chholing Nunnery in Tang, Bumthang were among the participants. 

In the wake of increasing number of controversial and misleading posts on social media, participants felt that the News and Media Literacy could be an answer to online confrontation. "If people had attended media literacy before, the recent incident of a video of a group of boys bullying another boy would not have happened," Thinley from Khengrig Namsum Cooperative in Zhemgang said.  

But Thinley said that the requirement of media literacy is, even more, greater in rural areas. "News and media literacy training should be brought to rural areas since rumours and misleading information on social media is causing many problems in the communities," Thinley said.

Other CSO members felt the need to spread media literacy to more members of CSOs, youth, and school children since most are active on social media. "I will definitely talk about media literacy and social media with my family members," Yeshey from Bhutan Network for Empowering Women said. 

BCMD would like to than Helvetas for supporting the workshop.  

JURWA Series Now on Television

This year, 46 students from Motithang Higher Secondary School are attending multimedia training in Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy (BCMD) Media Lab at Nazhoen Pelri Complex in Thimphu every Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. 

BCMD trained another batch of students from the same school last year, who produced a number of short documentaries on the subject of their choice. Similar training on multimedia has been undertaken since it has enabled students to learn skills usually unavailable in a school curriculum. Students who came upon the recommendation from their seniors said that they found the learning environment in the training completely different from the classroom teaching. 

“Our seniors told us that the media classes here would be different but I didn't believe it. When I came to the classes it really was different. There was more interaction among ourselves and had more practical sessions which kept me engaged all the time. I hope other schools take the opportunity too,”  a class XI arts student from Motithang Higher Secondary School, Rinzin Dorji said.

During the training spanning at least for a few months, students are taught storyboard, script writing, photography, interview, research, and editing, among others. At the end of the training, students will produce a short film while working in a group. As part of their introduction to the training, students were introduced to the Filmmakers Without Borders' (FWB) curriculum. The volunteer from FWB  Jade Donaldson taught the students -- different types of animation.

Following their introduction to FWB, students are in the process of making a flipbook. The students also had a discussion on what they know about Democracy and what it meant to be an active citizen. 

Conversations in Sherubtse College

Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy organised two Conversations at Sherubtse College in Kanglung, Trashigang on April 17-18 on two issues of The Druk Journal, Civil Society in Bhutan and Democratisation of Bhutan. The two Conversations were held with the Political Science students and Media Studies students of the college. 

Around 110 people including, students and lecturers from the college attended the conversations. In the conversation on civil society, the concept and role of civil society in democratic governance were discussed. Through the conversation, it was learned that the Sherubtse students take civil society and gender as courses in political science. Students volunteer in a number of activities on and around the campus.

For example, they were then cleaning up the mess from the Thuja trees that were cut down when at the time, BCMD was in the college for the conversations. 

In their feedback all the participants found the Conversation to be useful in enhancing their understanding of civil society and Civil Society Organisations.

During the conversation on democracy, views on the democratisation process in Bhutan were invited. The observations and issues raised during the Conversation were not different from the issues that are being discussed around the country. The emphasis was the need for Bhutanese citizens, both urban and rural, to understand the democratic process better. The approach to democracy and the electoral process was not very different from the real-life experiences of the students within their families and communities.

Several found the format of having an informal conversation much more conducive to exploring topics such as democracy and civil society. Open Society Foundations supported the conversations in Sherubtse College.