February 3, 2012
Reinout van Santen, Dutch consultant living in Thimphu, taught the Chang Jiji youth workers how to collect data to monitor and evaluate the sports program. He set op the wiki spaces pages together with Sonam and supported the team in 2011. Reinout wrote an evaluation in September/October 2011: SCIA Review – R v Santen 2011.
On 3 february the team organized a farewell party for Reinout who left Thimphu on transfer to NY. We are sad that Reinout had to leave Bhutan and the program. He was a great supporter of the Chang Jiji team and has become a true friend. We thank him for his valuable contribution and wish him and his wife all the best in NY. We hope to meet him again in future.
February 1, 2012
Rupa Gurung and Sonam Lhamu both joined the youth workers team at Chang Jiji youth centre. Both young women work for the department of youth and sports, under the ministry of Education, RGOB and were assigned to work at the Chang Jiji youth centre.
Rupa is a university graduate from St Joseph’s, North Point – India. She is working at Chang Jiji youth centre as an administrative assistant for the department of youth and sports. She loves to read and play carom. She is very much interested in communicating with different people in society.
Sonam Lhamu is from Zhemgang Dzongkhag. She has a degree in English and Geography from Sherabtse college - Bhutan. Sonam is an assistant manger of Chang Jiji youth centre. She has an interest in reading, music and sports.
January 31, 2012
Chang Jiji sports team met with a core group of 5 committee members of the community on 30 January at the youth centre. The members, Dolay Tshering, Sangay Zam, Dorji Nima, Sonam Tobgay and Tandin Wangmo, are senior residents and represented the entire Chang Jiji community. Karma Lam, coordinator of the sports program gave background information about the program and explained how the team works to reach the unemployed youth in the area and work with them. The committee members expressed their support to the team and seemed very happy with the sport coalitions in action program. They also wanted to know about future activities and continuation of the program in future. The members will be meeting again in February with the team and Mr Henk de Jong.
January 3, 2012
bhutan+partners thank everybody interested and involved in the sport coalitions in action program for their kind support and collaboration in 2012, a year with many memorable and sportive moments.
We wish the team members, the participants and supporters of the program a prosperous 2012, full of joy and happiness.
Lem, Matthijs, Frank, Corinne, Erica, Tineke and Henk – board and staff bhutan+partners
December 13, 2011
Marianne Vos, Dutch professional cyclist travelled to Bhutan in October 2011. She conducted two clinics and did a tour with 25 trained and untrained cyclists from Paro to Thimphu to commemorate the Royal Wedding of His Majesty the King of Bhutan to Ashi Jetsun Pema.
Mark Blankwater, a Dutch youth sports worker, trained the youth workers of a sports program running in Thimphu and financed by the Dutch government. Marianne Vos worked with some of the youth enrolled in the sports program. The youth also joined in the Paro-Thimphu tour.
Both Mark and Marianne were interviewed for an article on cycling in Bhutan. The article was published in the Dutch magazine ‘Fiets’ (Bicycle), #12,December 2011. The 4 page article talks about Marianne’s and Mark’s experiences in Bhutan, the example set by His Majesty the King who cycles to the remotest districts and in Thimphu, the challenges to make Thimphu biking city #1 in Asia and the sports program. The article includes pictures of His Majesty the King and Queen of Bhutan, Marianne Vos during the tour with participants and Mark Blankwater in Bhutan. The magazine – 35,500 copies.
December 1, 2011
The youth workers in Chang Jiji decided to actively participate in the world aids day December 1, 2011, thus contributing to the this years theme: getting to zero. The team prepared a program with youth forum, information about Aids with attention to the specific situation in Chang Jiji, a quiz and cultural program. The program was focussed on awareness and preventive measures. Youth joined the team members in a rally in the area; they distributed handout and pamphlets about the subject and condoms. The team was supported by and worked closely together with Mr Rinzin, the health assistant of the Basic Health Unit in Chang Jiji.
The health workers and Mr Rinzin were happy about the outcome of the day and the number of youth reached. After the event the area of action was cleaned as usually done after each event.
The futsal program has been moved to december.
October 31, 2011
The cultural event in Chang Jiji, organised from 3.00 to 5.30 pm on 29 October 2011, was a huge success. Families of participants of the sports program, youth and kids came to witness the cultural program. The youth workers had invited actor Tandin Sonam to be the guest for the day. The participants were really happy that he accepted the invitation.
The youth and the parents were happy with the event and they look forward to similar occasions in the near future. The team was very happy that parents and other community members came together to witness some of the achievements of the program.
Nala, one of the first young men to enrol in the program in 2010, was the Master of Ceremony for the day and the other participants were involved in different program elements, helped the team members in sitting arrangements and in serving refreshments.
The next activity to be organised will be a street football tournament in November at the YDF tennis court. This time the team will have the participants organize the tournament while the team supports if required. Main focus for the team is to encourage the participants to organize activities themselves from the very first stage of planning right to the tournament itself.
October 28, 2011
A small cultural event at Chang Jiji square will be organised for 29 October 2011. The team members want to bring the youth together with their parents and other community members. The team is being supported by Ugyen, YDF cultural coordinator. detailed information will follow.
October 13, 2011
The SCIA Wedding tour 2011 to commemorate the Royal Wedding of HM the King of Bhutan with Ashi Jetsun Pema was a big success! The tour was well organized by the Scia Team, Karma Lam – coordinator, Tahsi Namgyel – centre manager, Lham Tenzin – team leader, Sonam Chhoeden – youth worker and Tshering a volunteer.
Marianne Vos set off early morning of 11 October together with Tshering Tobgay, the cycling Bhutan opposition leader, to Paro. In Paro the two of them were received by a mixed group of 25 cyclists. Some from Chang Jiji and others more experienced. This tour was not about winning, but about team building. Erica Terpstra flagged the group off and followed them. Along the route she kept encourage and supporting the young cyclists so that they would give all they had. Everybody completed the tour and the group passed the finish in Thimphu together.
The weather was good, the spirit was high and youth from Chang jiji were proud. They for sure achieved something!
October 12, 2011
Marianne Vos, world champion and Olympic Medallist, gave a workshop and clinic to the Chang Jiji youth at YDF grounds on 10 October in the morning. For some of the youth it was not far from being their first experience on mountain bikes. They received tips en practical advice from Marianne and had to do different exercises. They fell of their bikes but got on again and kept practising according to Marianne’s advise and Erica Tersptra’s encouragements. The clinic was a a good practice fot the ‘Scia Royal Wedding Tour 2011′ scheduled for 11 October. It was an enjoyable session with learning points and a lot of fun!
Marianne also gave a clinic to some more experienced cyclists through the Bhutan Olympic Committee in the afternoon.
Mariane Vos en Erica Terpstra were interviewed on location by the BBS, the Bhutan Broadcasting Services.
