LocationsTo shape a more inclusive and happier future for Bhutanese youth
Bridges of Wisdom brings generations together
August 13, 2026
Her Royal Highness Princess Kesang Chodren Wangchuck, President of GNH Centre Bhutan
As Bhutan celebrated the International Youth Day, young people, elders, government representatives, development partners and civil society came together at the Royal University of Bhutan Convention Hall for Bridges of Wisdom: Elder Stories to Inspire Young Voices, an intergenerational storytelling initiative held to mark International Youth Day 2026.
Hosted by the GNH Centre Bhutan in collaboration with the United Nations in Bhutan, the day-long event created a space for generations to listen, learn and reflect together on the stories, values and aspirations that shape Bhutan’s identity and future.
Held under the Youth Day theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” the event explored how wisdom and values passed down through generations can continue to guide young people as they navigate a rapidly changing world.
President of the GNH Centre Bhutan, Her Royal Highness Princess Kesang Chodren Wangchuck, who graced the event as Chief Guest, emphasised in her keynote address that no generation builds the future alone. She highlighted the importance of building bridges between young people and elders, tradition and innovation, and the wisdom of yesterday and the possibilities of tomorrow.
“Today is not simply about celebrating youth. It is about recognising that every generation carries a part of Bhutan’s journey. The older generation reminds us where we have come from. The younger generation will help decide where we go next. Between the two lies a bridge of legacy—the Bhutan we have inherited and the Bhutan we wish to build together.”
Her Royal Highness also recalled His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo’s vision that young people should be given every opportunity to develop their physical, mental and spiritual potential, encouraging young Bhutanese to reflect on the values that guide their decisions and the legacy they wish to leave behind.
Lhatu, Executive Director of GNH Centre Bhutan
The event also featured the launch of the UNFPA Demographic Future Survey 2026 Global Report, Lives, Choices and Futures: What Young People Want and What Shapes Their Decisions About Relationships and Parenthood. The report provided an opportunity to reflect on young people’s aspirations and the social and economic conditions that shape the choices available to them.
United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bhutan Gaurav Ray emphasised that young people’s aspirations must be matched by the conditions and opportunities that allow them to realise those aspirations. “If we want young people to realise their aspirations, we must create the conditions that allow them to do so. Listening to young people means not only hearing what they hope for, but understanding the opportunities, barriers and choices that shape their lives.”
UN Resident Coordinator Gaurav Ray
Education Minister Lyonpo Yeezang D. Thapa encouraged young people to embrace new technology and global opportunities while remaining grounded in the values that define Bhutanese society:
“As you embrace new technology and global opportunities, remain grounded in the values that define us as Bhutanese, integrity, kindness, respect, responsibility, and service to others.”
Education Minister Yeezang D. Thapa
Fadhil Bakeer Markar, Officer-in-Charge of UNDP and the Chair of the UN Youth Working Group, said for UNDP and the wider United Nations system in Bhutan, this initiative reflected exactly why the UN Youth Working Group exists. “The Bridges of Wisdom echoed a vision that His Majesty has consistently championed: that young people must be empowered not merely as beneficiaries of development, but as active participants in shaping the future of the nation. We are proud to stand alongside the GNH Centre Bhutan in this effort, and we look forward to strengthening this partnership in the years ahead.”
Fadhil Bakeer Markar, Officer-in-Charge, UNDP, and Chair of UN Youth Working Group
Stories, values and inclusion across generations
Throughout the day, intergenerational conversations explored how Bhutanese narratives shape identity, culture and the future; what it means to be young in Bhutan today; and how the country’s food heritage can be preserved and carried forward by younger generations.
The first panel, “The Stories We Tell, The Values We Live: How Narratives Shape Identity, Culture, and the Future,” brought together perspectives from different generations and sectors to examine whether the values associated with Gross National Happiness remain relevant in a rapidly changing social and digital landscape.
The discussion explored how young people understand a “good life” today, how stories shape identity and belonging, and how values such as compassion, purpose, inclusion and community can continue to be lived in new ways.
A panel on "The Stories We Tell, The Values We Live: How Narratives Shape Identity, Culture, and the Future".
A second intergenerational dialogue, “Honouring Our Past, Shaping Our Future – What It Means to Be a Young Bhutanese,” placed a strong emphasis on inclusion and disability inclusion, examining the barriers that young people may experience because of disability, gender, age or social background. Panelists reflected on leadership, discrimination and the importance of creating a society where every young person, including persons with disabilities, has equal opportunities to participate, contribute and help shape Bhutan’s future.
The programme also turned to Bhutan’s food heritage through the World Food Forum Bhutan Chapter session, “What the Field Remembers, What the Future Needs.” Bringing together an elder heritage custodian, a young farmer, a technology innovator and a youth leader, the session explored how traditional knowledge and food practices can be preserved while creating new opportunities for young people in Bhutan’s agrifood sector.
A panel on "Honouring our past, shaping our future- what it means to be a young Bhutanese"
From stories to action
Beyond the panel discussions, participants engaged in interactive activities, exhibitions and partner showcases throughout the day.
The Wall of Change invited participants to share what makes them happy, what gives them hope, what disappoints them and what they would like to change. The collective installation offered a snapshot of young people’s hopes, concerns and aspirations for Bhutan’s future.
Participants also took part in storytelling activities that demonstrated how stories evolve as they move from one person to another, reflecting the ways in which values, experiences and ideas are passed between generations.
Sessions on wellbeing, storytelling and generational gaps further broadened the conversation. A fireside chat between Aum Dorji Ohm, Secretary General of the Youth Development Fund (YDF), and three young participants from Nazhoen Pelri created a more informal space to explore how young people and older generations understand and navigate generational differences. The conversation highlighted the importance of listening to young people, creating safe spaces for dialogue and finding common ground across generations.
The final youth panel, “How Young People Turn Stories, Values and Inspiration into Action,” shifted the conversation from reflection to action, highlighting young people already translating inspiration into advocacy, innovation, entrepreneurship, community action and social impact, while also exploring the support and opportunities needed to take their ideas further.
For Lhasen Karma Tashi, a Class 8 student from Dr. Tobgya School, hearing stories of Bhutan’s development offered a personal reflection on how far the country has come.
“After hearing stories of how Bhutan has developed over the last eight decades, I understood what GNH has done for us, from having few schools and limited roads to having ECCDs, colleges, better roads and many more opportunities. It made me realise how far we have come, and that when people work together towards a common goal, we can achieve anything.”
The event also featured a range of partner-led interactive stalls and activities, with initiatives focused on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and innovation, mental health and wellbeing, climate action and environmental conservation, food systems, inclusion, and support for persons with disabilities.
Together, the conversations and activities reflected a shared message: the values Bhutan inherits do not have to remain unchanged; each generation can find new ways to live and express them in a changing world.
The initiative reflects the shared commitment of the GNH Centre Bhutan and UN Bhutan to strengthen intergenerational dialogue and ensure that values of compassion, resilience, respect for nature and community continue to evolve with each generation.
As Her Royal Highness concluded in her key note address: “May we continue to build bridges of wisdom, between generations, between ideas, and between the Bhutan we have inherited and the Bhutan we aspire to create. May the lessons we receive today become the legacy we pass on tomorrow.”
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