The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema graced the Special Olympics Meet coinciding with the International Day of People with Disability in Bhutan as the guest of honor.
Students of Draktsho, Changangkha Middle Secondary School and Tendruk Higher Secondary School participated in the Sports Meet.
The event was attended by ministers, dignitaries from UN agencies, diplomats, and senior civil servants.
The event was organized by Ability Bhutan Society (ABS), Draktsho Vocational Training Center for Special Children and Youth, Special Education Division of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Youth Development Fund, Bhutan Foundation, and Disabled Persons’ Association of Bhutan.
Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen also inaugurated the Fundraising Art Exhibition and Sale by ABS, which was supported by the Voluntary Artists’ Studio in Thimphu (VAST) and Mrs. Joan Cross from USA, and awarded prizes and interacted with the children and youth with disabilities.
Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen is the Royal Patron for the Ability Bhutan Society.
Draktsho was established on 2 October 2001 under the Royal patronage Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck, the President of the Youth Development Fund (YDF). The center was funded by the YDF till the end of 2009.
After nine years of operation, Draktsho was finally registered as a civil society organization (CSO) under Bhutanese law on 26 November 2010 and received the certificate of recognition in a ceremony on 20 December 2010. Draktsho is the first of its kind in the country. It’s a service-oriented CSO which aspires to enhance the living standard of disabled youth through empowerment by training, and eventual integration with the mainstream population.
Its main focus is to equip the trainees with vocational skills to enhance their opportunities for gainful employment. It also aims to build their self-esteem and self-reliance, thereby making them more independent, confident and contributing members of the society.
