Location of Project : Trongsa, Punakha and Thimphu, Bhutan
Project Start Date : 2009/2010
Project Completion Date : 2010
Name of Implementing Agency : VAST (Voluntary Artists Studio, Thimphu)
Number of Beneficiaries : 12 to 15 senior citizen from Kabjisa villages of Punakha and 5 out of school youth from Thimphu
Name, Title and Organization of Person Responsible for Overall Management of Project : Kama Wangdi, Founder and Project Director
Name, Title and Organization of Focal Person for day-to-day Project Management (Designated ) : Sangay Dorji (Project coordinator),Dorji Wangchuk (VAST General Secretary), Tenzin Norbu (Project Manager)
Co Funding Requested (in USD):USD 1630/-
Background Information/ Statement of the Problem:
There are many young/old people issues emerging as Bhutan goes through rapid changes. Some of these issues are directly related to the generation gap and not having activities that can usefully engage the youth in understanding the older people.
VAST Bhutan is an informal Art Club based in Thimphu, managed by a group of young and old artists. Its explicit mission is to guide and assist youth to explore their full potential through exposure and participation in art and social issues. At the same time provide an alternative positive use of free time in a productive and socially active ways.
As part of its regular activities, VAST organizes special Art Camps/workshops during summer and winter breaks for its members and other youth from the area where the camp/workshop is held. The overall aims of these endeavors are to provide opportunities to young school children to participate and develop their talents through artistic/socially useful productive activities during their free time.
The proposed “Make a Wish” project is the pilot project designed to link young people to older people from rural areas and provide a platform to regenerate the lost connection between urban youth and rural old people by young serving the old which is an age old Bhutanese tradition slowly dying out. This pilot project will tentatively commence from the 1 September to 8 September 2009 in Bumthang, Punakha and Trongsa for 12 to 15 senior citizen (60 plus) from Kabji villages. During our visit to this region a year ago, these people expressed the wish to visit important religious sites in central Bhutan. These old people will be guided and assisted by 5 young volunteers from urban Thimphu to visit temples and other cultural heritage in the region. Most of these rural participants have not crossed the boundary of their district.
Proposal: Briefly describe the project that will be implemented to address the problem/s stated above
The young participants will be fully engaged for 8 days in guiding and assisting the senior citizens. They will be actively engaged in social and cultural activities and there will also be constant interaction between rural people and urban youth with a common goal which is to narrow the gap between generation in a much creative, sensitive and constructive/meaningful manner.
Project Objectives: What objectives will be met by this project?
Provide an opportunity for urban youth to participate, care and develop better understanding of the wealth and wisdom of the older generation.
Provide an immediate alternative to the use of free time in a productive way, which otherwise is becoming increasingly misused by the youth.
Provide an opportunity for the rural poor senior citizens who have not been out side of their village at all – to visit the religious and cultural heritage sites of western region of Bhutan and also provide a wider perspective of the development and changes happening in the country.
Link the two understandings (old and young) to its relationship with natural/rural environment, cultural heritage and values.
Set up connection of old and young people and encourage volunteerism in pursuing some aspects of fulfilling gross national happiness.
Program Activities with time frames:
Sl. No
Activity
Date 2009
Person Responsible
1.
Advance identifying team visit to 3 villages in Kabjisa, Punakha
20/23 August
Kama Wangdi
2.
Young Volunteers to pick up senior participants from the road head and travel to Phobjikha and Visit Gangtey Goenpa, Camp at Phojikha
1 September
Kama Wangdi/SangayDorji
3.
Audience with Khenpo Tenzin Thinley, Gangtey Sherda and travel to Trongsa on the way visit chendyeji and Tsangka Lhagang, Camp at Trongsa View point
2 September
Dorji Wangchuk/Tenzin
4.
Visit Trongsa Dzong,Ta dzong by following the ancient highway from the view point and travel to Chumey, Bumthang, Camp at Gayza
3 September
Kama Wangdi and Pema Tshering
5.
Visit the Tharpaling Monastery and other cultural sites in Chumey and travel to Chamkhar, Bumthang, Halt at Kaila Guest House
4 September
Dorji/Kama/ Pema
6.
Halt at Chamkhar and visit all religious/ cultural sites, Dzong, Jamphel/Kurji/tamshe Lhagangs
5 September
Dorji/Tenzin/Sangay
7.
Visit religious/cultural/development sites in Tang, Bumthang and camp on the way to Trongsa
6 September
Sangay Dorji and Dorji Wangchuck
8.
Travel to Chendayji campsite
7 September
Kama/Tenzin Norbu
9.
Travel to Wangdi,Visit Dzong and Bhajo Agri Centre and Drop Senior participants on the road head to their villages
8 September
Sangay Dorji/Pema
10.
Return back to Thimphu for the young participants
9 September
Tenzin Norbu
Budget Breakdown during the actual program:
Sl.No
Description of Expense
Total Budget Required(NU)
1.
Hiring of 1 coaster bus @ Nu. 26/per km (265X2=530 km)
Halt charge for 2days @Nu.2600/per day
13,780
5,200
2.
Breakfast for 21PAX @ Nu. 75 per day x 8 days
15,918
3.
Lunch for 21PAX @ Nu. 100 per day x 9 days
18,900
4.
Tea for 21PAX @ Nu. 30 per day x 9 days
5,670
5.
Dinner for 21PAX @ Nu. 100 per day x 9days
18,900
6.
Hotel for 21PAX 11 rooms@ Nu. 900/- X 2 nights
19,800
7.
Camping gears 13 tents @ Nu.450/tents X 5 nights
29,250
8.
Unforeseen expenses
25,000
Total
1,52,418
Total Budget needed:
Sl.No
Description of Expense
Total Budget Required(NU)
1.
Actual program
1,52,418
2.
Identifying team / Project initiation
7,000
Grand Total in Nu
159,418
Grand Total in USD@48.90 (1,59,418/48.90)
3260
Those interested to contribute can remit money as follows:
BENEFICIARY BANK: Bhutan National Bank, Post Box 439, Thimphu, Bhutan
Swift code: BNBTBTBT
Bank Account: 734061
Bank Address: American Express Bank Ltd, 300 Boulevard, East Weehawken NJ 07087-6702
Swift code: AEIBUS33
ABA No: 124071889
Ultimate Beneficary: Account No. 5000035001225 of VAST Bhutan maintained with BNB, Thimphu, Bhutan
Donate ONLINE>> Alternatively, you can donate online through the Bhutan Foundation. Be sure to specify VAST (Voluntary Artist Studio) as the recipient of your donation.
Make A Wish
PROJECT PROPOSAL – MAKE A WISH
PROJECT SUMMARY
Background Information/ Statement of the Problem:
There are many young/old people issues emerging as Bhutan goes through rapid changes. Some of these issues are directly related to the generation gap and not having activities that can usefully engage the youth in understanding the older people.
VAST Bhutan is an informal Art Club based in Thimphu, managed by a group of young and old artists. Its explicit mission is to guide and assist youth to explore their full potential through exposure and participation in art and social issues. At the same time provide an alternative positive use of free time in a productive and socially active ways.
As part of its regular activities, VAST organizes special Art Camps/workshops during summer and winter breaks for its members and other youth from the area where the camp/workshop is held. The overall aims of these endeavors are to provide opportunities to young school children to participate and develop their talents through artistic/socially useful productive activities during their free time.
The proposed “Make a Wish” project is the pilot project designed to link young people to older people from rural areas and provide a platform to regenerate the lost connection between urban youth and rural old people by young serving the old which is an age old Bhutanese tradition slowly dying out. This pilot project will tentatively commence from the 1 September to 8 September 2009 in Bumthang, Punakha and Trongsa for 12 to 15 senior citizen (60 plus) from Kabji villages. During our visit to this region a year ago, these people expressed the wish to visit important religious sites in central Bhutan. These old people will be guided and assisted by 5 young volunteers from urban Thimphu to visit temples and other cultural heritage in the region. Most of these rural participants have not crossed the boundary of their district.
Proposal: Briefly describe the project that will be implemented to address the problem/s stated above
The young participants will be fully engaged for 8 days in guiding and assisting the senior citizens. They will be actively engaged in social and cultural activities and there will also be constant interaction between rural people and urban youth with a common goal which is to narrow the gap between generation in a much creative, sensitive and constructive/meaningful manner.
Project Objectives: What objectives will be met by this project?
Program Activities with time frames:
Budget Breakdown during the actual program:
Halt charge for 2days @Nu.2600/per day
5,200
Total Budget needed:
Those interested to contribute can remit money as follows:
Donate ONLINE >> Alternatively, you can donate online through the Bhutan Foundation. Be sure to specify VAST (Voluntary Artist Studio) as the recipient of your donation.