text: Tarayana family celebrated the 9th anniversary of its foundation today. The celebration was marked with the inauguration of the 8th annual Tarayana fair. The theme this year was ‘Leveraging Cultural Heritage for Development’. The fair aims to create awareness of the foundation and to link the potential buyers in the capital with the communities.
  Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck who is also the founder and president said it has been an extraordinary journey for the foundation as the communities are now more confident with their own abilities and in taking greater responsibilities.
  “It is heartening to note that our rural communities are learning to use their own skills and ingenuity in solving local problems. They have also been learning to acknowledge that they are perhaps, in the best position to help themselves by using what is locally available,” said the Queen Mother.
  Her Majesty added that Tarayana has made a significant impact in improving the lives of the rural communities. “We understood the challenges of serving the last ten percentile of our people. Hence, we have encouraged and enabled our remote communities to meet service providers at least half way reducing cost and time,” said Her Majesty adding that there is still much to be done. “We are a small nation with small population with our inherent advantages. In the coming decade we will focus on fostering holistic growth and development that is in keeping in mind the guiding philosophy of Gross National Happiness.”
  Her Majesty also thanked HELVATAS for its support to the foundation. Her Majesty also informed that Tarayana will be partnering with BUSSIEN, a Japanese social welfare corporation. BUSSIEN will work with Tarayana in enhancing the community development by providing technical assistance.
  As part of the celebration Dr. Jack Demos, a volunteer, was awarded a certificate of appreciation for carrying out restorative surgical camp in Bhutan for the past six years.
  At the fair, the beneficiaries of the foundation displayed their locally produced products and textiles. Some volunteers also set up games stalls to raise funds for the foundation.
  Cultural programmes were also staged by the people of Lhops.
  This year, for the first time, a remote village in Pemagatshel Mikuri is also taking part in the fair. The three-day fair will end on Sunday. Started in 2003, the foundation today has around eighty villages as its beneficiaries.