Thousands of volunteers from across the country are once again gathering in Gelephu to contribute to the nation’s most ambitious project, the Gelephu Mindfulness City. The third phase of voluntary work, which began earlier this week, has seen strong participation, reflecting the growing spirit of service and unity among the Bhutanese people.
Despite the scorching heat and long hours of work, volunteers can be seen working with enthusiasm, singing, smiling, and giving their best to help achieve the vision of Gelephu Mindfulness City, a vision inspired by His Majesty The King.
According to the chief planning officer from the Governor’s Office, the third phase of volunteerism has seen an unprecedented turnout.
“In the first phase, we had about 2,000 volunteers, and in the second, around 7,000. But this time, over 8,000 people have registered, and even on the third day, more than 7,000 continue to work actively. The numbers are only increasing,” said Gonpo Tenzin, Chief Planning Officer, Governor’s Office, GMCA.
Officials attribute the growing participation to timely communication through social media and the internet. Beyond physical labour, individuals, offices, and institutions have also come forward to support the initiative by providing water, lunch, and machinery. Calls offering help continue to pour in from people across the country.
While the ongoing phase focuses mainly on landscaping works, officials said that more opportunities for voluntary service will soon open as the project expands to constructing religious sites and monuments.
“GMC is only starting as of now, and people increasingly want to contribute. And we feel that everyone will get the opportunity to take part in this. If possible, we will be having similar voluntary programmes once every month. For now, it’s the landscaping works. Very soon we will start with the construction of religious sites and monuments, there too people will get the opportunity to serve,” said Gonpo Tenzin, Chief Planning Officer, Governor’s Office, GMCA.
With the surge in volunteer numbers, accommodation has become a challenge. Gelephu’s hotels, with only about 800 rooms, can house just over a thousand volunteers. To manage the situation, guesthouses, office halls, and institutional facilities are being used.
“Additionally, local communities have revived the age-old Bhutanese tradition of hosting guests. For instance, volunteers from Haa are being warmly taken care of by Gelephu Gewog, a gesture that truly reflects our spirit of unity and hospitality. Such initiatives will help solve the accommodation issue in future,” said Gonpo Tenzin, Chief Planning Officer, Governor’s Office, GMCA.
As work continues in Gelephu, the growing spirit of volunteerism stands as a testament to what Bhutanese people can achieve when united by a common purpose.
Passang Dorji, Gelephu
