November eNews 2022
Nurturing Student Representatives Workbook
BCMD’s “Nurturing Student Representatives” workbook is successfully rolled out to Paro’s middle and high schools. The training is attended by two teacher representatives from nine schools. The resource will enable schools to lend greater clarity to the representative role of student leaders/coordinators and prepare them to be more democratic leaders now and in the future.
Participants working in groups to facilitate the different leadership values from the workbook
The participants demonstrated how they will use the workbook to implement democratic values and skills in the schools, and especially with their student leaders. A revelation was made; that student leaders are more than information disseminators and it is necessary to involve them in decision-making in school activities. One of the participants mentioned that “the workbook is the immediate resource that will help them ‘materialize’ the democratic culture in schools, and prepare students for the future”.
The workbook is part of Project Mikhung, supported by the Bhutan Foundation.
Growing a cohort of trainers for Participatory Planning
5-day Training of Trainers on GNH-Based Participatory Planning, Community Analysis and facilitation skills with 12 diverse participants from Trashigang and Monger concluded on 26th November 2022. The participants included LG leaders from Merak, Lumang and Kanglung, Entrepreneurs, Civil Servants, teachers and social workers. Participants of the training highlighted the importance of such tools in ensuring pragmatic developmental plans.
Check Kuensel’s article on the event: https://kuenselonline.com/gnh-based-planning-for-lgs/
The training is supported by The Asia Foundation.
Citizen Engagement Platform
4,652 people engaged on the Citizen Engagement Platform to share their views on “How should Bhutan balance economic development and environmental conservation?”. A total of 75,292 votes were cast on the 33 solutions proposed by the Youth Initiative members who attended the summer camp earlier this year. To expand discourse and engage more youth in the conversation, BCMD engaged 14 schools and 5 colleges across the country. The consolidated data will be analysed and the findings of the report will be shared with relevant decision-makers in the country.
We would like to thank UNDP Bhutan for supporting this project
Citizens influence community plans
Ensuing the public consultations held in the month of September at Merak and Lumang, the local government office bearers from two Gewogs of Trashigang presented their co-developed community development plans at the Gallery walk on 26th November, Trashigang.
Merak Khamae Tshogpa, Tenzin Dorji in his presentation of the co-created community development plan shared that the GNH-based participatory planning approach helped him see collaborations beyond the government agencies. He shared that through inclusive consultations lots of issues can be deliberated.
The presentation was attended by the participants of the Training of Trainers on GNH-Based Participatory Planning Community Analysis and facilitation skills.
This project is supported by the Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation.
The Druk Journal issue on Local Government is out now!
The Autumn issue of Druk Journal (Volume 8, Issue II) on Local Government is out! Local governance straddles a triangle of politicians, civil servants, and community leaders thereby presenting an intricate space of governance. The current issues delve into three broad areas – decentralised governance, community engagement and functions of the Local Government as experienced by citizens.
The issue is being distributed to schools, colleges and key institutions in Bhutan (parliament, media, CSOs, government agencies etc).
The Druk Journal Conversation on Local Government is happening on the 6th of December.
For a subscription, go to this link
The Asia Foundation supports this issue.
BCMD completes the 52nd Board Meeting on 10th November 2022.