If you have some decent clothing piling in your closet that you no longer use, you can put it to good use by giving it to those in need. And you can do so by dropping them at Gola Gola Bhutan’s drop-off boxes placed in various districts across the country. This youth-led social network initiative has been working to address environmental concerns caused by excessive clothing waste while being a source of comfort for those in need. The drop-off boxes were officially inaugurated in the capital yesterday.
This is Gola Gola Bhutan’s clothing donation drop-off box, where individuals can drop off clothing for the needy.
Each box has a carrying capacity of a Bolero pickup truck.
Ten such boxes have been installed in six districts and two thromdes: four in Thimphu, two in Phuntsholing, and one each in Wangdue Phodrang, Punakha, Paro, and Bumthang.
The initiative is expected to make clothing donations easier for people.
“Through these donation drop-off boxes, we can help individuals in need. Moreover, we can reduce the harmful environmental impact caused by clothing waste. In doing so, we can help people in remote areas,” said Phuntsho Wangchuk Rinzin, president of Gola Gola Bhutan.
The initiative, funded by the European Union and implemented through Save the Children Bhutan in partnership with RENEW and Bhutan Transparency Initiatives, received a positive reaction from the stakeholders tackling the issue of rising clothing waste.
“When we say waste, there are different types of clothing waste as well. So, in Thimphu, we are going to install the boxes alongside the waste drop-off centres. There is plenty of clothing waste lying around. With this initiative, we hope it helps reduce clothing waste,” said Sonam Wangchuk, chief environment officer of Thimphu Thromde.
Despite the network’s goodwill, they face challenges such as the lack of a proper workplace and inadequate equipment.
“In the future, whether it is the government, private, or non-governmental agencies, we would like to request their help with logistics, as we don’t have a proper workplace or sufficient equipment. The members of the network are all volunteers, so it is very hard to gather and not have a proper place for discussions,” said Phuntsho Wangchuk Rinzin, president of Gola Gola Bhutan.
Gola Gola Bhutan collects used clothes, washes them, and provides them to those in need. The youth network recycles old and unusable clothing as mattresses for pets.
It was started in 2022 as a tribute to His Majesty The King. Currently, the network comprises around 200 volunteers, mostly youth.
Since its establishment, the network has supported around 500 beneficiaries.
Tashi Dekar
Edited by Phub Gyem
