Phurpa Dema – Merak Bakery

There is a beautiful pastoral community called Merak in the mountainous far east of Bhutan, where many people still rely on Yaks. People have begun to enjoy the benefits of modernization as the highland community has grown. If a family wants to celebrate a birthday, they must travel 55 km to Tashigang to buy a cake.

As a result, I decided to solve the problem by opening the first bakery in the eastern highlands! With approximately 400 residents, the demand for baked pastries and cakes has increased, and people can now enjoy fresh, delicious cakes for a change. Families have begun celebrating their children’s birthdays, creating beautiful memories through my business. I also help our community’s monastery by baking food offerings known as ‘Tshog’ on auspicious days and rituals.

We face challenges during the winter because of the freezing weather, which causes our cookies to dry and crumble and our loaves of bread to rise poorly. However, I intend to address this issue by improving my bakery’s heating system. My bakery is a testament that young people can find opportunities in their communities rather than moving to cities or abroad.

I want to express my gratitude to BoilingPoint, for helping youth like me pave their way through life and allowing our local people to experience new things. If you visit Merak, fresh warm pastries will be waiting for you!