The Bhutan Nuns’ Foundation held a conference for the first time in Bhutan focusing on social issues and challenges among the nuns in the country and to improve their living conditions.
It is a Non-Profit Organization established in 2009 under the patronage of Her Majesty, the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuk. The Drathshang Lhentshog (Central Monastic Body of Bhutan), Bhutan Nun’s Foundation was awarded about nine acres of land in Tsalu Maphey on the outskirts of Thimphu for the purpose of creating the Training Center.
Bhutan Nuns’ Foundation Training Center will be the first ever gathering place in Bhutan for nuns to meet each other, and receive training, outside their nunneries.
The Foundation seeks to empower nunneries and make them leading agents and self-reliant institutions for women. It will implement a systematic programme to improve living conditions and provide practical education at each nunnery in Bhutan.
This year’s conference had the theme as “understanding the changing roles of nuns in socio-economic development and environment conservation in Bhutan.”
The Annual National Nuns’ Conference focused on Buddhism, Non-Violence, gender based violence, domestic violence, substance abuse and alcoholism.
The conference also aimed to help the nuns upgrade their education, so that they can participate in the Socio economic development of the country and contribute to the society as a whole.
After the conference the participants were expected to realize their roles and responsibilities in community building and development.