This August, six Bhutanese students will receive the opportunity to pursue B.Sc. Environmental Management studies at the Royal Thimphu College under the WWF - Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program (EFN) scholarship.

1. Pem Dorji Tamang (Full scholarship)

Twenty-year-old Pem Dorji Tamang, has always been interested in science. A bio-science student in high school, Pem was born and raised in the southern foothills of Beteni, Tsirang district. He says that he has wondered about the connection of science to the rural environment that he lived in. This interest grew stronger and he decided to pursue higher studies related to environmental management and science. “Receiving the Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program (EFN) scholarship has galvanized my spirit and given me confidence to achieve this academic goal,” said Pem, the eldest child of a single mother.

Pem and his two younger sisters live with their mother, a farmer, after their father succumbed to illness in 2014. “My family is thankful for the financial support and the wonderful opportunity,” he said. Besides helping his mother sell vegetables and dairy products from their farm, Pem is an ardent basketball lover and has in fact, represented his school team since he was in the eighth grade. Pem is also passionate about counselling and helping his school mates through a peer-helper group. Meanwhile, Pem’s goal is to bring social awareness and strong storytelling to the young Bhutanese on environment conservation. He wants to pursue research projects during the bachelor’s study that provoke critical thinking and explore our natural environment and the human condition. 

2. Dechen Tshomo (Full scholarship)

Dechen Tshomo, 19-years old, loves poetry on nature and the environment. Born and raised in Radi, Trashigang district in eastern Bhutan, Dechen says that she vividly remembers how she accompanied her three siblings to the forest to collect fallen dry branches and twigs for firewood until electricity lit the homes in her village only in recent years. “I have and will always have this special attachment to nature,” said Dechen whose parents are both farmers.

When she saw the announcement for the Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program (EFN) scholarship, Dechen said that she knew instantly that she had to try and avail this opportunity. “The process of applying and the award of scholarship has forced me to take a hard look at where I was as a young responsible Bhutanese, and has built my confidence,” Dechen said, adding that she is a shy person.

Dechen has initiated and participated in several tree plantation activities in her school in Trashigang and aspires to continue this activity even at the Royal Thimphu College.  

3. Wesal Bidha (Partial scholarship)

Twenty one-year-old Wesal Bidha’s passion for the environment began at an early age. She got her first real taste of environmental leadership running her high school’s first-ever fashion show using recycled garbage in 2014. “I spent a lot of time leading cleaning campaigns, awareness programs on recycling and reuse,” said Wesal, a student from Wamrong, Trashigang. Until this year, Wesal has initiated and lead three major cleaning campaigns here in the capital, Thimphu.

A school captain and a scouts leader for several years, Wesal said that this scholarship will further hone her interests as a student-leader. “Through the resources of this scholarship, I will have the opportunity to understand the issues around environment and commit to initiate more creative solutions to create awareness,” she said. During free time, Wesal loves hiking, camping and playing badminton with her three elder sisters and her younger brother.  

4. Nima Khandu (Partial scholarship)

Nima Khandu is a nineteen-year-old student from Tsento, Paro district. Already an active member of Bhutan’s Young Volunteers. In Action (YVIA), Nima spends a lot of time in his neighbourhood advocating on waste management and personal health safety. During his involvement in YVIA, Nima said that his interests in environmental conservation, nature, flora and fauna grew and thus, his application for the Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program (EFN) scholarship.

“At YVIA, we organize programs for young members so that we indulge in productive activities and help our community,” Nima said, adding that this scholarship will further allow him to use this platform to strengthen environmental awareness among young people. He said that his focus academically will, in fact, be to bring social awareness on the vital relationship between human beings and the natural world. Nima is currently working with other youth volunteers on advocating safe work practices and health hazards to mechanics in Thimphu automobile workshops. With both his parents working in the civil service, Nima also enjoys looking after his younger brother and younger sister.  

 5. Sonam Yangchen (Partial scholarship)

Eighteen-year-old Sonam Yangchen’s interest in environment conservation grew during her summer and winter holidays in 2015 when she received an opportunity to work part-time with her relatives to make bio-degradable plates and cups. “This inspired me because what I saw was this simple, eco-friendly product replacing the huge amount of paper and plastic plates being imported,” Sonam said. She said that by receiving this scholarship to pursue environmental studies, she would like to create and understand such initiatives which not only reduce impact on the environment but also provide socio-economic benefit.

Sonam is from Buli gewog in Zhemgang district and feels passionate about the forests. “It is so sad to see the increasing amount of forest we lose each year to forest fire,” she said. At RTC, I would like to embark on a project to understand how and why we must protect our forests. During free time, Sonam said that she loves listening to old traditional Bhutanese songs. “I think most of these traditional Bhutanese songs I love are about nature - the sounds of the birds and the vibrant colours of the flowers” she said.

6. Sagar Basnet (Partial scholarship)

Eighteen-year-old Sagar Basnet is from the remote village of Dorona in Dagana district. Sagar says that he is very fortunate to receive the Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program (EFN) scholarship.  Raised by a single mother, Sagar aspires to be a conservationist and tackle the emerging environmental issues and challenges in Bhutan.

The environment program at the Royal Thimphu College will give me that unique opportunity to study inside Bhutan and understand environmental management,” he said. “I am excited and grateful.” His mother did not receive the opportunity to go to school and therefore, has always encouraged him to learn. Sagar loves playing the guitar and helping his mother run her small shop in Thimphu. Sagar said that academics has always been a crucial part of his life.