1

In TouchTarayana Newsletter Vol 6 Issue 5- May 2014 Service from the heart

From the Editor

Happiness...“I believe compassion to be one of the few things we can practice that will bring immediate and

long-term happiness to ourselves” Dalai Lama

On the joyous occasion of the 86th Birth Anniversary of our beloved Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the President of the Tarayana Foundation, Her Majesty The Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck graced the inaugural session of the 11th Tarayana Annual Fair on 2 May 2014 at the Clock Tower Square, Thimphu.

Her Majesty expressed Her deep appreciations for the collective efforts and support rendered towards the Foundation in achieving its mission. We are proud to mention that since our involvement in the rural communities, our activities and projects have covered 102 villages in10 Dzongkhags. The greatest satisfaction we generate is when we see our communities becoming self-sufficient and independent after our interventions.

The Tarayana Annual Fair provides a platform for rural communities to showcase their products. It is also a moment for people from different parts of the country who have been beneficiaries and supporters of Tarayana to come together to share their experiences, challenges and to reflect.

We are happy to know that participants at the Fair have been increasing over the years. It shows that the Foundation has been able to bring onboard and engage growing number of people in its charity provision to the fellow citizens in dire need. Importantly, it shows the impacts of the Foundation’s initiatives on the lives of the common and ordinary.

Also, we were greatly honored to have Mr. William Leong, who is a generous individual donor of Tarayana Foundation, as guest at the function. One of the important highlights of the event was Her Majesty presenting Special Award of Appreciation to Mr William Leong for supporting charity initiatives of Tarayana Foundation.

Concluding on 4 May 2014, the Fair saw the largest number of participants and highest sale of community produce. Undoubtedly, the event was the most successful one among 11 Fairs held thus far.

Tarayana Annual Fair Tarayana Foundation celebrated its 11th Annual Fair from 2nd to 4th May under the theme “Rural Development in Action”. The President of the Foundation, Her Majesty The Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, graced the occasion. The event was also attended by our hon’ble board member Her Royal Highness Ashi Sonam Dechan Wangchuck along with Mr. William Leong, the recipient of Tarayana’s Annual Award for the year 2014.

Other guests included Hon’ble Prime

It is a tradition that our Hon’ble President grants audience to the community participants and spends time discussing issues related to the marketing of their crafts. Her Majesty also gives soelra to all and thanks each one of them for taking part in the Tarayana Annual Fair. Through such events, once in a year, our community members get an opportunity to express their sincere gratitude to Her Majesty for making their lives better and self-sufficient.

Mr. Wi l l i am Leong, i s the Managing Director of Leong Poh Kee Group of Companies, which is awell established Watch industry based in Singapore. Apart from running the business, Mr. Leong is also involved in Charity projects and holds leading positions in trade and charity organizations.

Minister of Bhutan, Ministers, Members of Parliament, Government officials, and Delegates from various Agencies.

According to the event coordinator, Mr Pema Gyalpo, this time the Fair represented the highest number of stalls with highest sales record compared to the past years. The Foundation showcased about thirty five stalls, including the food stall run by Bhutan National Legal Institute as a volunteer service., community representatives from different sites sold products that are produced by their groups. The games stalls, as usual were manned by the PGDPA trainees from the Royal Institute of Management (RIM). Other stalls included Jumble Sales, Silent Auction, Green Technology and the Buzip donation drive. Like every year, face painting was the most popular especially among the youth population. The event was also supported by Hotel Tashi Taj and Hotel Druk in sponsoring the three days lunch for the volunteers, and community participants. Other financial supporters include Druk Green Power Ltd., DHI, BNB and BDBL.

Besides, Tarayana organized series of discourses on “Rural Development in Action” represented by community members and the field staff. The forum was an opportunity to discuss the impact the Foundation made since our involvement with the community members. The forum also provided good opportunity to exhibit photos of Tarayana activities, projects and programmes to the public. Participants expressed great satisfaction.

Some of the participants said, this is their first visit to Thimphu and getting an opportunity to meet Her Majesty in person will make their trip even more memorable. Her Majesty also wished them safe journey back home

2

Upcoming Events June, 2014

-Completion of Helvetas project in Kengkhar, Monggar

-Feasibility study of water availability, use and demand as well as project climatic change impact on water sources in the proposed areas

-Planting Bamboo at Kalapong site, Monggar

-Buzip monitoring visits in the Centres

Support TarayanaWe invite you to be a part of reaching out to the most vulnerable

members of our society through your support to Tarayana. We operate with financial support of individuals and organizations, without which we would not have the opportunity of helping so many families help themselves. Tarayana complements and supplements the initiatives of the Government in empowering rural communities towards sustainable livelihoods.

The Foundation maintains its accounts in accordance with accepted financial norms and is audited annually by the Royal Audit Authority of Bhutan. An audited financial report and an annual progress report are published every year and is available for all interested individuals and organizations.

Please contact us for more information.

Tarayana Foundation, P.O. Box 2003, Tarayana Centre, Chubachu, Thimphu, BhutanPhone: 975-2-329-333 Fax: 975-2-331-433 Email - tarayana2003@gmail.com

www.tarayanafoundation.org Follow us on Facebook and Twitter:

https://www.facebook.com/TarayanaFoundation @TarayanaFoundn

In Touch Tarayana Newsletter

Dzongkhag Community Products Sales Total

Monggar KengkharWood, Cane & Bamboo Products

Nu. 752000/- Nu. 999000

Silambi Nu. 247000/-

Samtse Ugyentse, Yoeseltse, Ngawang Droemte, Takaling, Namgaycholing, Kunzangling, Nmgay Tapa

Textiles, Cane & Bamboo, Areca Nut, Traditional paper Nu. 316580/- Nu. 316580

P/Gatshel Chhimong Cane & Bamboo, textiles, dried vegetables, Potato& Banana chips, wood products Nu. 98550/- Nu. 155490

Mekuri Nu. 56940/-

Trongsa Baling Nettle products Nu. 87000/-

Nu. 121000Jangbi Tumeric powder, packed rice, yarn, textile Nu. 34000/-

Wangling

Zhemgang Langdurbi, Digala and Goling Textiles, wood products, pickles, dried vegetables, cane and bamboo products Nu. 45000 Nu. 45000

Sarpang Chuzergang and Jigmeling Dried vegetables, Pickles, textiles, hand looms Nu. 336500/- Nu. 336500

Dagana Middle Goshi

Grand Total Nu. 19,73,570/-

Table showing Community Sales during Tarayana Annual Fair

Distribution of Water Filters

Jangbi Primary School Tongtophey Primary School

On 22nd of May, Ms. Thinley Bidha, Asst. Programme Officer distributed Eight EVA water filters to two of the schools of Trongsa, Tongtophey and Jangbi Primary school. According to her, most of the students are under 15 years. Seeing water filter for the first time excited them to crowd around the filter. She had also shared the importance and the usage of water filter to the students. The water filters were supplied to those identified schools because of the incidence of water-borne diseases like diarrhea and typhoid problem faced by them during the monsoon season. This activity was a part of the follow up activities of the FK exchange programme .Thinley Bidha was one of the candidates for the programme and she just returned from her eleven and half months long posting in Jansi, India.

Ms. Catherine Rose Moore and Ms. Sharmistha Gosh, two officials from Asian University for Women, Chittagong, Bangladesh was in the country on the 9th of this month to conduct interviews for the 31 shortlisted candidates to undergo Bachelor’s Degree. From the shortlisted candidates, only 25 of them appeared to sit for the interview. Six of them has availed other opportunities while waiting for the intreview. We are happy to mention that the number of candidates enrolled in this university is increasing every year. We also learnt from the existing students that the standard this university is very high and commendable.

Interview for Asian University for Women