A goodbye there is a hello here

"READ Bhutan?" my friends ask. "Oh isn't it the new paper or a magazine?"

(Sorry I am not a narcissist, not at all and I have never been one, but this post is about myself). Almost all my friends ask the same question when I tell them that I am working for READ Bhutan and I always end up expanding the acronym - READ - Rural Education and Development. READ Bhutan is an NGO that builds community library and resource centers. READ model is simple - it goes out to the community and explains the importance of books and specifically information - which are essential tools to empower communities.

And if a community feels it is ready then READ sets up library and resource center in partnership with the community. Here READ mandates that at least a community contributes 10-15% of the cost of setting up the center - not because READ can't bear the cost. This is done with a sole aim of inducing and inculcating in community a sense of ownership and responsibility. Once the center is fully in operation, READ then invests in a business enterprise (which is usually run by the community members) that generates income. The income thus generated is used to run and maintain the center. That way the community does not have to bear the burden of looking after a center all the time. The services and facilities at the center are provided free of cost. And not just that - we frequently conduct livelihood and skills training to the community. This way we try to empower people with skills. Skilled people have higher chances of succeeding in life.

Currently, we have three centers - one in Ura, Bumthang, another in Rongthong, Kanglung and the third one in Punakha. You can check out more about them here. http://www.readglobal.org and our Facebook Page - www.facebook.com/READBhutan. This year we are coming up with two more centers - one at Chuzagang, Gelephu and our fifth center at Changjiji, Thimphu. While all centers are equally important to us, we are attaching even more importance on Changjiji Library and Resource Center (which we call the READ model Center). It is done in partnership with the National Housing Development Corporation Ltd. The center will have a library, ICT section, Women and Children's section, an AV section, etc. Added to these facilities, we will also have children's park there. So, everyone is really excited. This library and resource center will be very useful and beneficial not only to Changjiji residents, but directly or indirectly add values to the lives of more than100,000 people who call Thimphu their home.

I joined READ Bhutan inspired by its vision to empower communities - something that I always like to do. Being a student of social science, I know what it means to support a community and bring about changes, however small, in that community. Joining READ also means having to embrace Thimphu - the capital city of Bhutan. This is the place where most of my friends and relatives make living and nurture their families. This is where our government is. This is where big organizations have their headquarters. And being here is like being in the center of everything - sorry PaSsu - this is unfortunately how it is!

But it was also painful leaving Phuentsholing, which became my second home for a little more than three years. And leaving BOB - the organization I worked for - was altogether a big decision I undertook and I was ready to face any consequence of that rash decision. A few of my friends think it was foolish decision, but I didn't mind being a "fool" this time. And not to forget - I would always remain grateful to Bank of Bhutan and my wonderful former colleagues - whose help I would need at every stage of my life.

Due to BOB, I now have developed a strong PR and built a strong network of friends and supporters. To my former colleagues- thank you for being good people that you all are and keeping cool and bearing with me "unbearably" for the last 1,185 days which I had the honor to spend with you all. And this is to officially to thank everyone in Bank of Bhutan - in all its 27 branches, Head Office and extension centers, around the country. Keep up with the good work (don't forget - if you keep suspending all loans, you will soon run into heavy losses, I am sure you very well know about that and it is time to disperse loans). Thank you! After all someone has rightly pointed out, it is not because of an organization that people leave it. I can't agree more!

Utpal Academy - Bhutan's first All-girls High School

Academic Block Welcome to Bhutan’s first all-girls school. Isn’t that wonderful news to all our parents? Certainly, as a parent of a one-year old daughter I am excited about the coming of a school exclusively dedicated to the needs of girls. Our girls need special treatment, which we can for sure entrust the responsibility to Utal Academy, Paro. Dinning Hall I really like the name – Utpal – in Buddhist world, Utpal is another name for lotus flower, which is believed to grow from mud and yet blossoms into a beautiful and majestic flower. It stands for purity and many deities are depicted holding flower Utpal, more prominently Jestusn Dolma, the Goddess Tara. Symbolically, it also stands for the transformation of our girls. What an apt name for the school! Hostel Room The Principal’s message posted on the academy’s website promises providing our young women an “opportunity to participate fully in a wide range of extracurricular activities to develop skills and qualities that

Community of Bhutanese Bloggers Conceived

And finally it happened. I must say that it was by far the most attended Bloggers Meet. In the past we had bloggers agree to attend and cancel at the very last minute. But on June 24, 2015 – almost 100% of bloggers, who confirmed came. I would like to thank everyone for keeping his/her words, especially those who had to come all the way from Wangdue or Paro. Thank you! 35 Bhutanese bloggers met in Thimphu. We were honored to have the presence of senior bloggers like Aue Yeshi Dorji and Dasho Sangay Khandu. The meeting assumed more significance because of their presence. Equally, we were happy to have many young bloggers in whom we see so much enthusiasm and potential. On top of many things that transpired during the Meet, one of the most significant outcomes was the unanimous decision reached to form a formal group of bloggers, a platform aimed at encouraging and inspiring more bloggers around the country. The members decided that we will call it Community of Bhutanese Blogger

When FIVE is more than FIVE HUNDRED

Bhutanese parents complain that our children are exposed to so much foreign content and that they might soon forget our own root. Some parents also feel that their children respond well and better to stories that have Bhutanese characters and places in them. That's why the need for more and better Bhutanese books in the market. And we have only a handful of people who are committed to making this happen although the financial return is almost none. Bhutan can boast of not many writers. Here writing or publishing aspect of writing is an expensive hobby. In the first place, it is difficult to convince people to publish their writings and many leave it before they are halfway. Publishing is a complicated process. But here it is even more complicated since our publishers are not publishers in the real sense of the term. They would only 'publish' (print) school textbooks and in that they are only being wise - averting risks to their businesses. Recently, the whole

Nawang P Phuntsho

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