Dechen Dolkar 

Thirty children with disabilities aged between 3 and 14 years participated in an exclusive outdoor event at the Centenary Park in Thimphu on June 4.

The event was to commemorate the 32nd birthday anniversary of Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck, who is the Royal Patron of the ABS,

The children played outdoor games like balloons, pulling tails, crawling and hand painting.

Organised by the Ability Bhutan Society (ABS) and Bhutan Insurance Limited (BIL), the event was to promote community inclusion and build the confidence of the children.

An official from ABS said BIL has been supporting the cause of ABS by providing donation box in their corporate office in Thimphu.

“On this very special occasion, BIL gifted the children with educational and nutritional stuff as part of the celebration and as their corporate social responsibility (CSR) as mandated,” an official said.

Officials said they would welcome similar gestures from other stakeholders, such as the government, corporates, business community and individuals.

“We need your constant support, guidance and encouragement at all times to keep us working hard towards serving this special group of people in our society with different needs and expectations,” an official said.

Meanwhile, the concept of ABS as a public benefit organisation was conceived in the year 2007 by a couple of families of children with moderate to severe diverse abilities, who often have to be left at home alone or at the best with untrained caregivers.

Inspired by the farsighted vision of His Majesty The King’s of a compassionate and just society, the ABS was initiated in recognition of the urgency to streamline the persons with disabilities (PWDs), primarily focused on children and their families, who have special needs and deserve a space in the mainstream Bhutanese society of a country spearheading the development based on the value of Gross National Happiness.