For many young people, leaving a remote village in search of better opportunities can seem like the obvious choice. But one woman in Merak Gewog in Trashigang chose to return home and build a livelihood of her own. Her small bakery is now serving the community in more ways than one, bringing convenience to residents and making birthday celebrations more common among local children.
In the highlands of Merak, where life is shaped by the cold weather and rugged terrain, 29-year-old Phurpa Dema found an opportunity close to home.
After leaving her job in Chhukha, she returned home with an idea to start a bakery about three years ago. Today, her bakery is the only one in Merak Gewog.
“Youth like us should not always think about moving to urban areas in search of opportunities. If you have an idea, the right skills and genuine interest, you can do well even in rural areas. I earn around Nu 30,000 a month from my business, although sometimes my income is lower than that,” said Phurpa.
From buns and cookies to birthday cakes, she prepares a range of products based on orders from the community. She also delivers cakes to customers at home, making it easier for residents.
For many families here, the bakery has brought a small but noticeable change. Birthday celebrations, which were once uncommon in the community, are now becoming more frequent, especially among children.
“Earlier, we did not celebrate birthdays. But with better road access and a bakery in the village, more people have started celebrating birthdays. Things have changed a lot, and the children are very happy when they get to celebrate their birthdays,” said Karma Dema, a resident of Merak Gewog, Trashigang.
The bakery is also making everyday life more convenient for residents. For some, it has reduced the time and effort needed to prepare traditional offerings.
“I came to collect my order I asked her to make as an offering. It has made things much more convenient for us. Earlier, we had to prepare the offering ourselves using rice and other food items, which was time-consuming. They could also spoil within a day or two. Since this bakery started, it has benefited us a lot,” said Trongko, another resident of Merak Gewog, Trashigang.
She received bakery training from the NLD Training Institute in Thimphu and Deojung Resort in Trashigang to build the skills needed to run the business.
The Loden Foundation also supported her with Nu 700,000 to start the business.
What started as an idea after returning home has now become a livelihood, a service for the community and a source of joy for many children.
And for this young entrepreneur, the experience is a reminder that sometimes, creating an opportunity can begin by simply coming home.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Sonam Pem
