The Annual General Meeting of the Loden Foundation was held from 24th to 27th December 2024 in Gelephu. The meeting was attended by Lopon Dr. Karma Phuntsho, the President of the Loden Foundation, and members of the board of trustees. A total of 19 staff members, including facilitators from the Loden ECCD Centres in Ura,…

Introducing the Bhutan Socio-Economic Forum (BSeF) 2024 On December 2, 2024, the Bhutan Socio-Economic Forum (BSeF) successfully launched its inaugural session at the Thimphu Deluxe Hotel. Organized by the Loden Foundation with support from The Asia Foundation, the forum addressed Bhutan's pressing socio-economic challenges while charting a path toward sustainable growth aligned with the nation's unique Gross National Happiness (GNH) philosophy. Under…

Theme: "From Present to Prosperity: Bhutan’s Economic Outlook" Date: December 2, 2024 (Monday) Time: 9:00 AM onwards Venue: Thimphu Deluxe Hotel, Bhutan Format: Hybrid (In-person and Online Participation) Overview The Loden Foundation is pleased to introduce the Bhutan Socio-economic Forum (BSeF), a platform for inclusive dialogue on Bhutan’s economic landscape, designed to address the nation’s…

Ramon Magsaysay Award On November 16, 2024, our founder, Lopon Dr. Karma Phuntsho, was honored with Asia’s premier and highest honor—The Ramon Magsaysay Award—celebrating #GreatnessOfSpirit and #TransformativeLeadership. Lopon Dr. Karma Phuntsho received this distinguished award for his exceptional efforts in bridging Bhutan’s rich cultural heritage with the opportunities of the modern era. Through his visionary work with the Loden Foundation, he has…

In the spirit of Druk Tshongrig Gatoen (DTG), the Loden Foundation, in collaboration with ImpactHub Thimphu, organised the Student Empowerment through Entrepreneurship Development (SEED) programme. Held from 4–9 November 2024, this transformative initiative took place at three esteemed institutions: Druk School, Royal Thimphu College, and Choki Traditional Art School. The SEED programme is a unique initiative designed to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit within Bhutanese students in schools,…

The Loden Foundation recently had the pleasure of hosting the teachers and students of Jhamtse Gatshel, a community-driven school renowned for its compassionate approach to education. Their visit aimed to exchange insights with the Loden team on sustainable practices, including waste management, plastic recycling, and ongoing efforts to achieve zero waste. The discussions also explored potential…

Today, we had the pleasure of hosting Mr. Huisi Wang from Zhi-Shan Foundation Taiwan at the Loden Foundation office to discuss exciting opportunities for collaboration in the education sector! Our team shared insights into Loden's dedication to nurturing educational initiatives in Bhutan, paving the way for impactful partnerships. About Zhi-Shan Foundation Taiwan: Founded in 1995,…

On 28–29 October 2024, the Druk Tshongrig Gatoen (DTG) 2024, Bhutan’s entrepreneurship festival, successfully concluded at the Startup Centre in Thimphu. Organised by the Loden Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE) and ImpactHub Thimphu. This year’s event, themed “Innovate to Elevate: Knowledge-Driven Entrepreneurship for Social Impact”, brought together entrepreneurs, experts, and businesses to shape the…

The Loden Foundation, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO Bhutan) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Bhutan), organized the National Youth-Led Agrifood Innovation Challenge as part of the National Youth Symposium event on August 13, 2024. We recently concluded the National Youth-Led Agrifood Innovation Challenge, which featured…