–By Asha Kama
We were there once again and back!!! The second round of the pilot project, despite the sheer enormity of the group, not to mention the complicated logistics involved, completed with a big success. Make a Wish Project 2 focused on old ladies this year. There were 54 ladies, aged ranging from 30 to 85 from Punakha along with 17 volunteers with two children age 2 and 3. The 9 day trip was a wonderful experience for both old and young.
The project was sponsored by the money we raised from the “Art of giving Night” in July 2010.
VAST on behalf of the ladies who benefited from the trip would like to thank all VAST artists who have contributed their art works for the silent auction and all the buyers, guests, volunteers and donors.
List of Buyers:
- Mam Deki, ELC, purchase of Asha kama’s painting
- Peter Schmidt, purchase of asha kama’s prints
- Mam annick, purchase of asha kama’s prints
- Lyonpo Tshering Tobgay, purchase of asha kama’s prints
- Aum sonam Wangmo, purchase of Pasang Tobgay’s Painting
- Mam Deki, ELC, purchase of Sukbir Biswas painting
- Ashi Kunzang Roder, purchase of Mailing’s painitng
- Mr. Alain Duhaut, purchase of dueg’s painting
- Dr. Kristan Jones, purchase of prints, unknown artist
- Aum Tshering Yangzom,purchase of chand’s painting
- Greg, purchase of Dipika’s digital artwork
- Greg, purchase of Gelay’s photo
- Aum Chimi Zom, purchase of unknown artist’s painting
- Karma T, purchase of Yannick’s photographs
- Dr.Lina, purchase of Chands’s painting
- Dr. Lina, purchase of Pasang Doma’s painting
- Aum Kayzang Phuntsho, purchase of Maiyes’s painting
- Gelay Jamtsho, purchase of Kunga wangchuk’s painting
- Aum Pema Norbu, purchase of Dueg’s painting
List of Donors
- Elizabeth Warren, USA
- Mr. Vijay
- Mr. Singye (KASH)
- Phub Lham
- Karma Choden
- Mamta Katwal
- Pem Deki
- Tshering Yangki
- Karma Chogyal
- Kinley Penjor
- Chencho Gyelmo
- Ugen P Norbu
- Tirtha Rana
- Karma tenzin
- Dungkhar
- Sonam Rabgye
- Anne Larsen
- Fumie Arizuma
- Shairi Mathen
- Aum Om Bokhu
- Ama Om
- Kuenga Zam & Tashi Tobgay
- Dago Peldon
- Ugen Choden
- Dichen Roder
- Mam Kara
- Mam Kueron
- Aum Yannick
- Phub Gyeltshen
List of Volunteers for the make a wish 2:
- Ama Om from Jawana
- Ama Kama from Jawana
- Aum Doma from Chukulungchu
- Aum Zam from Phakhakha
- Ap Bow, cook
- Ap Pem Tshering, cook
- Rajesh Gurung, VAST
- Asha Kama, VAST
- Sangay Dorji, VAST
- Dorji Wangchuk, VAST
- Kinley Bokto, VAST
- Zuki Nima, VAST
- Nono, VAST
- Aum Kunzang, VAST
- Pala, Driver
- Ugen, Driver
- Lotey, Driver
Youth connect to senior citizens
-By Tandin Pem (Bhutan Observer)
Fifty-four villagers from Punakha are on a two-week pilgrimage to temples and cultural sites in Bumthang as part of Voluntary Artists’ Studio’s (Vast) project called “Make a Wish”. Escorted by young volunteers from Vast, many of them are travelling out of Punakha for the first time in their lives.
Make a Wish project is aimed at bridging the generation gap, according to the founder of Vast, Kama Wangdi, popularly known as Asha Kama.
He said the group visits temples and cultural sites during the day and sings and dances traditional songs in the evening. Most villagers in the group are elderly, the eldest one being 86 years old.
Last year, the project took 28 villagers on a pilgrimage. They camped outdoors, and in the evenings, the elderly people told stories to the younger ones. But this year, camping is not possible because the group is bigger.
Make a Wish project is designed to link the young and the old from rural and urban areas through the age-old Bhutanese tradition. The young serve their elders and regenerate the lost connection. During the pilgrimage, the young volunteers are fully engaged in guiding and assisting the senior citizens.
The project provides an opportunity for the youth to develop a better understanding of the wealth of wisdom of the older generation. It also provides the poor senior citizens, who have not been outside their villages, an opportunity to visit religious and cultural sites and to develop a wider prospective on the development and changes taking place in the country.
The aim is to link the understanding of the old and the new to rural environment, cultural heritage and values.
“This is a pilot project. Next year, we are planning to take people from other areas,” said Kama Wangdi, adding, however, that funding has been a problem.
This year’s Make a Wish project has been funded by proceeds from an event organised by Vast. Vast artists auctioned their artworks during the Art of Giving Night and donated the whole amount to Vast.
Way to go VAST. Congratulation on another successful project. and a Bigger congratulation on making so many peoples wishes come true.
whats up next??? I am saying this before mam Y!!!!
thanks kunga
Okay next are:
we have a Bascoop tshechu on the 18 sept and a special workshop by backlin’s grand mother on the 19 sept, she is going to share her long experiences with clay pots and so on!!! she is a senior pottary artist from France, its rare opportunity so please be there on sunday at the clock tower square!!!
great project! Congratulations. Remarkable how you connect different generations and give them the opportunity to learn from each other. Hopeful!