Sonam Chukey 

About 83 students participated in the three-day Bhutan Children’s Writeshop (BCW) held in Changangkha Middle Secondary School that ended on January 22. 

Students between 10 and 16 years interested in writing and reading attended the programme organized by 13 teachers from several schools. During the three day programme, four Bhutanese authors spoke to the participants.

BCW is a non-profit initiative of teachers to engage students for a meaningful vacation.  

Sonam Norbu, the programme coordinator said, “The dream of the initiative is to let children fall in love with writing and nurture home-based researchers, academicians, and writers.”

He said that writing habit of the students was declining which is why the teachers came together through social media to conduct the programme. 

For reading, they have been organizing the “Reading Retreat’ programme every summer vacation and BCW is held during winter break to improve writing.

Ten-year-old, Kuenzang Choden is the youngest participant. She loves reading poems and has been keeping a journal.    

Tenzin Wangyel, 13, from Jigme Namgyel Lower Secondary School said, “Writing is a passion for me, it shows me who I am. I can express my feelings and thoughts through writing.” 

Based on the idea of anecdotal journals and freewriting, a customised book ‘My small book of big dream’ was introduced for the participants.

The programme would help participants publish three children’s books annually from next year.