BRIDGE Training

I attended BRIDGE (Building Resource in Democracy, Governance and Elections) Training from 10^th – 14^th September 2012 at Sherubtse College, kanglung. It was a wonderful experience. The principals, teachers and Gewog Administrative Officers from six eastern Dzongkhag have been invited to take part. There was a total participant of 29. It was funded by AusAID and organized by ECB.

It was educative. The head resource person Madam Cate Thompson, from Australian Election Commission has made all the programs based on participatory approach. For the whole five days, starting from 8.30am in the morning till 4.30 pm in the evening, we were thoroughly engaged. We enjoyed it. We did not know how those five days came to an end.

I was the one to make concluding remarks representing the principals who participated in the training. I mentioned the following words in my speech:

Five years ago, all Bhutanese were like children and they were guided, fed, taken care in every sphere by our His Majesty. Later His Majesty felt that we were grown up. Thus, He gave his wisdom to us in the form of democracy. Since then, we tried to stand on our own feet, made relationships and new friendships, learnt to manage conflicts, found solutions to so many problems and in the process of finding solutions to so many problems. The program like BRIDGE will go a long way in imparting an art of good governance and democracy to all Bhutanese.

With resource persons’ experience and enticing methods, we were engaged, entertained, new ideas stuffed in out head, broadened our outlook, and our eyes opened to ignorance and darkness. Let me on behalf of all principals, thank all resource persons in general for their wonderful lessons.

Madam Cate, on the first day you said that you do not have power and that you hate talking about the word empowerment and empowering others. But over these five days, we have come to learn that what you have said on the first day was totally wrong. The vigor and energy, lively nature, broad knowledge, inspiring details, guidance and skills you possess are seen to be your engrained power and that you have successfully transmitted it to us. With the power we have got from you, we feel confident to establish Democracy Club back in our school and make as many students of ours participate in voting.

Mr. Augusto, thank you for your humor, friendly nature and endless ideas on the election of different countries. We enjoyed your lesson and your presence of mind.

Let me not forget to thank Mr. Kinley, from Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB). He had shown his care and concern for each one of us asking whether we had accommodation or how were we planning to manage our logistics. Managing all those programs to the ones who could not manage on their own shows how dedicated and committed he is to his profession and his duty. That is amazing. I wish you continue doing that good job.

To tell a bit of myself, I am one focal person of Media Literacy club in my school through which we teach how to be creative, critical, analytical and to look at things beyond the box to students. In the process I have also become little critical in thought and speech. Pardon me, if I were too critical at times.

Last but not the least, let me thank AusAID for funding this program and ECB for organizing this wonderful, educative and eye opening program.