Her Majesty Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, the Founding President of the Tarayana Foundation, is on a monitoring visit to Zhemgang District, one of the first areas where the foundation began its community development programs over two decades ago.
On the first day of the visit, Her Majesty traveled to Bjoka Gewog and met with the people of Bjoka Trong, Kamiti, Chapdempa, Namegrang Barpong, and Dali chiwogs. Her Majesty granted Tokha and Soelra to the communities, expressing appreciation for their resilience and efforts toward self-sufficiency.
Continuing a Legacy of Grassroots Development
Since its inception in 2003, the Tarayana Foundation has been instrumental in transforming lives in Zhemgang through targeted projects focused on sustainable livelihoods, improved living standards, and social empowerment. Bjoka Gewog, one of the most remote in the district, has seen several major interventions over the years.
Among the key achievements is the establishment of a 17KW micro-hydro power plant in Dali in 2015, which provided clean and renewable energy to 30 households before the area was formally electrified. The Foundation also supported improved housing for 180 families and facilitated the construction of toilets across the gewog’s five chiwogs — initiatives made possible through the generosity of various development partners and philanthropists.
Bjoka Gup Tshering Wangchuk expressed the community’s deep gratitude: “Bjoka is the most remote among the eight gewogs in Zhemgang. Knowing this, Her Majesty helped bring electricity to Dali in 2015 and 2016, which was immensely beneficial. Her Majesty has since granted housing kidu to 180 households, uplifting lives across the gewog. We are profoundly grateful to Her Majesty and the Tarayana Foundation for their unwavering support.”
Empowering Livelihoods Through Bamboo Craft
A hallmark of Tarayana’s intervention in Bjoka has been its focus on bamboo-based enterprises — a traditional craft with renewed economic promise. Supported by the SAARC Development Fund, the Foundation helped establish the Bjoka Bamboo Craft Cooperative, trained artisans, and improved marketing facilities to promote bamboo as a viable source of income.
“In the past, bamboo crafts were limited to basic household items,” said Pema Wangdi, Chairperson of the cooperative. “With Tarayana’s guidance, we now make modern products like trays, tissue boxes, and shopping baskets. The Foundation has also provided training, including three batches who trained in India, helping us diversify our products and find new markets.”
Promoting Health, Nutrition, and Financial Inclusion
Beyond livelihood support, the Foundation has prioritized community health and nutrition. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, Tarayana led advocacy campaigns promoting healthy diets and nutrition awareness. Meanwhile, the Tarayana Micro Finance program has extended financial services to small entrepreneurs, enabling them to access credit and grow local businesses.
This year, the 2024 Building Resilient Commercial Smallholder Agriculture project — implemented in partnership with the World Food Programme and the Ministry of Agriculture — has focused on smart agriculture, nutrition education, and empowering women and youth.
Sustaining Hope in the Highlands
Through its sustained efforts, the Tarayana Foundation continues to embody its mission of “Reaching the Unreached,” fostering resilience, self-reliance, and inclusive growth in Bhutan’s most remote corners.
Her Majesty the Queen Mother will continue her visit to other gewogs and schools in Zhemgang over the coming days, reaffirming her enduring commitment to the well-being and empowerment of Bhutan’s rural communities.
