𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐫𝐢, 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐭𝐬𝐞

…𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒊𝒙 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 100 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅

By Lalit Gurung

What began as a humble effort supporting six students in terms of educational materials, groceries, and pocket money in 2019 has now blossomed into a wider, collaborative community movement. A small but impactful initiative, “Little from the Heart,” founded by Laxuman Bista, a teacher by profession and a passionate social worker, is making a significant difference in the lives of financially unstable children and families in Samtse.

Today, Little from the Heart reaches over 100 students since its inception, offering not only essential educational materials but also basic necessities such as groceries, clothing, and expenses. This expansion has been made possible through the combined efforts of local volunteers, educators, and international donors at the United Kingdom (UK) based charity, “Opening Your Heart to Bhutan.”

Laxuman Bista was initially placed in Gomtu Higher Secondary School in Phuntsholpelri, in 2017 and was serving as a class teacher for IV. He noticed that one of his students missed an entire week of classes. Upon inquiring, he got to know that he lives in a rented hut, while his parents resided about five hours away from the school. Also that student was out of rations. “This situation deeply resonated with me, as I had grown up in a humble family. I began supporting students in need with my own resources, providing them with essentials such as school supplies, food, and expenses,” said Laxuman Bista.

He claimed that he personally funded these efforts between 2017 and 2018. Inspired by the impact of his work, he initiated “Little from the Heart” in 2019, aimed at supporting financially unstable students in the community.
“With its roots deeply inspired by His Majesty’s dedication to serving the nation and its people, the initiative focuses on small but meaningful acts of kindness to address the needs of the most vulnerable students in the community,” said Laxuman Bista.

This year, through its various programmes and initiatives, Little from the Heart has provided essential school supplies, including lunch bags, to 26 students. Of these, 11 students are receiving support through supplementary feeding programs. Additionally, five students enrolled in boarding schools have been provided with all necessary materials such as beddings, stationaries and toiletries. These five students were also provided Nu 5,000 each totaling to Nu 25,000 for their pocket money expenses.

As the initiative continues to expand its reach and support to more children in need, recently a 350-metre concrete footpath at Gomtu Higher Secondary School was constructed with the help of student volunteers and the wider community, funded by Opening Your Heart to Bhutan. Currently, Little from the Heart is also engaged in a project to renovate and construct new toilet facilities for primary school children in the area. The construction is expected to be completed by mid-December this year.

The initiative fosters a sense of belonging and inclusivity, ensuring that no child is left behind due to their economic circumstances. The initiative made its impact beyond material and financial support, it seeks to nurture the holistic development of children by engaging them in various activities that promote personal growth, social responsibility, and leadership. Whether it’s through volunteering in community projects or participating in educational workshops. Sonam Tshering Lepcha, 19, a student volunteer, says, “Even though we make small but heartfelt progress, we continue to move forward together, helping each other.”

The role of education in breaking the cycle of poverty cannot be overstated, and Little from the Heart understands this well. The long-term impact envisioned for me includes breaking the cycle of poverty by ensuring that needy students have consistent access to education and essential resources. This would also help students get opportunities to build a successful future. “Over time, the initiative can also foster a culture of care and support within the community, inspiring others to contribute and create a more equitable society,” said Sonam Tshering Namgyel, a school guidance counsellor of Gomtu Higher Secondary School.

At the heart of the initiative is a dedicated team of volunteers, including educators, parents, and students themselves, all united by a shared commitment to improving the lives of the children. This group’s collaborative efforts have been central to the success of various projects at the grassroots level, which focus on empowering students through education. A 17-year-old student beneficiary claimed that Little from the Heart has greatly impacted her life by providing essential resources like food and support during times of need. She said, “Without their help, my family and I would have faced many hardships. I am truly grateful for their assistance in both good times and bad.”

About the initiative, Laxuman Bista said, “Through each initiative, I am reminded that a little effort, when given sincerely, can make a big difference.” The team is also collaborating with Civil Society Organization like Ability Bhutan Society in the community projects.