Bhutan Foundation

Agriculture is the backbone of Bhutan’s rural economy, supporting over half the population. However, challenges like rural-urban migration and climate change pose significant threats to our food security. That's why we're thrilled to announce new grants for food security projects in partnership with and !

These initiatives will enhance food and nutrition security by promoting sustainable agriculture and local enterprise development. In Mongar and Trashigang, Tarayana Foundation will focus on improving livelihoods and market access for Self-Help Group members. Meanwhile, SJI will introduce small-scale commercial farming and climate-smart practices in Samdrup Jongkhar District.

Together, we're building a resilient farming community! 💪🌾

Positions Open for ICT Officer /Assistant ICT Officer at the Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum and Cultural Center, Bumthang.

Interested to send CV and a cover letter to [email protected]

Deadline: September 5, 2024

Details : https://www.bhutanfound.org/vacancy-announcement-for-ict-officer-assistant-icto/

Meet the next one of our Small Grant Program 2024 partners: Menjong Sorig Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited (MSPCL)! 🌿 They’re setting up a post-harvest center in Langthel Gewog, Trongsa—an area known for its rich variety of traditional medicinal plants. 🌱

Until now, villagers from Langthel, Kuenga Rabten, and nearby chiwogs have been supplying these valuable herbs to MSPCL but often faced challenges in getting fair prices due to inadequate post-harvest practices. The new center will improve the quality and market value of these plants, strengthening the supply chain and benefiting both the villagers and MSPCL. We're excited to see the positive impact this initiative will have on the community! To read more about this milestone initiative, visit our website here: https://loom.ly/OqR387w

Introducing our next Small Grant Program 2024 partner: The Sherchok Women’s Group! 🌾 With 360 members across six regions, they’re leading the charge in transforming the role of Bhutanese women in agribusiness.

Facing challenges like packaging, labeling, and market competition, the group is reorienting its efforts to empower women entrepreneurs. They’re upgrading processing units, automating systems, and developing a unique brand position in market. These moves will strengthen their market position and set them up for long-term success. We can’t wait to see their impact!

From August 15-17, 2024, we partnered with the Traditional Medicine Division, Department of Health Services to host a strategic planning workshop for Bhutan's National Traditional Medicine Strategy 2023-2034. Over three days, key stakeholders worked together to assess strengths, set strategic goals, and develop action plans to enhance the quality and innovation of Bhutanese traditional medicine. This strategy will pave the way for a stronger, more collaborative future in traditional healthcare! 🌿✨

Wrapped up an incredible 4-day CNC machine training at Draktsho Vocational Training Institute! 🎉 From August 6-9, 4 teachers and 8 students honed their skills in designing and creating products celebrating Bhutanese culture. Big thanks to for helping us empower these future creators and enhance the assistive tech ecosystem! Together, we’re shaping a more skilled and inclusive future!

Amazing story from our partners at The Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative!

On August 1st and 2nd, the Phensem Parent Support Group hosted a transformative training session on assistive technology in Paro and Haa with the support of Bhutan Foundation. 37 passionate teachers and parents came together to dive deep into hands-on learning, gaining practical skills to better understand and support those with disabilities. Together, we’re breaking down barriers and empowering educators and caregivers with the tools to create a more inclusive society for all! 🌟

Phensem Parents Support Group, Bhutan

On July 26th, the Training of Trainers (TOT) on Asset-Based Community Mapping for 30 participants from 9 schools in Tsirang Dzongkhag concluded. Participants learned to identify community strengths and challenges, solve problems using local assets, and create action plans with all stakeholders involved. This training, led by the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy, empowers trainers to teach their students the same skills, fostering civic engagement and a sense of belonging! One participant, a teacher for 26 years, realized his broader role in the community beyond his responsibilities to students. All participants echoed this sentiment, emphasizing their newfound commitment to strengthening their communities. 🙌

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Yak herders living in the Jomolhari Landscape share their home with snow leopards and prey. Over the years, traditional yak herder tents were replaced by flimsy tarpaulin tents. To reduce plastic waste and to provide a more durable alternative, the Bhutan Foundation, in partnership with the Royal Government of Bhutan, has distributed 78 durable, eco-friendly tents! 🏕️ These tents enhance living conditions as they are more spacious, easier to transport, and do not require wooden posts to be cut every time. Some 91 tents were provided on a cost-sharing basis to highland communities in Thimphu, Paro, and Haa Districts, benefiting 169 herding families! 🙌 The tents were handed over by the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock. Other programs within this initiative include helping support yak product diversification. As herders tolerate economic loss from predation by snow leopard, these programs help alleviate some loss by improving living conditions and livelihood options.



Discover more on our blog: https://loom.ly/Y-i5YFc

Happy World Rangers Day! 🌍 Today, we honor our dedicated rangers who safeguard our pristine environment. These brave individuals are on the frontlines, protecting wildlife, natural habitats, and environmental heritage despite facing numerous life-threatening challenges.

Their relentless efforts help conserve our beautiful planet for future generations. We join the nation in celebrating their courage and commitment to protecting our precious wildlife and ecosystems. Today, we express our heartfelt gratitude and support for their vital contributions.

Thank you, rangers, for your essential work keeping our planet healthy and vibrant! 🌿🐾

🐅🌏 On this Global Tiger Day, we celebrate Bhutan’s incredible commitment to tiger conservation! More than 50% of Bhutan’s landscape is a protected area, which offers a unique and thriving habitat for tigers. In addition, Bhutan is home to the world’s highest recorded altitude for tigers at 14,400ft (4,400m) in Wangchuck Centennial Park. It's the only place where you can find both snow leopards and tigers sharing the same landscape. Let's continue to protect these majestic creatures and their habitats! 🌲

🌍 Did you know? Bhutan, Panama, and Suriname are the only carbon-negative countries in the world! This means they absorb more CO2 than they produce. 🌿 In Bhutan, over 70% of the country is covered in forests, making it a green wonderland! 🌳✨

Bhutan is on a mission to plant over 10 million trees by 2030! 🌲
In collaboration with , we launched a million-plus plantation program to restore 3000 acres of fallow land and rehabilitate 2500 acres of degraded forest by 2025. Since 2021, over 800,000 trees have been planted, benefiting more than 200,000 households.
Our partner BES is now gearing up to plant 10+ million trees by 2030, restoring Bhutan's forests and boosting our carbon stock. We're excited to collaborate with key stakeholders to make this vision a reality!
of Forests and Park Services
Holding & Investments Ltd
Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation
@ National Environment Commission (Department of Environment and Climate Change )
@ Conservation International
@ Balipara Foundation

On the 19th of July, the Innovation Challenge came to a close with the teams presenting their prototypes for the assistive technology (AT) they developed. After the phase one elimination, out of the 9 teams, 5 went to phase 2.

All 5 teams showcased their determination in innovating and their understanding of the problems they wanted to solve after their consultation with individuals with disabilities and their caregivers. The teams consisted of a range of youth from high school students to college students and graduates who came up with innovative ideas and solutions to contribute in enhancing the quality of life of individuals with disabilities. This builds awareness among the youth on AT, who will be the peers or colleagues of children with disabilities today who grow up to be adults with disabilities.

In order to match the person to the technology is crucial and with consultations and information they gathered, the participants had achievable and innovative solutions that had a lot of potential. For example, the braille printer by a team had a dual language printing feature, which meant it could print in braille in both English and Dzongkha. This would greatly aid the existing printers that can print only in English and are expensive. Whereas the printer they presented was 15 times cheaper than the one being used in the country. Out of these brilliant solutions, the Gyelposhing students with the team name SynchroTech won the innovation challenge with an app for Bhutanese Sign Language that uses AI to directly translate for instant and easy communication.

The event was in collaboration with Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck Super Fab Lab under the InnovateAT: Collaborative Designing for Assistive Technology Devices project under the Foundation’s bigger vision of building the AT Ecosystem

The Bhutan Foundation proudly congratulates the Royal Government of Bhutan on launching the 13th Five Year Plan! Unveiled on July 18th, 2024, this visionary plan aims to guide Bhutan toward a happy, prosperous, and secure future from July 2024 to June 2029. Key goals include achieving a GDP of USD 5 billion, fostering a healthy and productive society, strengthening national unity, and transforming governance. We're excited to support these ambitious goals and drive growth, innovation, and well-being for all Bhutanese citizens. 🌟🇧🇹

On July 10th, we wrapped up the fourth part of the inclusive Early Child Care and Development (ECCD) training series! We celebrated 39 facilitators from across the country who participated, with 9 completing all four sessions since February 2023. The training covered inclusive ECCD, early literacy, and tools for assessment and planning, emphasizing collaboration with parents. Participants expressed gratitude for learning new strategies to support children with developmental concerns.
This series was a collaboration between Bhutan , UNICEF Bhutan , Bhutan Society , and . 🌟

In the villages of Kuenga Rabten and Changren in Trongsa Dzongkhang, the Budrel waterfall is vital for irrigation. After a flash flood on July 17th, 2023, disrupted their water supply, over 200 acres of crops were affected. Thanks to , one of the 7 partners selected for the Small Grants Program by the Bhutan Foundation, we're funding a project to restore the waterfall using advanced engineering and HDPE pipes. This initiative will ensure sustainable water flow and boost local agriculture! 💧✨

Today marks the start of the final chapter in our Inclusive Early Child Care and Development training series, focusing on Tools for Assessment, Planning, and Progress Monitoring in Collaboration with Parents and Families.

In partnership with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, UNICEF, Ability Bhutan Society, and Perkins School for the Blind, we're thrilled to have 39 dedicated ECCD facilitators from government, private centers, and civil society organizations participating.

Over the next five days, these facilitators will gain invaluable theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice to support children with developmental concerns. Together, we're equipping centers with the skills needed to assess, plan, and monitor progress, ensuring every child receives the support they need.

Today marks the exciting kickoff of the Makeathon: Innovation Challenge on Building and Making Assistive Technology, in partnership with the Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck Super Fab Lab!

Over 70 innovators registered, and now the top 34 most promising minds, organized into 9 dynamic groups, are ready to take on this thrilling challenge. Participants range from high school and college students to graduates, all united by a passion for innovation and a commitment to making a difference.

The Innovation Challenge is all about unleashing creativity to develop assistive solutions through collaboration with the disability community. By harnessing the power of technology, these innovators will work alongside individuals with disabilities to create life-enhancing tools that foster independence and improve quality of life.

For the next two weeks, participants will engage in an inspiring journey of understanding the unique challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. They'll brainstorm, develop, test, and redesign their solutions, turning ideas into reality. The winner of the challenge will get membership at the Super Fab Lab with an amount to help develop the assistive device further.

Happy Fourth of July from Bhutan to all our supporters and friends in the United States! We hope you get a chance to enjoy fireworks 🎆

Repost: Vacancy Announcement 📢

Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum and Cultural Center (WPMCC) is looking for a dedicated and experienced professional for the role of Deputy Director, General Operations Department.

📍 Location: Bumthang, Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum and Cultural Center
🗓 Deadline: Last date of submission has been extended till 8th July

If you are passionate about working in such an institution, we want to hear from you!

Submit your CV and cover letter to [email protected].

For more details, visit https://www.bhutanfound.org/vacancy-announcement-for-deputy-director/

Vacancy Announcement for Museum Technology Manager

The Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum and Cultural Center (WPMCC) in Bumthang is seeking a skilled professional to join our team as a Museum Technology Manager. This role is essential for managing the museum's technological and digital presence.

Position: Museum Technology Manager
Location: Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum and Cultural Center, Bumthang
Application Deadline: 11th July, 2024

Application Process: Submit your CV and cover letter by email to [email protected] no later than 5 PM Bhutan Time on July 11, 2024.

For more details about the position visit https://www.bhutanfound.org/vacancy-announcement-for-museum-technology-manager/

For inquiries, contact us at 332 751 / 335 613 during office hours.

*** Note: This position is open to Bhutanese nationals only. ***

We're thrilled to announce the signing of the grant agreements for our Small Grants Program 2024! Out of 62 inspiring and innovative proposals, we've selected 7 truly promising proposals to receive up to Nu. 1.25 million each

The grantees include:
1. Water Bhutan - Support community livelihood through the revival of Budrel waterfall

2. Menjong Sorig Pharmaceuticals Corporation Limited - Establishment of a post Harvest facility to improve quality of medicinal herb collected in Langthel village in Trongsa

3. Bhutan Institute of Wellbeing: Rehabilitation of Substance Use Disorder through Skill Development

4. Guengaling Community Cooperative - A Youth led Beekeeping Initiative to address Rural youth unemployment in Guengaling Village, Norgaygang Gewog, Samtse.

5. Sherchok Women’s Group - Empowering Bhutanese Women in Agribusiness, Gelephu

6. Darkala Yak Cooperative- Enhancing sustainable livelihoods of highlanders through Yak product diversification in Dagana.

7. Wangsel Institute for the Deaf, Paro - Enhancing Bhutanese Sign Language App for promoting inclusion

Vacancy call for Senior/Communication Officer!

The Bhutan Foundation is hiring a Senior /Communication Officer for our Thimphu office. We seek a creative and strategic professional with a Bachelor’s degree in IT, and five to seven years of experience in visual communications, advanced graphic design, social media management, and ICT management.

Position: Senior/Communication Officer
Station: Bhutan Foundation, Thimphu Office
Application deadline: 8th July, 2024

Interested candidates are requested to submit their CV and cover letter to [email protected] by July 8, 2024, 5 PM Bhutan Time.

For more details on role descriptions, visit our website announcement: https://www.bhutanfound.org/vacancy-announcement-for-senior-communication-officer/

For inquiries, contact us at 322 751 / 335 613 during office hours.

***The position is open to Bhutanese nationals only.

We at the Bhutan Foundation are deeply honored to receive the recognition award for being a long-term partner of The Bhutan Youth Development Fund during their Silver Jubilee celebration. YDF's unwavering dedication to youth development has been an inspiration to us all. Together, we look forward to supporting your journey toward a brighter future for Bhutan's youth.

Happy Silver Jubilee to the Bhutan Youth Development Fund (YDF)!

For a quarter-century, you have been a beacon of hope, guiding and nurturing the youth of Bhutan to realize their fullest potential. Your unwavering dedication to education, leadership, health, and entrepreneurship has transformed countless lives and communities.

As proud partners, the Bhutan Foundation celebrates this incredible milestone with you. Together, we look forward to continuing our journey towards a brighter future for Bhutan's youth. Here's to many more years of collaboration and success!

Vacancy Announcement 📢

Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum and Cultural Center (WPMCC) is looking for a dedicated and experienced professional for the role of Deputy Director, General Operations Department.

📍 Location: Bumthang, Wangduechhoeling Palace Museum and Cultural Center
🗓 Last Date of Submission: Before 5pm on 28th

If you are passionate about working in such an institution, we want to hear from you! Submit your CV and cover letter to [email protected]. For more details, visit https://www.bhutanfound.org/vacancy-announcement-for-deputy-director/

📢Calling all innovators and makers to join the Innovation Challenge!

Collaborate and create Assistive Technology solutions for individuals with disabilities in Bhutan. From enhancing communication to improving daily living support, let's innovate for inclusivity and empowerment.

Registration date extended till 21st June, 2024.

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/1q3m694q98cPJCzQA

🚀 Join us for the Innovation Challenge! 💡

⭐️Create and collaborate to design Assistive Technology solutions for individuals with disabilities in Bhutan.

⭐️ From enhancing communication to improving daily living support, let’s innovate for inclusivity and empowerment.

Registration is open until May 23rd! Don’t miss the chance to make a real impact.

Registration form: https://forms.gle/1q3m694q98cPJCzQA

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