Spreading confidence, independence and ambition in Bhutan

Thimpu, Bhutan - Tshewang realised he was making a difference when the little girl began to sing. Tshewang was volunteering at a government-supported youth centre in Bhutan, and for weeks, the girl had been a source of anxiety for him and the other volunteers. The girl was constantly picking fights, struggling to express herself and taking it out on the other children.

“From the very first day, we knew she was going to cause trouble,” Tshewang said. “But as we kept working with her, we realised she had a passion for a lot of things. We had a warm-up in class and she wanted to sing, but she didn’t have the confidence to do so in front of the other children. Day by day, she got better – friendlier and more comfortable – and one day, she just got up and started singing. The next time we met, she was performing in front of an entire crowd.”

Tshewang has been volunteering at the youth centre for nearly a year. Every day, children of all ages gather to play, express themselves, and learn from older youth like 17-year-old Tshewang.

“At first, I thought I would just volunteer temporarily,” Tshewang said. “But I got hooked. Working with kids gave me a rush because I was doing something good with my time.”

A champion for Bhutan’s children

With his natural poise and unyielding passion, Tshewang is a role model for many children in the youth centre. He credits his confidence to his time in Australia, where his family lived while his father was getting his PhD. Tshewang navigated a new country, culture and community by himself, becoming fiercely independent in the process.

“When I compare myself and my friends, I see huge differences between us,” Tshewang said. “I am very happy to be the person I am now because of that small exposure. Here, students aren’t confident. They are shy, and they lack independence. I learned independence by going to Australia, and by trying things on my own without friends beside me. In Bhutan, children care so much about what society thinks of them, so much so that they don’t follow their passions or do what they want. Going to Australia has really affected me because if I want to do something, I’ll do it. It’s one of the major things I take pride in.”

Tshewang also credits his confidence to his upbringing. Growing up, his father would encourage him to think out of the box – and because of that, Tshewang developed not just a sense of independence, but also the ability to think creatively.

“My father has shaped me to be the person I am right now,” Tshewang said. “When I was a child growing up, I would say, ‘Hey dad, can you get me that cookie jar on top of the shelf?’ He would say ‘No. You get it yourself.’ And there would be me, my 5-year-old self, getting a chair and finding out how to get the cookie from the top of the shelf. I would think about all sorts of crazy solutions, piling books on top of each other, climbing over chairs, and finally, I would get the cookie. I always felt so proud of myself for solving my own problems. I’d love to thank him for that, because even today, I try to think of ways to do things for myself.”

Tshewang uses his confidence to encourage other children. At the youth centre, he helps children achieve what they want to achieve, whether that be practising the guitar, mastering reading, learning to dance, or crafting origami.

“Our role is keeping the kids productive and helping them,” Tshewang said. “In the process, I feel like I taught them how to speak and how to have confidence in themselves. I did my best to help them not be shy – and told them it doesn’t matter if people laugh at you in the moment. Sooner or later, they’re going to forget.”

Tshewang hopes that his encouragement will help children break out of their shells and gain confidence. He does admit, however, that the Bhutanese custom of helping one another is not something he takes for granted.

“In Bhutan, we are not very independent,” Tshewang said. “But because of that, if you’re in need, there are so many people who will help you. It’s like we live in a hive society. If I have a goal, I’m not only doing it for myself – I’m doing it for my family, for everyone. Maybe my nephew will want to learn the skillset I’ve learned, and if he does, I can teach him. We build our skills together, and that is how we build a society.”

A shared experience of growth

Tshewang’s volunteerism hasn’t just helped the children he works with. It’s helped Tshewang as well. Since last year, he has begun to wake up early and use his free hours more productively. After encouraging the children to express themselves creatively, he decided to do the same himself.

Today, he is learning to become a designer, building skills in photography, making music, and composing songs. Tshewang has also solidified his ambitions for the future: he wants to become a lawyer.

“I used to watch television shows about lawyers as a child,” Tshewang said. “It was interesting to see how lawyers talked and the way they defended their clients. The older I got, the more I realised that this is something I could do. In class, I would always be the person who spoke out; in debates, I would always be the one screaming at the other team. Ever since I realised I could do this, I’ve made being a lawyer my main goal. And if I become a good lawyer, I can help other people do the same.”

Tshewang plans to become a lawyer by, first and foremost, passing the tenth grade. After that, he will choose a science, arts or commerce stream – and once he passes, he will continue toward university and a law degree. He hopes to complete his education in Australia, and come back to practice law in his home country of Bhutan.

“Even though I have a plan, my worries are like everyone else’s,” Tshewang said. “What if I don’t do well in my studies? But I always try to stay positive. I don’t even think: Will I fail this? Will this work out? I never think about that. I only think about doing well. I always say to myself: it’s law or nothing.”

Through it all, Tshewang hopes to continue volunteering and giving back to the children of his community.

“I will continue volunteering, as I quite enjoy doing it,” Tshewang said. “I hope that when the children grow up, they help the next generation too. I hope they think about me and say, ‘Hey, I remember that man who taught me. Maybe I should do that, too.’ I hope that happens one day.”