Youth Participation & Child Protection

The Youth Participation & Child Protection program enhances youth participation by providing youth with opportunities and platforms to build leadership skills and self-esteem through capacity building, trainings and participation in community development projects. Under this program, we also provide our stakeholders with the necessary knowledge and capacity to uphold child rights and protection. The program caters to the needs of the children and youth under difficult circumstances by providing referral services, creating awareness, and advocating on important issues concerning children and youth.

Objectives of the Program:
  • To engage and empower young people through leadership, life skills, livelihood opportunities, trainings, advocacy, and community service through volunteerism. 
  • To promote child rights and protection through referral, advocacy, and funding support.
  • To become a point-of-reference for youth issues and influence youth policies.

Young Volunteers in Action (Y-VIA)

Y-VIAs conducting an outreach project in the Kala Bazaar slum community in Thimphu

Y-VIAs conducting an outreach project in the Kala Bazaar slum community in Thimphu

Young Volunteers In Action (Y-VIA) is an active network of young people empowered and involved in community service under the Bhutan Youth Development Fund. First initiated in 2003 with about 30 members, the Y-VIA network has today grown to over 5,000 members in all 20 districts of the country – making it the largest youth network in Bhutan. 
The Y-VIA strive to empower communities and strengthen the network of young people in Bhutan dedicated towards achieving GNH through volunteerism and leadership. Y-VIAs also provide youth perspectives in youth development activities and community-based programs. Y-VIAs serve communities through (1) volunteerism and service, (2) peer help, (3) outreach and advocacy, (4) fundraising, (5) action research and community mapping, (6) networking, (7) capacity building, and (8) shaping youth policy. Target groups of the Y-VIA include in-school youth, out-of-school youth, unemployed youth, youth in difficult circumstances, drug-dependent youth, youth in conflict with the law, and differently-abled youth. 

The Y-VIA program focuses on the following areas:

  • Civic engagement
  • Youth leadership
  • Child rights and protection
  • Care & support for all sentient beings
  • Pillars of GNH
    • Equitable socio-economic development
    • Promotion of culture
    • Preservation of natural environment
    • Good governance
To become a Y-VIA, please contact the focal person for your Dzongkhag:
 
YDF Y-VIA Dzongkhag/Thromde Coordinator & focal person Details, 2022
Sl# Name Dzongkhag School Designation Responsibility Email ID Contact Number Year of joining Y-VIA network
Bumthang
1 Mr. Chimmi Dhendup Bumthang Ura CS Vice Principal, Ura Central School Dzongkhag Coordinator chhimidhendup@education.gov.bt 17726146 2007
2 Lhabab Dorji Bumthang Jakar HSS Teacher, Focal person lhababdorji@education.gov.bt 17690608  
3 Tshen Tashi Bumthang Tang CS Teacher Focal person tshentashi@education.gov.bt 17579336/77842799  
Chhukha
1 Mr. Rinzin Wangchuk Chhukha Darla MSS Teacher Dzongkhag Coordinator rinzinwangchuk2017@education.gov.bt 77457295 2020
2 Deki Wangmo Chhukha Chumidthang MSS Teacher Focal person dekila23@education.gov.bt 17440576  
Dagana
1 Mr. Sonam Gyeltshen Dagana Drugjeygang CS Vice Principal, Drugjeygang CS Dzongkhag Coordinator somgyels@gmail.com 17546719 2016
2 Kencho Nima Dagana Drukjegang Teacher Focal person kennims98@gmail.com 17586952  
3 Tshering Dema Dagana Daga Central School Teacher Focal person tsheringdema2017@gov.bt 17476173  
Gasa
1 Mr. Gyem Tshering Gasa Bjishong CS Teacher, Gasa Dzongkhag Coordinator gyemtshering2@gmail.com 16923717 2016
Haa
1 Mr. Sangay Tenzin Haa Chundu Armed Forces Public School Teacher, Dzongkhag Coordinator sangaystzn@education.gov.bt 17393394 2018
2 Tenzin Jamtsho Haa Chundu Armed Forces Public School Teacher Focal person tenzinjamtsho@education.gov.bt 17485260  
Lhuntse
1 Mr. Jigme Namgyel Lhuentse Tangmachu CS Teacher, Tangmachu CS Dzongkhag Coordinator jigme_namgyel2009@education.gov.bt 17928140 2018
2 Druptho Zangmo Lhunetse Autsho CS Teacher Focal person zangmodz2020@education.gov.bt 17284100  
3 Phub Dorji Lhentse Autsho CS Teacher Focal person dphub111@gmail.com 17291272  
Mongar
1 Mr. Yeshi Tshewang Mongar Mongar CS Mongar HSS Dzongkhag Coordinator tshempa@gmail.com 17602051 2020
2 Tsheltrim Tenzin Mongar Yadi CS Teacher Focal person tsheltrimtenzin@education.gov.bt 17919145  
3 Sanga Phuntsho Mongar Nagor MSS Counsellor Focal person sangaphuntsho@education.gov.bt 17881095  
Paro
1 Mr. Yeshey Dorji Paro Khangkhu MSS Khangkhu MSS Dzongkhag Coordinator yeshee85@education.gov.bt 17826162 2015
2 Dawa Zam Paro Drugyel HSS Teacher Focal person dawadesel2013@gmail.com 17748040  
3 Tandin Wangchuk Paro Wanaka CS Teacher Focal person tandin_wangchuk@education.gov.bt 17626802  
4 Lam Tashi Paro Shaba HSS Teacher Focal person lamtashi@education.gov.bt 17654966  
Pemagatshel
1 Mr. Thubten G Dorji Pemagatshel   Adm. Officer, SMCL Pemagatshel Dzongkhag Coordinator admin.gypsum@smcl.bt 17636446 2007
2 Pema Choizang Pemagatshel Tsebar LSS Teacher Focal person pchoizang@gmail.com 17273625  
3 Namgay Lhendup Pemagatshel Yurung CS Teacher Focal person namgayl@education.gov.bt 17999362  
4 Sonam Wangchuk Pemagatshel Nganglam CS Teacher Focal person notwangchuk@education.gov.bt 17765192  
5 Yesel Zangpo Pemagatshel Pemagasthel MSS Teacher Focal person yesel@education.gov.bt 17766055  
Punakha
1 Leki Wangda Punakha Khuruthang MSS Teacher Dzongkhag Coordinator lekiwangda@education.gov.bt 17826160  
2 Pema Wangchen Dendup Punakha Dashidhing CS Teacher Focal person pemawangdup@education.gov.bt 17883226 2021
3 Sangjeev Pradhan Punakha Ugyen Academy Teacher Focal person sanjeevpradhan80@gmail.com 17639856 2021
Samdrupjongkhar
1 Mr. Ngawang Chophel Samdrupjongkhar Sjongkhar MSS Teacher Dzongkhag Coordinator ngawangchophel77@gmail.com 17261538 2022
2 Mr. Leki Chophel Samdrupjongkhar Minjiwong CS Teacher Focal person  lekichophelmcs@education.com 17321642  
Samtse
1 Mr. Buddha Kumar Rai Samtse Yoesletse MSS Teacher, Yoseltse MSS Dzongkhag Coordinator buddhakumar@education.gov.bt 17652055 2020
2 Yeshi Wangchuk Samtse Ugyentse PS Teacher Focal person ywangchuk777@education.gov.bt 17369020  
3 Kezang Choden Samtse Peljorling HSS Teacher, Focal person kezachoden@education.gov.bt 17720827  
4 Laxuman Bista Samtse Gomtu HSS Teacher Focal person laxumanbista@education.gov.bt 17436388  
5 Dorji Wangchuk Samtse Norbugang PS Teacher Focal person wangchukdorji17@education.gov.bt 77442058  
6 Jigme Jamtsho Samtse Bukkey PS Officiating Principal Focal person jamtshojee22@gmail.com 77467222  
7 Sangay Penjor Samtse Tendruk CS Teacher Focal person sanpen@education.gov.bt 17909445  
8 Tshering Samtse Samtse HSS Teacher Focal person tshering.tshering@education.gov.bt 17942340  
9 Pema Sherpa Samtse Dorokha LSS Principal Focal person sherpaco@education.gov.bt 17651856  
Sarpang
1 Ms. Tshering Lham Sarpang Dekiling MSS Vice Principal, Dekiling MSS Dzongkhag Coordinator tsheringlham2007@education.gov.bt 17860391 2009
2 Ms. Tshering Dema Sarpang Norbuling CS Teacher Focal person tshering9@education.gov.bt 77269747  
3 Mr. Karma Choida Sarpang Chokorling LSS Vice Principal Focal person karmachoida@yahoo.com 17697230  
Thimphu
1 Ms. Joytshna Gurung Thimphu Yangchenphug HSS Teacher, YHSS Thromde Coordinator joygurung@yahoo.com 17645786 2010
2 Tshering Wangdi Thimphu RTC Student Student Focal person twangdi033@gmailcom 17877180  
3 Galay Dorji Thimphu JDWNRH Staff JDWNRH Staff Focal person gaydorji@gmail.com 17891709  
4 Bir. Bdr.Battarai Thimphu Dr. Tobgyel Teacher Focal person bbbattarai@education.gov.bt 17637358 2021
5 Dorji Sonam Thimphu Dechencholing HSS Teacher Focal person dorjisonaldo@gmail.com 17439297  
6 Manju Dhakal Thimphu Druk School Teacher Focal person manjuda2017@gmail.com 17859866  
Trashigang
1 Mr. Dorji Phuntsho Trashigang Jampeling HSS Teacher, Jampeling HSS Dzongkhag Coordinator dorphuntshok508@gmail.com 17586314 2020
2 Ngajay Tshering Trashigang Thrimshing CS Teacher Focal person ngajaytee@gmail.com 17822033  
3 Ngawang Drukdra Trashigang Jigmesherubling HSS Principal Focal person ngawangdrukdajscs@education.gov.bt 17668495 2021
Trashiyangtse
1 Mr. Kuenzang Jurmi Trashiyangtse Bayling CS Teacher, Bayling CS Dzongkhag Coordinator kuenzang999@education.gov.bt 17676196 2019
Trongsa
1 Ms. Jigme Phuntsho Trongsa Tshangkha CS Counsellor, Tshangkha CS Dzongkhag Coordinator jigme_phuntsho@education.gov.bt 17659330 2019
2 Cheki Wangmo Trongsa CLCL Student Focal person chekiwangmo49@gmail.com 17339090  
Tsirang
1 Mr. Nima Wangdi Tsirang Damphu MSS Teacher, Damphu MSS Dzongkhag Coordinator wangdi2017nima@education.gov.bt 17822928 2019
2 Sonam Gyeltshen Tsirang Mendrelgang Teacher Focal person Somdrakpa@gmail.com 17683241  
3 Tshegay Tsirang Tsirangtoe CS Teacher Focal person tshegay687@education.gov.bt 17435950  
Wangduephodrang
1 Mr. Pema Wangchuk Wangduephodrang Tencholing PS Teacher, Tencholing PS Dzongkhag Coordinator pwangchu2014@gmail.com 17918552 2016
2 Kinzang Wangdi Wangdue Phodrang Samtengang HSS Teacher Focal person kinwangdi2014@gmail.com 17694649  
3 Ganga Ram Sharma Wangduephodrang Samtengang HSS Principal Focal person gangaram.gurung@education.gov.bt 17699362 2021
4 Rinzin Wangchuk Wangduephodrang Gaselo HSS Principal Focal person rinwangchuk@education.gov.bt 77651459 2021
5 Shangkar Lal Dhahal Wangduephodrang Bajo HSS Principal Focal person shankarlaldahal@education.gov.bt 17672804 2021
6 Kuenga Tenzin Wangduephodrang Phobjikha MSS Principal Focal person kuengatenzin@education.gov.bt 16461204 2021
Zhemgang
1 Ms. Pema Yuden Zhemgang Youth Centre Youth Manager Dzongkhag Coordinator pemayuden0@gmail.com 17873902 2021
2 Sherab Gyeltshen Zhemgang Yebilabtsa MSS Teacher Focal person sherabgyeltshen96@education.gov.bt 77220411 2021
3 Sangay Wangmo Zhemgang Zhemgang HSS Teacher Focal person sangaywangmo00@eudcation.gov.bt 17314717

Curriculums and Trainings

The YDF has co-designed and trained using 4 flagship curriculums with leading international partners to empower youth as leaders, citizens, advocates, young professionals, and resilient human beings. 
  1. Child Protection and Participation Curriculum, in collaboration with UNICEF Bhutan and RENEW
  2. Ethical Leadership and Mind Training Curriculum, in collaboration with Ingenious Faces
  3. Passport to Success (PTS) Life Skills Curriculum, in collaboration with the International Youth Foundation
  4. Reaching In, Reaching Out: Resilience Building Manual for Young People, in collaboration with UNICEF Bhutan, Save the Children, Royal Bhutan Police, and the Ministry of Health
Since 2003, YDF has conducted training of trainers programs and direct training workshops for thousands of young people, youth workers, and relevant stakeholders using these flagship curriculums in order to enable young volunteers as citizen leaders, protect children from violence, increase employability through life skills, and develop emotional resilience skills for suicide prevention and mental health. 
For more information or to access these curriculums/trainings, please contact: Ms. Roma Pradhan, Program Coordinator (327483/329135/17726016 – romapradhan@bhutanyouth.org)

Child Protection

IMG_5263

Bhutan signed the United Nations Convention on Rights of Children on 4th June 1990 and it was ratified on 1st August 1990. Recognizing the importance of addressing the child protection through YDF’s work, the President, Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck and the Board of Directors endorsed the inclusion of Child Protection as a new core program under the YDF in 2011.

As a leading advocate of child rights in Bhutan’s civil society, the YDF seeks to prevent and respond to violence, exploitation and abuse of vulnerable children and youth through the provision of services.

The objectives of YDF’s Child Protection services are as follows:

  1. Provide advocacy and capacity building on child rights, child abuse prevention, and more for stakeholders and society at large.
  2. Refer vulnerable children and youth facing difficult circumstances to the relevant agencies and service providers.
  3. Reintegrate and empower children and youth in difficult circumstances (children in conflict with the law, victims of abuse, etc.).

The YDF continues to take concrete action steps to ensure that all children have equal opportunities to develop their potential and thrive despite the difficult challenges they face in their lives.

Advocacy, Knowledge Management, and Policy

In partnership with the SAARC’s South Asian Initiative to End Violence Against Women and Children (SAIEVAC) and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, the YDF has produced several child protection and child rights videos, presentations, forum theatre performances, and other resources for various stakeholders to promote the cause of social justice for children and shape social policies for child rights.

Moreover, YDF conducts capacity building, systematic collection, and management of information with regards to child protection and stakeholder coordination in Bhutan. In 2015, the YDF convened Bhutan’s National Action and Coordinating Group (NACG) against Violence against Women and Children in close collaboration with the National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC). YDF believes that the protection of children should not be a sole responsibility of a single agency but a shared community responsibility.

Children in Conflict with the Law

In 2013, the YDF started working with children in conflict with the law in collaboration with the Royal Bhutan Police (Youth Development and Rehabilitation Center) and Save the Children. A Tracer Study on Children in Conflict with the Law was conducted and recommendations on increasing childrens’ access to justice and reintegration were advocated for among key stakeholders in civil society and government.

Reintegration Fund: YDF also established an endowment fund to support the reintegration of children who came in conflict with the law after their release from the rehabilitation center through the provision of the following types of support:

  1. Provision of basic educational scholarships to those children in conflict with the law who want to continue their studies after their release in the local schools near their community and family.
  2. Provision of funding for vocational training to those who haven’t been to school and want to pursue a career using the identified vocational skill.

For more information, please contact: Ms. Roma Pradhan, Program Coordinator (327483/329135/17726016 – romapradhan@bhutanyouth.org)

Golden Youth Award Camp 

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Every year, one student from class 10 is awarded the “Golden Youth Award,” an educational scholarship to pursue further studies, after a series of local and national competitions that provide opportunities for youth to develop their potential. The final Golden Youth Award Camp is conducted in Thimphu where 80 students from the 20 dzongkhags come together to participate, rewarding and empowering gifted youth through holistic activities.

Areas of focus

Participants of the camp participate in the following activities:

  • Academic excellence
  • Literary
  • General Knowledge & IQ
  • Talent display
  • Games & sports
  • Social service

IMG_8535

The following is an excerpt from the speech made by the YDF President, Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck, at the closing ceremony of Golden Youth Award Camp 2015.

 “The Golden Youth Award was initiated in 2005 to mark the 50th birth anniversary of His Majesty the 4th King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who always put the children and youth of Bhutan at the forefront of all government policies.  10 years later, we dedicate this event in a humble way to say thank you to His Majesty our beloved King for his immeasurable love and concern for the youth of Bhutan.  Our Kings have placed great faith in you, our youth, so you must remember that you play an important role in developing the future of our country.

Click here to read the rest of Her Majesty’s speech.

While (in) g Vacation Winter Program

The While (in) g Vacation Program under the Bhutan Youth Development Fund has for the last 5 years offered educational activities that are fun, engaging, and empowering for youth.

The program is designed for youth & children to while (verb form means “to pass time leisurely”) away their vacation creatively and productively. In line with His Majesty’s launch of National Reading Year, the program also enhances participants’ interest in reading as well as their commitment to lifelong learning.

More than 200 youth between the ages of 7 and 24 attend the winter program on an annual basis. Topics include Junior Reading, Dance, and Arts and Crafts, Ethical Leadership & Learning to Live Together Module, Career Development, Film Making & Forum Theatre, and more.

Based on the current issues and needs of the young people and children, the While (in) g Vacation Program also offers training and information-sharing session on current issues pertaining youth.  Guest speakers from different sectors and other stakeholders are invited to present to the children and young people. The camp is run by Young Volunteers In Action, YDF staff members, and other volunteers.

Would you like to support Youth Participation & Child Protection programs in Bhutan?   ydf_donate