Kuzu Zangpo La! (Welcome)
Bhutan is a small country with a population of over 600,000. Situated in the eastern Himalayas, Bhutan is also known as “The Land of Thunder Dragon.” Of the total population, around 75% are Buddhists. Bhutan strives to remain a unique country, putting tremendous emphases on preserving the age-old culture and traditions. Hydropower is the key source of economy for the country. For people living in the villages, farming is the foremost occupation. Majority of the farming communities live in small settlements under challenging physical and economic conditions.
Yeshe Tsogyel Foundation was established on May 10, 2007 as a non-profit charitable organization based in Eugene Oregon, United States. During her visit to the Tang Valley in Bumthang, Lucy Kingsley conceived the idea of starting the foundation to support the education of children in this remote valley. Ms. Kingsley’s passion for spiritual quest, living art of textile and typical lifestyle of the Bhutanese impelled her to consider Bhutan as her second home. For the past 10 years many people have contributed financial support for the children and families of this valley. Since most of the village folks believe that providing modern education to their children is an investment, the foundation aspires to offer necessary educational support to the families who cannot afford to send their children to schools.
Besides education, the foundation supports the broader aims Gross National Happiness (GNH) such as conserving the culture, traditions, and preserving the pristine environment of Bhutan. Through this philosophy, Bhutan prefers to measure her development in terms of happiness that people derive from the developmental activities.
The organization is also committed to enhancing the socio-economic status of the local population. This has included improving the water supply system, agricultural production, and promotion of traditional rites and rituals.