CNV recognizes scouting contribution to GNH in Bhutan

The CNV mission to Bhutan was held at the Centenary Youth Village in Thimphu on 28 April led by the Vice Chairman of the Regional Scout Committee Dr Mukhyuddin Sarwani with a five-member team from the Asia-Pacific Region.

Bhutan Scouts Association (BSA) Chief commissioner Chencho Dorji led his team including Karma Tenzin, Norbu Dhendup, Pema Wangchuk, Kinley Dorji, Rinchen Tshering; Dorji Wangmom; Training Committee member, Jigme Choden; Programme Committee member, Damcho; Chhoki Wangmo, Office Secretary.

The CNV team believes that Scouting in Bhutan is playing a major role in contributing to the country’s sole developmental philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH). Any further development of scouting in the country is aimed at enhancing the country’s goal of over all education for its citizens especially the young people thus contributing to GNH.

Among many other developments in BSA during its less than two decades history are the creation of a comprehensive life skills manual and training for leaders, and the development of a beautiful camp site now under construction. The country can also boast of a large number of trained leader trainers, which is much need in training additional unit leaders for the expansion of Scouting.

The committee also noted the introduction of community-based Scouting units led by a strong team of volunteers. They need to train more than 400 Scout leaders to volunteer for their respective communities.

At the meeting, the Chief Commissioner said that the discussions were useful and the suggestions were positive, useful and constructive.

The CNV team had a courtesy call on the President of the Bhutan Scout Council and Minister of Education, Thakur Singh Powdyel who reiterated that Scouting values are useful and most needed for the country and the recent First SAARC

Scout Camp held in Bhutan was a vivid example of such contribution. He further stressed that GNH and Scouting together will make a difference for Bhutanese people.

BSA was admitted as WOSM member in 1999 with over 19,000 members making it one of the NSOs with the highest scout population density.