The Bhutan Society organises several events each year, in London and elsewhere, for Society members.

The next events will be:

Ugyen Tempa Gyaltshen, Sangay Dorji and Tibor Van Staveren - Vocational Training in Bhutan

Wednesday 11th June, 6:30pm

We are very pleased to have two former volunteers or Desuups, Ugyen Tempa Gyaltshen and Sangay Dorji who are currently working in the UK, to talk to us about their experience of the volunteer programme, and also Tibor Van Staveren of the PATRIZIA Foundation which is significantly contributing to vocational training in Bhutan.

In an initiative by his Majesty the King of Bhutan in 2011 the Desuups or Guardians of the Peace of Bhutan were formed.  These orange clad volunteers help in situations ranging from disaster operations, participate in charitable activities and social services. The De-Suung Integrated Training Programme is a value-based personal development programme intended to encourage active citizenry in the process of nation-building.

Following on from this in 2021 the De-suung Skilling Programme (DSP) was started to give the Desuups, with varying degrees of educational qualification, short-term vocational training in various fields in order to enter the job market. Trainers from around the world have been invited to assist in the programme. 

The PATRIZIA Foundation is supporting the establishment of a vocational training centre in Bumthang.  This project is under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck and her organisation Gyalyum Charitable Trust and supported by RENEW (Respect, Educate, Nurture and Empower Women, an organisation dedicated to fostering socio-economic cohesion through empowering and protecting women and children in Bhutan) as the implementation partner.

Doug Patterson - An Artist in Paradise

Thursday 25th September, 6:30pm

Doug will explain to us how he set out to follow the journeys of three travelling artists of the 18th and 19th centuries, Samuel Davis, Vasileio Gregorovic Barsky and Hercules Brabazon. They individually travelled and visited some of the most important places of worship representing three of the world’s great faiths, Buddhism, Christian Orthodoxy and Islam

Doug has visited Bhutan 3 times to illustrate all 20 Dzongs and a selection of Chortens and was given special permission from her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, Queen Mother of Bhutan, to travel and visit the Dzongs throughout Kingdom.  Doug’s contemporary portfolio illustrates the extraordinary and beautiful landscape and various locations of the Dzongs whilst gaining access to the mysterious heart of Himalayan Buddhism.