2025 and beyond: LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT aiming to bring HOPE and HAPPINESS to thousands of children in BHUTAN
Bhutan − the ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’ surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Himalayas. A country where happiness is enshrined in its constitution through its Gross National Happiness – one of the official benchmarks for progress in Bhutan. And one of only three carbon-negative countries in the world.
Happiness should therefore be omnipresent. But it is not quite like that. The small South Asian country between China and India is currently facing major challenges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment among young Bhutanese workers almost doubled. To become more economically autonomous and to preserve its own cultural identity, Bhutan urgently needs more training opportunities for young workers. In the hard-to-reach areas of Eastern and Central Bhutan in particular, there is a major lack of vocational training programmes. Young people have little chance of learning a skilled profession. In the rural district of Bumthang, there are more than 2,000 school dropouts per year − most of them girls, who have hardly any prospects of finding a job. There is no training centre for them in the entire region.
To address this issue, the PATRIZIA Vocational Training Centre in Bumthang will play a crucial role in providing quality education, care and accommodation for children and young people. This initiative seeks to empower them to pursue the professions of their choice and shape their lives. The centre aims to provide a platform for these young individuals to develop the skills necessary for a sustainable future.
Royal patronage of the project
Under the royal patronage of Her Majesty Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck – the Queen Mother of Bhutan, the Gyalyum Charitable Trust (the umbrella organisation representing Her Majesty’s charities) along with the implementing partner RENEW (Respect, Educate, Nurture and Empower Women - an organisation committed to the empowerment of women and children in Bhutan), have partnered exclusively with the PATRIZIA Foundation as their project partner.
Additionally, the Bhutanese government in its 13th Five Year Plan has prioritised the creation of productive and gainful employment. Close collaboration through the local partners with relevant ministries ensures government approval and allows training programs to be tailored to the country's current needs.
Sustainable education for the youth of Bhutan
The sustainable education programme in Bhutan aims to benefit 1,000 children and young people annually. The programme targets 13- to 15-year-olds with vocational guidance and preparatory courses in holiday camps to help them choose and qualify for training programmes. It also provides training or vocational courses for 16- to 24 -year-olds, including school dropouts, who previously had no access to further education.
The programme will accommodate and care for pupils from distant regions, including up to 20 social orphans from difficult family backgrounds. The vocational training centre offers primary training in tailoring, weaving, felting, food processing, floriculture, crafts and product design. It also provides supplementary training in entrepreneurship, information and communication technology, and environmental education. Courses that focus on preserving cultural heritage, such as Bhutanese handicrafts and herbalism, are also included.
The construction project involves building several structures with a total floor space of around 4,000 square metres on a site comprising nearly two hectares. The facilities will include training rooms, classrooms, multi-purpose rooms, dormitories and an administration building. The project also prioritises ecological construction methods and sustainable energy supply.