Timeline
2023
The Tenth Cohort
In the winter and summer camps of 2023 YI, BCMD brought together diverse groups, consulting 60 children aged 8-19, including those in urban and rural schools, monastic institutions, conflict with the law, and shelter homes. This child-centric approach aims to create an alternative report, fostering a network of empowered defenders..Read More
2022
The Ninth Cohort
The 2022 Youth Initiative brought together youth from diverse backgrounds to discuss Bhutan’s current socio-economic issues, where the looming threat of climate change and the paradox of balancing environmental conservation with economic development were discussed. Together the youth identified problems and brainstormed on the different opportunities to help resolve these..Read More
2021
The Eighth Cohort
The #FutureIsNow advocacy campaign serves as a precursor to the launch of the revised National Youth Policy that is currently undergoing policy screening tests. The members engaged meaningfully with key decision-makers and service providers to make services more inclusive, accessible and youth-friendly, while also lobbying for more sustained participation of..Read More
2020
The Seventh Cohort
If one were to look for the fruits of YI, 2020 has been THE year to materialize and embody the vision of ‘youth inclusion within policy-making’; This year, YI got invited to partner with the Department of Youth & Sports (DYS, MoE) and UNICEF, not only to review the National Youth..Read More
2019
The Sixth Cohort
Switching gears in its direction, this year’s YI not only sought to revive the Steering Committee but also task them with mentorship responsibility to guide the cohort with their journey in socio-political awakening. Another development has been the formalization of their policy research and review into ‘Position papers‘. The five..Read More
2018
The Fifth Cohort
Having now trained over 100 youths since 2014, YI continues with 24 members from high schools, colleges, teacher trainees, graduates and LGBT youth; It is a diverse lot but their common aspirations and interest to bring about positive change in their respective communities gather them in the same space. Being..Read More
2017
The Fourth Cohort
In it’s fourth year, YI conducted training session on Active listening/thinking, Critical thinking, Social Media Conversation, Media & Democracy Literacy, Design thinking, Research training, Public speaking & expression and Policy-making. The 40 YI members were divided into five groups and took up the following issue topics: Public health (Samtse), Cultivating..Read More
2016
The Third Cohort
Realizing that with proper guidance and training, Bhutanese youths are capable of taking up roles in the development process of our country, the third cohort of YI grew in its scope, comprising of members not only from Thimphu but also from Paro, Samtse and Sarpang. They took up establishment of..Read More
2014
The First Cohort
Building on the successes of the pilot project, the first-ever cohort of YI (comprising of 28 youth from high schools, colleges and those working) is trained on Deliberation, Dialogue, Media literacy, Policymaking and Representation. At the conclusion of the week-long winter camp, three committees are formed to address identified issues:..Read More
2013
Establishment of YI
The Youth Initiative for debate, deliberation and dialogue (YI) as a Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy (BCMD) project, was launched in 2013 by Phub Dorji and Manny Fassihi under the guidance of BCMD, to address the lack of Youth representation in national policymaking. In its initial stages, the objective..Read More