30/03/2022
The pre kickoff meeting for the much-awaited Project "GNH Community Engagement Center" Human Resource Development toward Community Building by University-Community Engagement in Trashigang; Bhutan, was successfully held on 29th March 2022. The meeting began with the opening address from Mr. Tshering Wangdi (President, Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan), followed by Mr. Takusaburo Kimura (Director, Partnership Program Division, JICA Kansai) and Ms. Mariko Tanaka (Representative, JICA Bhutan office)
Mr. Yoshio Akmatsu, Affiliate Assistant Professor, Kyoto University, and serving as the Project Coordinator (Japan & Bhutan) Shared the project outline. Overview of the project, Implementation structure, Activity plan for the first year, and Countermeasure of COVID-19.
Project purpose:
The project's purpose is to encourage the activity of the GHN-CommunityEngagement Center (GNH-CEC), Sherubtse College, and establish a
system of human resource development for working on rural development issues.
Project Duration: Three and a half years (1 March 2022 – 28 August 2025)
Project background:
• Serious depopulation (rural-urban migration) and consequent
issues, such as abandoning farming, aging society (unbalanced population structure), the disappearance of local culture in rural communities of eastern Bhutan.
• Establishment of GNH-Community Engagement Center at Sherubtse College.
RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT
Agricultural project:
• Happy Farmers Group (local farmers’ group)
• RNR Bartsham Extension Office
• RNR Office in Trashigang
• Agriculture Division Office of Trashigang Dzongkhag
Healthcare project:
• Bartsham BHU (10-bedded hospital)
• Village Health Workers (under Trashigang Dzongkhag)
• DHO (Trashigang Dzongkhag)
• Ministry of Health
Cultural project:
• Bartsham Gup Office
• Happy Farmers Group
• Local Travel Agency
• Bartsham Central School (if necessary)
• Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs (if necessary)
The one-hour virtual meeting was closed with the closing address by Mr. Ryota Sakamoto (Project Manager, Kyoto University) Mr. Ryota Samamoto further stated that we have a karmic connection to work together although we are living in a highly globalized world. Furthermore, he added Let us remains determined to work on the upcoming project for a greater cause.
JICA Kansai
JICA Bhutan Office
Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan