Funds for centre from US scouts

March 17 – The couztion as an independent entity under the scout association of Bhutan (SAB).

This was made possible after the boy scouts of America (BSA) donated USD 50,370 (Nu 2.2 mn) to SAB. The education minister Thakur S Powdyel received it on SAB’s behalf.

With the government’s approval to allocate a 27-acre land in Paro to construct the centre, the likelihood of achieving SAB’s dream for a separate new scout centre will translate into reality soon.

The first phase will undertake the building of sewage and proper water facility, which has already begun. Plans to implement the rest of the phases remain sketchy.

“With a separate scout centre, we’ll be able to carry out a range of scout camps and hold international scout camping,” SAB member Pema Wangchuk said.

“We’re delighted about the prospects of a collaboration between the Bhutan scout association and the boy scouts of America,” Lyonpo Thakur S Powdyel said.“Despite the distance and uniqueness of culture, the two organisations share the same spirit.”

The BSA chairman Roger Schrimp, who led his team on a three-day visit, said the fund was made in connection with the celebration of 100th anniversary of their association. Today BSA has more than 40,000 student-members across the world.

He said the fund was collected from these students with a mission to help young Bhutanese with an improved scouts association. “We thank SAB for giving us the opportunity to interact with Bhutanese students and letting us donate the fund for a good purpose,” said Schrimp.

While in Bhutan, the BSA team will visit Punakha and Wangduephodrang to meet scout members in schools, interact and see the various programmes they carried out.

SAB was established in 1996. Today, it boasts 17,860 members under its wings.

source: kuensel