We are always excited and happy at this time of the year as we welcome talented young people to our Loden Family. Today, we received 15 new Loden Scholars through an orientation programme – 2 students joined virtually.
Speaking to the scholars at the orientation, Loden’s Founder, Lopen Karma Phuntsho, gave the following advice:
Learn to take the opportunity. You must develop self-discipline and time management skills. Focus on your studies while participating in other worthwhile activities to make the most of the opportunity that college life offers you. Although having a degree is crucial, the skills, experience, and knowledge through extra-curricular activities and interests are important for enhancing individual capacity.
Prepare for adulthood. You need to develop your independence and be responsible. More freedom will be available to you than before as you transition from school to college, but you must learn how to use it wisely. Study smart in school and have fun responsibly. You are also now a Loden Ambassador to your institution.
Our relationship goes beyond scholarship funding. You are now a part of our Loden Scholar Network. As such, you can always reach out to us for academic, emotional, social or financial support. It is essential to build social capital, so Loden Scholars should help each other. Now, you are all part of the Loden Family.
You must grow intellectually and socially. There is a difference between having humility and lacking self-confidence. Never be afraid to ask questions in class – you must always learn with a sense of urgency.
Be Active, Brave, Curious, Diligent, and above all, Enterprising. Remember when you think of the word Loden, that LODEN MEANS BEING INTELLIGENT AND WISE WITH A BODHISATTVA HEART to benefit both oneself and others through your education.
We extend our warmest congratulations to the 15 new Loden Scholarship Recipients of 2022 and welcome them to the Loden Family.
We want to express our gratitude to our funders and Loden supporters, who have been the wings for our students to fly and make their dreams come true.
Meet Our Scholars
Karchung is from Bamrangang, Sakteng, Tashigang. He finished his class 12 from Jigme Sherubling High School. He is studying MBBS at Khulana Medical College in Bangladesh. Both of his parents passed away when he was in school. His expenditure during school days was covered by his younger sister, who was a farmer. But unfortunately, his sister passed away when he was in his first year. He has four siblings, but three of them are not enrolled in school. Only his younger sister is studying at Dungtse school.
Sandia Chhetri is from Karmaling, Dagana. She completed her 12th grade at Bajothang Higher Secondary School. She will be pursuing BSc in Nursing and Midwifery at Royal Thimphu College. Both her parents are sick and cannot make a living. They sustained on the Kidu fund received from His Majesty. She has four siblings, two brothers are inmates, and her other sister is married and is a housewife. Her younger sister is still studying in school. During the pandemic, her mother was infected with Covid and was already a kidney patient. Her health completely deteriorated. She had to look after her mother and let go of the opportunity to pursue her full scholarship for BSc Nursing at Gitam, University, India.
Sonam Zangmo is from Baytramang, Bumdeling in Trashiyngtse. She completed her 12th grade at Nima Higher Secondary School. Sonam will study Nursing and Midwifery at Royal Thimphu College. She was raised by a single mother who weaves for a living. She has three sisters, two of whom are unemployed and one of whom works at RSPN. Her father does not bother to cover their costs. She was exposed to and witnessed domestic violence during her early school years.
Jamyang Kinley Phuntshok is a Trashigang native from Kakanaywog, Bidung. He graduated from Rangjung Central School with higher studies. He is now a Civil Engineering student at Bhutan’s College of Science and Technology. He grew up with two other siblings and was raised by a single mother. His younger sibling is in second grade. Because his mother is simply a farmer and it is challenging to make ends meet, he must work during his vacations to supplement his family income and pay his own tuition. He works on construction sites, building drains and buildings; during the pandemic, he volunteered to be a porter at the mini dry port, carrying heavy valuable goods.
Phub Gyem is from Gyensar, Nyisho, Wangdue. She finished her 12th grade at Punakha Central School. She will be studying Bsc Nursing at Apollo Bhutan Institute of Nursing. A single father raised her after the passing away of her mother. She has four siblings; her elder brother works as Health Assistant at a village in Haa, and the other three study in schools.
Sonam Wangmo was born in Jagathang, Lamgong, Paro. She graduated from Shari Higher Secondary School and is looking forward to studying Medicine in Bangladesh. Her father died while her mother was eight months pregnant. She also has a half-sister. Her stepfather and mother are also farmers.
Malin Pradhan is from Dunglagang, Tsirang. He completed class 12 at Punakha Central School. He will be studying BSc Pharmacy at Maharishi Markhadeshwar University (MMU, India). His father is a retired driver, and his mother is a housewife. He has two siblings, the elder one graduated, and the younger one is a high school graduate.
Shiv Kumar Ghalley is a resident of Dipuzhar, Norbugang, at Samtse. He graduated from Punakha Higher Secondary School in 12th standard. He will pursue a BSc Nursing degree at MMU in India. His mother works as a cleaner at Gasa Primary School, while his father is out of work. His elder sister graduated from Gaeddu College of Business, while his younger sibling is still in college.
Namgyal Wangchuk is a Mongar native from Tonglagonpa, Kengkhar. He completed his higher schooling at Jampeling Central School in 2020. He is presently self-funding his Bachelor of Traditional Medicine at Bhutan’s Khesar Gyalpo University of Medicine and Science. His father works as a lineman for Bhutan Power Corporation Limited, and his pay does not meet household expenses. He has two younger siblings studying in schools.
Chimi Yangchen was born in Yusakha, Barp gewog, Punakha. In class 12, she graduated from Dashiding Higher Secondary School. She will be studying medicine in Sri Lanka. Her father works for the Punatsangchhu Hydropower Project Authority as a computer operator, and her mother is a gardener. They were only given a six-month contract extension this year. She has two younger siblings that attend school as well.
Tashi Tshering is from Serthi village, Serthi Gewog, Samdrup Jongkhar Dzonghkhag. He completed Class Xll from Karmaling Higher Secondary School, taking science as his major. He is currently studying BSc Nursing at Aurara Academy of Health Science and is in his second year. Tashi’s parents are farmers; he has one elder sister and three younger sisters. His elder sister is studying at CST, while his three younger sisters are also studying in schools.
Choki Dorji is from Jangbi in Trongsa Dzongkhag’s Langthil Gewog. He finished class 12 at Sherubling Central School and will pursue a Computer Application degree at Chandigarh University. His stepfather and mother raised him along with his five siblings, four of whom are all farmers, and one is pursuing his study at Sherubling, Trongsa. He will be the family’s first graduate and join a small group of graduates from the Monpa community!
Devoki Rai is from Jakhor, Patashaling, Tsirang, where she finished class 12 at Damphu Higher Secondary School. She will be pursuing BSc in Nursing and Midwifery at Royal Thimphu College. Her parents work as caretakers with one of the landlords in Tsirang. She has two siblings; her elder sister is in college, and her younger sister is still in school.
Dhanjit Tamang is a Dagana resident from Tsendagang. Dhanjit graduated from Bajothang Higher Secondary School and will study Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at MMU in India. His father works as a caretaker at a farm machinery centre in Wangdue, while his mother is a homemaker. He has one older brother and one younger sister, who is still in school.
Sonam Wangchuk Sherpa is from Jachu village, Gakidling, Sarpang, where he finished his class 12 at Sarpang Central School. He will pursue BSc in Environmental Studies from Royal Thimphu College. A single father raised him, but he could not support his children’s education due to his drinking habits. He had completed his studies with the help of his sisters, who both the sisters are farmers.
We wish all our Loden Scholars the very best of luck with their studies and would like to thank our Loden supporters for helping us fulfil these students’ dreams.
