Let's get this happening!

Bhutan has declared 2015 the National Year of Reading to commemorate His Majesty the 4th King of Bhutan's 60th birthday. Bhutan is a country that is rich in the oral tradition of story telling and it is only in recent decades that a culture of reading books has developed among lay people.

For many in rural areas it is still difficult to access to books although this is improving as READ Bhutan sets up more village libraries such as the one we visited in Ura. Children who learn to read both Dzongkha and English at school can also borrow books from school libraries.

Ura Library.

When I noticed that 'learn to read' books were not available for my students (who at the beginning of grade 2 were still essentially non-readers), I felt an imperative to provide them books to help them learn to read. In rural Bhutan many students are from backgrounds where two or more local languages are spoken in the home and so English is being learned often as a third or fourth language. Development of vocabulary is a crucial step in learning to read, however since many students come from homes where parents can't read English, it really is up to their determination and the dedication of their teachers to overcome the obstacles to becoming fluent in English, the medium of education.

My students made simple learn-to-read books which they loved!

The set of books that I wrote and have developed along with the help of many friends is ready to print and distribute to schools and libraries in Bhutan. I have launched a crowd-funding site to raise funds with an initial target of $5000 so that the books can be distributed to approximately 150 schools and libraries.

Since launching only a couple of weeks ago I've been heartened by donations from generous friends totalling $750. Added to the $1000 I am personally donating, we are well on our way to achieving our target. With your support, we can make a difference and help rural students develop vocabulary and build confidence as readers.

Please visit my fundraising page to donate. Keep in mind that one set of eleven books will cost approximately $35 so for this small amount you can know your donation will impact an individual school or library http://www.gofundme.com/iytnk0



Bhutan Canada Foundation is commencing a new volunteer program in April this year, bringing experienced Canadian teachers to work intensively with students for one month on reading. I want those teachers to have access to these books as I believe they will really help them work with their youngest students.


Help me get these first books in the hands of children and we'll see where this can go!








 

Ura Homestay

 

 

For the first leg of the great journey east we spent a lovely day in Tang Valley.

A highlight was visiting our friend (and former Chumey teacher) Sabrina at Pema Choling nunnery where she's been living the past few months.

Until we meet again soon, Sabrina!

We made it all the way up the valley for the third time to take my friend Jana to Ogyen Choling museum. We chanced to find resident and my favourite Bhutanese author Kunzang Choden and husband at home and were invited for a delightful snack of preserved pears from their tree with homemade yoghurt!

We were super excited to see the pair of black-necked cranes who migrate to Tang in the winter.

Our destination for the evening was Ura village and through a friend I had organised a' homestay' for the night as Ura doesn't have much in the way of hotels.
The house was large and we immediately gravitated to the spacious kitchen/living room where a bukhari warmed us. Evening temperatures in Ura at this time of year dip below zero, but inside the house was cosy. We were offered two simple rooms; Jana's  obviously usually a teenage boy's by the look of all the sport and music posters on the walls!

Bathroom facilities were basic but authentic. The toilet was a drop style without water and I'm not sure if I got it right, but it was somewhere between a sit down and a squat!! The only bathing option was the outdoor cold tap which didn't get any takers for an evening bath! Brushing my teeth in the dark here, I was in awe of the black night sky sparkling with thousands of stars. An outdoor bathroom in the Himalayas with outstanding views!

An outdoor bathroom.

 

 

No words necessary!

Dinner was a delicious feast of local foods and so much tastier than what is usually offered in tourist hotels in Bhutan. We even had the chance to help make puta (buckwheat) noodles by simply sitting on the noodle press!

Xavier lent a little weight to the press...

Remy jumped on too!

We enjoyed a good sleep under thick blankets and were treated to a massive breakfast of rice, vegetable dishes and puris before setting off to explore Ura village on foot.

Breakfast snuggles with Jana by the bukhari.

Luckily, this time we were able to find someone with the key to the Lhakhang and it featured an enormous Guru Rinpoche statue. Even Remy recognises him now and knew he was holding a 'dorji' in his hand. He immediately started prostrating and asked for money to leave on the altar - it was a moment I realised that Remy really is at home here in Bhutan.


I had arranged to visit the READ library as I've read a lot about this organisation that sets up libraries in communities across Bhutan, Nepal and India. It was the most wonderful library and an amazing asset for the Ura community. Neat shelves of plastic-covered books were arranged and an adjoining room for women and children housed games and early childhood books. There is also a computer lab with six computers.

Ura READ Library.

All around the walls childrens' art work and writing decorated the library. The director of VAST art gallery in Thimphu has been here to work with students and Lisa Napoli (author of Radio Shangri-la) ran a creative writing workshop for locals.

I hope that READ continues to build libraries in small communities in Bhutan to boost literacy and bring varied education opportunities to villagers far from the big cities.
Ura was a great place to stay the night, and although the accommodation was very basic, the excellent food more than made up for it.

View of Ura village from the library.

We left Ura and headed into unknown territory: eastern Bhutan, warmth and new scenery. Update coming soon...