His Majesty The King visited the De-Suung Skilling Centre at Dzongkhalum, Trongsa on August  17 and 18 to inspect the facility and meet with the first cohort of De-Suups participating in training programmes there.

The De-Suung Skilling Programme (DSP) is a series of multiple short-term accelerated training by local and foreign experts, focusing on practical, hands-on skilling, customised for the youth.

Since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic, close to 18,000 men and women joined De-Suung and went on to volunteer for duty across the country. In appreciation of their extraordinary expression of solidarity to the nation, His Majesty commanded that the State must reciprocate by providing opportunities for the youth of Bhutan to enhance their capabilities and empower them to participate more meaningfully in the process of nation building.

Over 270 De-Suups have participated in 5 different DSP programmes already, and 442 desuups are participating in 13 ongoing programmes at the moment, held in centres across the country.

At Dzongkhalum, two programmes: Hairdressing and Makeup, and Photography and Videography, have just begun.

In an audience to the trainees, His Majesty said that the participation of De-Suups in the De-Suung Skilling Programme is a vital National Service that will provide enduring benefits to the nation and the people.

While in Trongsa, His Majesty also offered prayers at the Trongsa Dzong, and visited the worksites of the Tangsibji Hydro Energy Ltd.