Nearly 1,000 young Bhutanese have participated in the initiative, with emerging entrepreneurs and innovators beginning to contribute to Gelephu Mindfulness City and other national projects.
What began as an initiative to empower Bhutanese youth to participate in the country’s development is gradually taking shape through entrepreneurial ventures, innovation projects and new professional opportunities.
As Pelsung completes its first year, the programme is seeing its participants move beyond training and mentorship to develop practical solutions for some of Bhutan’s emerging needs, particularly those associated with Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC).
Among them is Yoga Prasad Chapagai, a member of Pelsung’s inaugural cohort, who is working to establish an integrated waste management system for the future city.
His initiative, KACHEN, seeks to introduce a zero-waste approach to waste management, addressing an essential requirement for the sustainable development of GMC.
The venture earned Chapagai the Pelsup Entrepreneur of the Year award during Pelsung’s first-anniversary celebrations.
Reflecting on his experience, Chapagai said the programme helped him translate years of accumulated knowledge and skills into an entrepreneurial venture.
“For me, I could take out the skills that I gained over the years and dive into entrepreneurship. I wanted to create a backbone for the future GMC, and one of the founding pillars would be a proper integrated waste management system,” he said.
Chapagai’s journey reflects a broader ambition behind Pelsung: to equip young Bhutanese not merely to seek employment, but to identify opportunities, build enterprises and contribute directly to national development.
Since its establishment, the initiative has engaged nearly 1,000 young people through programmes designed to strengthen professional capabilities, encourage innovation and connect participants with institutions and industry experts.
According to its first annual report, released during the anniversary celebrations, 155 Pelsups are currently involved in activities ranging from GMC-related assignments and startups to innovation laboratories, post-immersion programmes and work within the Pelsung Secretariat.
The programme has also introduced five specialised mini-cohorts to develop expertise aligned with specific institutional and sectoral requirements.
Participants in these groups are contributing to assignments such as conceptual designs for GMC’s Central Park and the One Thimphu Project, illustrating how youth engagement is extending into urban planning and development.
Beyond professional exposure, participants say the initiative has encouraged a stronger sense of responsibility towards Bhutan’s future.
Jigme, founder of Zhabdrung.com and Timeless Realm, described Pelsung as an environment that nurtures both individual discipline and a commitment to national service.
“It is where we learn discipline and where we can do our best with our capabilities for our country,” he said, emphasising that the initiative represents more than a conventional training programme.
A significant part of Pelsung’s first-year activities has been supported by collaborations involving government institutions, businesses, international organisations, development partners and individual mentors.
These partnerships have enabled participants to access specialised knowledge, professional networks and opportunities to apply their learning in practical settings.
Pelsung Executive Director Phub Dorji credited this collaborative approach for the programme’s progress.
“For Pelsung, the question of what makes the difference, and the answer is always our partners,” he said.
He added that cooperation with government agencies, international institutions, foreign partners and local businesses had been instrumental in making the programme’s achievements possible.
With its first year completed, Pelsung now faces the challenge of converting its growing network of trained young people and emerging ideas into sustained economic and developmental contributions.
Its next phase will place greater emphasis on supporting entrepreneurial ventures, expanding project-based engagement and creating opportunities for young Bhutanese to apply their capabilities.
For participants such as Chapagai, that transition is already underway. What began as an opportunity to learn has become a chance to help build the systems and enterprises that could shape Bhutan’s future.
As Gelephu Mindfulness City progresses, Pelsung’s experience over the coming years could offer an important measure of how effectively Bhutan can translate the aspirations and capabilities of its youth into tangible national development.
