BCMD Monthly e-News
Students Learn Community Mapping
Students of Paro College of Education plan their local action
The momentum on mapping communities in Paro is picking up with schools and colleges proposing local action to address community issues.
Students of Shaba Higher Secondary School (SHSS) can now tackle small local issues in their community following training on community mapping from August 5-10.
After several teachers underwent the same training at Paro on July 21, students of SHSS were trained on community mapping. During the five-day training, students were taught to identify pertinent local issues in their communities.
The school identified conservation of spring water source as an issue they wanted to tackle. They prepared and presented a local action plan to preserve the spring water source to ensure safe and clean drinking water. Students are looking forward to present their plan in September to the Paro town committee formed as part of a project — Building Community.
Over at the Paro College of Education, 27 teacher trainees have identified the need to help the community in Bondey to build proper public toilets. The workshop on community mapping to enable young teacher trainees to stir positive change in communities, was held from August 13-14.
This is just the beginning as they are expected to carry on the idea of community mapping to communities they live in and will work with in the future. Community mapping is a vital step to create active citizen to cater to meaningful service without actually relying on government resources.
And the overall Building Community project is a pilot to test more democratic approaches to decision-making in Paro town.
Community mapping is a vital step to create active citizen to cater to meaningful service without actually relying on government resources. And the overall Building Community project is a pilot to test more democratic approaches to decision-making in Paro town. The project is supported by International Ideas. The project is supported by IDEA International.PSAs on Democratic Values
BCMD with IDEA International is in the process of making eight Public Service Announcements (PSAs) on democratic values.
Targeting the Bhutanese citizens, mostly youth and elderly, eight values have been identified for production. The eight values include – equity, freedom of speech, mutual respect, civic engagement, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and gender equality.
The objectives of the PSAs are to raise awareness of civic responsibility and to nurture good civic attitudes in democracy. The idea is also to educate and raise civic consciousness to promote active citizenship.
Once, complete, all the eight PSAs will be screened on Bhutan Broadcasting Service as public education on democracy and its values.
If any of you have ideas on how we can interpret the concepts of equity and mutual respect on TV, send us an email.
The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) fraternity in Bhutan is planning a CSO event in October to celebrate “Civil Society”.
The event to “Celebrate Civil Society” includes a photography competition and exhibition to shine a light on citizens’ contribution in civic engagement. BCMD is proud to be a part of the CSO fraternity with a growing consciousness about being responsible citizens. The theme is titled” “Our Genkhu” or Our responsibility. Check out our website bcmd.bt and facebook for more information. An active task group comprising various CSOs are taking the lead in organising the event.
We encourage all our youth, media club, and media lab members to point your camera at an inspiring individual or organisation and showcase what it means to be a responsible citizen.
Have fun listening to “Ngachyi Gyenkhu” and do keep your #OurGyenkhu photos with a catchy caption (reflecting what it means to be a responsible citizen) ready to be uploaded on your Facebook or Instagram account from September.
The event is supported through a project to strengthen networking of CSOs supported by Helvetas Intercooperation.
Public Speaking Club at Media Lab
BCMD has started providing its media lab space to a public speaking club which was formed recently by a group of aspiring young individuals.
The club led by an adjunct faculty member of Royal Thimphu College, Rabsel Dorji and a young rapper and a songwriter, Kezang Dorji held its first meeting on August 19. In its two sessions, participants shared their thoughts and ideas of how to take the club forward. Over 20 young people from different walks of life including civil servants, constitutional bodies, Civil Society Organisation employees, youths, and private individuals have registered with the club.
The club is planning to frame its constitution, objectives, roles and expected outcome for a clearer future direction.
In its maiden step towards improving public speaking, the participants will deliver a one-minute speech in its next round of meeting on September 2. Each participant will present a speech on a topic of his or her own choice. All the speeches will also be recorded to enable the participants to listen again to their speeches to learn to speak better. BCMD is happy to support and work with youth groups at the media lab.
YI Members Propose to Tackle Common Social Challenges
Youths from five schools and colleges from across the country have proposed five proposals to tackle common social ills in their schools and communities.
The five proposals, which are being reviewed by the Unicef Bhutan and BCMD, includes – educating women on health and hygiene, a counseling service for students, education on social media, advocacy on safe sex, and domestic violence against women.
Motithang Higher Secondary School (MHSS) has proposed the pilot counseling scheme. “We want to help a number of our friends who are addicted to substances but are unable to approach to the school counselor for help,” a student from Motithang, Tenzin Yoezer said.
Students from Sherubtse College proposed to reduce incidents of violence against women. With reports of increasing number of STIs among student, Jigme Namgyal Engineering College in Dewathang is going to work towards reinforcing advocacy on safe sex.
Paro College of Education has proposed to educate women on their health and hygiene. The other proposal from the college is to educate youth on social media. BCMD looks forward to the implementation of these projects soon.