Bhutan is known for its beautiful landscapes, rich biodiversity and holistic Gross National Happiness Index. &Beyond Punakha River Lodge is nestled between the forested foothills of the Punakha Valley and the tranquil Mo Chu River. The Punakha District’s Wokuna Pre-Primary School is situated nearby in Kabesa Gewog (village block).
Despite these surrounds of natural beauty and tourism potential, there are still the socio-economic challenges of limited infrastructure and a reliance on agriculture in the face of seasonal variations in crop yields.
The educational environment in the Punakha District is shaped by an integration of traditional values and contemporary educational practices, with varying infrastructure.
Led by andBeyond Punakha River Lodge in partnership with Wild Impact, and in collaboration with parents and partner communities, the Wokuna Pre-Primary School project with a current enrolment of 19 young pupils, is a wholehearted investment in early childhood nutrition and education.
It includes the building and equipping of a kitchen and dining hall, the appointment and on-site accommodation of a dedicated chef and caretaker to support a nutritionally balanced menu, the maintenance and development of classroom facilities and the provision of essential teaching materials.
This project is in complete alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals of ‘Quality Education’ and ‘Good Health and Well-being, which recognise that access to education redefines futures, and sound economies are founded on healthy people.
In time to come, these fledgeling foundations will shape the Wokuna Extended Classroom (ECR); in essence develop into a primary school for children in this rural area, and function as an extension of the Kabesa Middle Secondary School.