Bhutan
Dr. Tashi Zangmo (Executive Director)
The Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF) is a nonprofit established in 2009 under the patronage of Her Majesty Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck. Its mission is to improve the well-being and education of nuns in Bhutan so that they may in turn contribute to the promotion of cultural and spiritual values in broader society. BNF advocates the importance of the role of women in Bhutan so as to ensure that all girls and women are valued and have equal access to quality education and a fulfilling life regardless of income, status, or geographic location. Today, there are approximately 1,000 young women and girl nuns living in 26 nunneries throughout Bhutan. The achievement and work toward this goal strongly supports and echoes those of the values of Gross National Happiness toward the promotion of cultural, and sustainable and equitable, development. Thus, BNF seeks to make nuns and nunneries leading agents and self-reliant institutions for women. The Bhutan Foundation supports the work of the Bhutan Nuns’ Foundation to serve the girls and women in the nunneries throughout Bhutan by providing access to water supply, providing workshops on sanitation and nutrition, and promoting BNF’s work.