Five Bhutanese students currently pursuing their studies in Australia have returned home to participate in the 18th Golden Youth Award (GYA) camp, which commenced in Thimphu today. Their presence at the week-long programme adds an international dimension to the annual youth leadership initiative aimed at nurturing future leaders of Bhutan.
The students, though not competing for the award, will take part in the camp’s activities alongside 80 class ten participants selected from schools across the country. The programme focuses on leadership development, teamwork, cultural learning and community service.
Organisers say the involvement of Bhutanese youth studying abroad is intended to help them reconnect with their cultural heritage while engaging with peers from their homeland.
Tsheyang Lhazom, a participant studying at Balcatta Senior High School in Western Australia, described the opportunity as both humbling and meaningful. She said returning to Bhutan to take part in such a prestigious event allowed the group to reconnect with their roots while engaging with fellow Bhutanese youth.
“We believe that reconnecting with our culture and engaging with young people back home will help us contribute to a future that benefits everyone and supports Bhutan’s progress,” she said.
Another participant, Kinley C Choden from Fremantle College in Western Australia, said the experience has reminded her of Bhutanese traditions that many young people living abroad gradually forget.
“With the knowledge and values of Driglam Namzha that I’ve learned here, I hope to share them with fellow Bhutanese in Australia so that they too can rediscover and appreciate our traditions,” she said.
Tandin Ngawang Zangmo, a student at Churchlands Senior High School who has lived in Australia for more than eight years, said the camp offers a rare opportunity to strengthen cultural ties.
“For me, this is not just a platform to meet like-minded youth and develop leadership skills, but also a way to reconnect with my culture and roots in Bhutan,” she said.
The five participants were selected through an initiative led by the Association of Bhutanese in Perth, which invited applications from Bhutanese youth who completed class ten in 2025. From ten applicants, five were chosen based on the Golden Youth Award’s selection criteria.
Wangda, the General Secretary of the Association of Bhutanese in Perth, said the initiative aims to ensure Bhutanese youth living abroad remain connected to their heritage.
“The main purpose of sending youth from abroad is to keep them culturally and spiritually grounded. In the future, we hope to introduce similar programmes to further strengthen this connection,” he said.
Meanwhile, the main GYA camp features 80 participants — evenly divided between 40 boys and 40 girls — who were selected through a competitive process involving local and national-level evaluations.
Participants expressed enthusiasm about the opportunities the camp offers.
Ugyen Rigsel from Lamgong Higher Secondary School in Paro said he hopes the programme will strengthen his leadership abilities and community engagement.
“I expect to develop my leadership skills, connect with other participants, and grow as an individual so that I can become a better citizen of Bhutan,” he said.
Similarly, Ugyen Tshomo from Pema Gatshel Middle Secondary School said she looks forward to gaining new skills and meaningful experiences during the camp.
Programme Director Roma Pradhan of the Youth Development Fund said the Golden Youth Award serves as an important platform for youth empowerment.
“Through the Golden Youth Award, we provide young people with opportunities to develop leadership skills while representing their respective districts. It also carries forward the vision of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo in shaping the future of Bhutan through capable and responsible youth,” she said.
The winner of this year’s award will receive a full scholarship to study at United World Colleges (UWC), an international network of 18 schools and colleges across four continents.
Since its launch in 2008, the Golden Youth Award programme has engaged more than 1,500 students. To date, 18 winners have received full scholarships to pursue higher education abroad.
The award honours young individuals who demonstrate outstanding character, leadership, service and commitment to creating positive change within their communities.
