Tshering Namgyal | Mongar

About 100 students from eastern dzongkhags attended a weeklong winter youth art camp in Drametse Central School in Mongar from January 6.

Themed ‘Engaging youth creatively’, the students were introduced to contemporary arts like pencil sketching, watercolour, traditional Bhutanese arts, English poetry (haiku writing) and making paper and hardboard crafts.

The camp intends to enhance artistic expression of the participants

The participants were not served any meat items for the week but given locally grown organic vegetables and dairy products. They were also briefed the benefits of being vegetarian.

The participants were also distributed free handmade bag as part of a green initiative ‘Say no to plastic carry bags’.

A participant, Thinley Namgay, 18, of Yadhi CS, said he learnt how to express his feelings and emotions through arts. “I also got opportunity to make new friends and enjoyed a lot.”

A class X student of Drametse CS, Nidup Pelmo, said she learnt many new things in the camp and she would share her knowledge to her friends.

The camp coordinator, Jigme Dorji, said that the programme is designed to inspire children achieve excellence in their creative life. “It aims to explore and promote contemporary art, to promote social responsibilities and life skills through art and to enhance artistic expression and appreciation.”

He also said it intends to provide opportunities to the young school children to participate and develop their talents through artistic and socially productive activities during their winter vacation.

VAST-Yangtse organised the programme with financial supports from the Royal Office for Media, His Majesty’s Secretariat, Opening Your Heart to Bhutan – a UK-based Charity, Travel DrukAsia and Bhutan Natural.

Students Drametse CS, Narang PS, Waichure extended classroom, Trashiyangtse LSS, Tsenkharla CS, Bumdeling LSS, Tsangphugchen PS, Yadhi CS, Tshaling PS and Draktsho East of Kanglung participated in the camp.