August 26, 2016

The Bhutan Foundation in collaboration with the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy carried out a four-day photojournalism for multimedia storytelling workshop in Bumthang, Bhutan. 20 students and two teachers from Jakar Higher Secondary School, one media officer from UWICE and two staff from Tashi Deling attended the training.

The training aimed at creating awareness on the significance of the Wangduechhoeling Palace, the birthplace of Bhutan’s monarchy. The workshop also aimed at garnering further involvement and support of the Palace project from the Bumthang community and engagement of the youth in the community to learn about Bhutan’s history. The program enabled the youth and other participants to learn basic story-telling skills using photographs, audiovisuals and caption. These skills were, then, used to collect stories and interact with community members, the monk body at the palace, and others who have spent time in the palace to garner awareness and support around the Palace. The students also created four short videos based on the lives of these individuals and their earliest memories of the palace.

The program was possible with support from the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy, the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment (UWICE), Bumthang Dzongkhag, Jakar Higher Secondary School, Tashi Deling Construction and the Department of Culture and Heritage Sites, Ministry of Home and Culture.