KP Sharma 

More than 900 youths and children are currently attending various winter skilling programmes across the country. 

The programmes, designed to engage and empower youth, are being coordinated by the Ministry of Education’s Youth Center Division with the support of youth volunteers in 13 youth centres. 

According to Amrith Bdr Subba, deputy chief counsellor at Thimphu Youth-Friendly Integrated Service Centre, the youth centres should have such programmes every year. 




Reading, dancing, guitar lessons, basketball coaching, chess and coding with python and pitop are among the main programmes. 

 “We monitor, provide resources and supervise the programme to make the programmes more useful,” said Amrith Bdr Subba. 

The centre collected a registration fee of Nu 200 from each participant to support the programmes besides government support of Nu 50,000. 




 “There was a rush among the parents for the registration which shows that such programmes should be organised on a larger scale,” said Amrith Bdr Subba. 

One of the participants, Tandin Deki Choden of Jigme Namgyel LSS, said she enjoys attending the programme. “Physical classes are fun and effective compared to classroom learning.” 




Participants are given separate activities in the morning and afternoon. There are more than one trainer to guide each group. 

Another participant, Tshering Nidup likes dance and art programmes. 

Kiran Adhikari, a trainer, said that the programmes help build confidence among the participants. “They become more skilled and behave appropriately.”