Paro Community Mapping Underway

A six-day Training of Trainers (ToT) on Community Mapping for “Community Building,” in Paro began from July 6.

‘Building Community’ is a regional initiative that BCMD with the Paro Municipality (thromde) has undertaken to train 16 teachers and Civil Society Organisation (CSO) members, government officials, locals, and residents of the town. The project is designed to foster more democratic processes in town development through encouraging citizen action.

These trainers will follow-up step-down training with youth in their schools, facilitate youth dialogue with the town committee. The trainers will also help guide locals in local actions for community building.

The training began with participants reflecting on critical local issues, their town is facing. On the second day, Eminent Member, Dasho Tashi Wangmo and Member of Parliament, Dasho Kezang Wangmo joined the training to share their thoughts about the community building.

Speaking at the workshop, Dashos talked about the importance and the role of citizenry participation in building community. They shared with the participants that community participation is essential towards a realisation of Gross National Happiness and in promoting an inclusive society.

But both Dasho Tashi Wangmo and Dasho Kezang Wangmo spoke in unison of the challenges in getting people participate in the community building. They said that it is difficult to get people participate in community building despite having policies and plans in place at the Local Government.

They pointed out lack of people’s understanding on how to engage in local issues as one of the reasons for poor participation in community building. Towards the end of their talk, the Members of Parliament reiterated for dzongkhags to work towards aligning its local plans to national goal.