Bhutanese youth often lack access to opportunities where they can gain leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills outside of formal education. While classroom learning is valuable, it may not fully equip young people to take on real-world challenges in their communities. With limited avenues for volunteerism and skill-building, youth risk being underprepared for the workforce and broader civic engagement.
Many youth finish school without hands-on experience in community service, which helps develop crucial life skills and fosters social responsibility.
As Bhutan modernizes, youth perspectives are essential in shaping social programs and policies that are inclusive and effective.
Soft skills like leadership, teamwork, and communication are in high demand in both public and private sectors but are not always addressed in traditional curricula.
Launched in 2003, Y-VIA is a youth volunteer network that empowers young people to address community needs and drive positive social change through volunteerism. To date, more than 9,000 young volunteers have participated in Y-VIA activities, making it a cornerstone of YDF’s Skills Development agenda.
Strengthen a Youth Network: Build and maintain a robust volunteer community across Bhutan.
Address Youth-Centric Issues
Encourage young people to identify and tackle challenges that directly affect them.
Contribute Youth Perspectives: Ensure that YDF’s development programs integrate youth feedback and ideas.
Engage in Community Programs
Participate in community-based initiatives led by YDF or partner agencies.
Expand Membership: Recruit and empower more Y-VIA members at various levels through leadership training.
Impact
Leadership & Civic Engagement
Y-VIA alumni often go on to serve as local change-makers, using the skills they’ve gained to promote community well-being.
Social Development
From environmental clean-ups to health awareness campaigns, Y-VIA volunteers have played a pivotal role in uplifting communities nationwide.
Empowerment & Inclusion: By involving youth from diverse backgrounds, Y-VIA fosters a sense of inclusion, community pride, and ownership of local solutions.
Launched in 2022 by Her Majesty the Queen Mother Tseyring Pem Wangchuck, Walk the Talk is a nationwide health awareness initiative conducted in partnership with the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health. The program organizes mass walking events to promote physical activity, healthy dietary habits, and disease prevention.
Each year, Walk the Talk focuses on a specific public health issue. In 2022, the campaign raised awareness about the impact of high salt consumption on health, while in 2023, the initiative focused on cervical cancer prevention. That year, the nationwide walk engaged 4,441 participants across all 20 Dzongkhags, demonstrating widespread community support for the cause.
Through these large-scale awareness campaigns, Walk the Talk has successfully mobilized youth and communities to adopt healthier lifestyles, reinforcing the importance of preventive healthcare in Bhutan.
UPSHIFT is a youth social innovation program that equips young people with 21st-century skills, preparing them for leadership and civic engagement. Implemented by YDF in partnership with UNICEF Bhutan and the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, UPSHIFT introduces entrepreneurial thinking, problem-solving, and creativity into the education system.
Since 2022, UPSHIFT has been rolled out in 35 schools and one skills center in Gelephu, with 1,876 youth trained across nine Dzongkhags. In 2024, ten new schools were added to the program, and teachers at Gomtu Higher Secondary School and Phuntsho Pelri Primary School received specialized training to integrate UPSHIFT principles into their teaching methods.
UPSHIFT encourages young people to develop innovative solutions to local challenges, with several YDF-supported schools receiving national recognition for their work. Yangchenphug Higher Secondary School won the National Innovation Challenge in March 2024, while Motithang Higher Secondary School and Gomtu Higher Secondary School received consolation prizes for their contributions to sustainable development projects.
By fostering creative problem-solving and entrepreneurship among youth, UPSHIFT is preparing Bhutanese students to take on leadership roles in the country’s future social and economic landscape.
Through volunteer networks like Y-VIA, YDF addresses the growing need for hands-on skills development among Bhutanese youth. By offering structured opportunities for leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving, YDF ensures that young people become active, engaged citizens equipped to shape Bhutan’s future.
Copyright © 2025 Bhutan Youth Development Fund.
Post Box 255 | Thimphu, Bhutan | tel: +975 2 327483 | fax: +975 2 326730 | info@bhutanyouth.org
