Story
12 August 2026
Bridges of Wisdom: Connecting generations, carrying values forward
These questions were at the heart of Bridges of Wisdom: Elder Stories to Inspire Young Voices, an intergenerational storytelling initiative held at the Royal University of Bhutan Convention Hall to mark International Youth Day 2026. Hosted by the GNH Centre Bhutan in collaboration with the United Nations in Bhutan, the day brought together young people, elders, government representatives, development partners and civil society to share stories, reflect on Bhutan’s journey and explore what it means to shape its future together. Held under the International Youth Day theme “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” the event created a space for generations to listen to one another and consider how tradition, values and lived experience can remain relevant while Bhutan continues to evolve.Gracing the event as Chief Guest, President of the GNH Centre Bhutan, Her Royal Highness Princess Kesang Chodren Wangchuck, emphasised that the future is not built by one generation alone. In her keynote address, Her Royal Highness spoke of the importance of connecting young people and elders, tradition and innovation, and the wisdom of the past with the possibilities of the future. “Today is not simply about celebrating youth. It is about recognising that every generation carries a part of Bhutan’s journey. The older generation reminds us where we have come from. The younger generation will help decide where we go next. Between the two lies a bridge of legacy, the Bhutan we have inherited and the Bhutan we wish to build together.”
— Her Royal Highness Ashi Kesang Chodren Wangchuck Her Royal Highness also recalled His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo’s vision of providing young people with every opportunity to develop their physical, mental and spiritual potential, encouraging young Bhutanese to think about the values that guide their choices and the legacy they hope to leave behind. The event also featured the launch of the UNFPA Demographic Future Survey 2026 Global Report, Lives, Choices and Futures: What Young People Want and What Shapes Their Decisions About Relationships and Parenthood, bringing attention to the aspirations of young people and the social and economic factors that shape the choices available to them. In his statement, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bhutan Gaurav Ray emphasised that listening to young people must go beyond hearing their aspirations, and called for greater attention to the opportunities, barriers and choices that shape their lives. “If we want young people to realise their aspirations, we must create the conditions that allow them to do so… listening to young people means not only hearing what they hope for, but understanding the opportunities, barriers and choices that shape their lives.”
— Gaurav Ray, UN Resident Coordinator in Bhutan He underscored the importance of meaningful youth participation, noting that young people should be recognised not only as beneficiaries of development, but as equal partners in shaping the decisions and solutions that affect their lives and communities. Throughout the day, intergenerational conversations explored how stories shape identity, how values evolve, and what it means to be a young Bhutanese today. The first panel, “The Stories We Tell, The Values We Live: How Narratives Shape Identity, Culture, and the Future,” brought together perspectives from different generations to reflect on the continuing relevance of values associated with Gross National Happiness in a changing social and digital landscape. The conversation explored how young people understand a “good life” today, the role of stories in shaping belonging and identity, and how values such as compassion, purpose, inclusion and community can be expressed in new ways. These reflections echoed a message shared by Education Minister Lyonpo Yeezang D. Thapa, who encouraged young people to embrace new technology and global opportunities while remaining grounded in the values that define Bhutanese society: “As you embrace new technology and global opportunities, remain grounded in the values that define us as Bhutanese, integrity, kindness, respect, responsibility, and service to others.”
—Lyonpo Yeezang D. Thapa, Minister of Education and Skills Development A second dialogue, “Honouring Our Past, Shaping Our Future – What It Means to Be a Young Bhutanese,” brought inclusion to the centre of the conversation. Panelists examined barriers experienced by young people because of disability, gender, age or social background, and reflected on the importance of ensuring that every young person, including persons with disabilities, has equal opportunities to participate, contribute and shape Bhutan’s future. The programme also explored Bhutan’s food heritage through the World Food Forum Bhutan Chapter session “What the Field Remembers, What the Future Needs.” Bringing together an elder heritage custodian, young farmer, technology innovator and youth leader, the session considered how traditional knowledge can be preserved while creating new opportunities for young people in Bhutan’s agrifood sector.Through the Wall of Change, young participants shared what makes them happy, what gives them hope, what disappoints them, and what they would like to change. Together, their responses created a collective snapshot of young people’s hopes and concerns for Bhutan’s future. Storytelling activities invited participants to experience how stories change as they pass from one person to another, mirroring the way values, experiences and ideas are carried across generations. A fireside conversation between Aum Dorji Ohm, Secretary General of the Youth Development Fund (YDF), and three young participants from Nazhoen Pelri School offered a more informal space to discuss generational differences. The exchange highlighted the importance of listening to young people, creating safe spaces for dialogue, and finding common ground between generations. The final youth panel, “How Young People Turn Stories, Values and Inspiration into Action,” then moved the conversation from reflection to action, highlighting young people already turning their ideas into advocacy, innovation, entrepreneurship, community action and social impact. For Lhasen Karma Tashi, a Class 8 student from Dr. Tobgyel School, hearing stories of Bhutan’s development over the past eight decades offered a new perspective on the significance of GNH. “After hearing stories of how Bhutan has developed over the last eight decades, I understood what GNH has done for us, from having few schools and limited roads to having ECCDs, colleges, better roads and many more opportunities. It made me realise how far we have come, and that when people work together towards a common goal, we can achieve anything.”
— Lhasen Karma Tashi, Class 8, Dr. Tobgya SchoolAcross the venue, partner-led stalls and activities brought these conversations to life, with initiatives focused on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and innovation, mental health and wellbeing, climate action, environmental conservation, food systems, inclusion and support for persons with disabilities. Together, the day’s conversations pointed to a simple but powerful idea: values can endure even as the ways we live them change. Each generation inherits something from those before it and has a role in deciding what to carry forward, what to reimagine and what to build anew.
— Her Royal Highness Ashi Kesang Chodren Wangchuck Her Royal Highness also recalled His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo’s vision of providing young people with every opportunity to develop their physical, mental and spiritual potential, encouraging young Bhutanese to think about the values that guide their choices and the legacy they hope to leave behind. The event also featured the launch of the UNFPA Demographic Future Survey 2026 Global Report, Lives, Choices and Futures: What Young People Want and What Shapes Their Decisions About Relationships and Parenthood, bringing attention to the aspirations of young people and the social and economic factors that shape the choices available to them. In his statement, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bhutan Gaurav Ray emphasised that listening to young people must go beyond hearing their aspirations, and called for greater attention to the opportunities, barriers and choices that shape their lives. “If we want young people to realise their aspirations, we must create the conditions that allow them to do so… listening to young people means not only hearing what they hope for, but understanding the opportunities, barriers and choices that shape their lives.”
— Gaurav Ray, UN Resident Coordinator in Bhutan He underscored the importance of meaningful youth participation, noting that young people should be recognised not only as beneficiaries of development, but as equal partners in shaping the decisions and solutions that affect their lives and communities. Throughout the day, intergenerational conversations explored how stories shape identity, how values evolve, and what it means to be a young Bhutanese today. The first panel, “The Stories We Tell, The Values We Live: How Narratives Shape Identity, Culture, and the Future,” brought together perspectives from different generations to reflect on the continuing relevance of values associated with Gross National Happiness in a changing social and digital landscape. The conversation explored how young people understand a “good life” today, the role of stories in shaping belonging and identity, and how values such as compassion, purpose, inclusion and community can be expressed in new ways. These reflections echoed a message shared by Education Minister Lyonpo Yeezang D. Thapa, who encouraged young people to embrace new technology and global opportunities while remaining grounded in the values that define Bhutanese society: “As you embrace new technology and global opportunities, remain grounded in the values that define us as Bhutanese, integrity, kindness, respect, responsibility, and service to others.”
—Lyonpo Yeezang D. Thapa, Minister of Education and Skills Development A second dialogue, “Honouring Our Past, Shaping Our Future – What It Means to Be a Young Bhutanese,” brought inclusion to the centre of the conversation. Panelists examined barriers experienced by young people because of disability, gender, age or social background, and reflected on the importance of ensuring that every young person, including persons with disabilities, has equal opportunities to participate, contribute and shape Bhutan’s future. The programme also explored Bhutan’s food heritage through the World Food Forum Bhutan Chapter session “What the Field Remembers, What the Future Needs.” Bringing together an elder heritage custodian, young farmer, technology innovator and youth leader, the session considered how traditional knowledge can be preserved while creating new opportunities for young people in Bhutan’s agrifood sector.Through the Wall of Change, young participants shared what makes them happy, what gives them hope, what disappoints them, and what they would like to change. Together, their responses created a collective snapshot of young people’s hopes and concerns for Bhutan’s future. Storytelling activities invited participants to experience how stories change as they pass from one person to another, mirroring the way values, experiences and ideas are carried across generations. A fireside conversation between Aum Dorji Ohm, Secretary General of the Youth Development Fund (YDF), and three young participants from Nazhoen Pelri School offered a more informal space to discuss generational differences. The exchange highlighted the importance of listening to young people, creating safe spaces for dialogue, and finding common ground between generations. The final youth panel, “How Young People Turn Stories, Values and Inspiration into Action,” then moved the conversation from reflection to action, highlighting young people already turning their ideas into advocacy, innovation, entrepreneurship, community action and social impact. For Lhasen Karma Tashi, a Class 8 student from Dr. Tobgyel School, hearing stories of Bhutan’s development over the past eight decades offered a new perspective on the significance of GNH. “After hearing stories of how Bhutan has developed over the last eight decades, I understood what GNH has done for us, from having few schools and limited roads to having ECCDs, colleges, better roads and many more opportunities. It made me realise how far we have come, and that when people work together towards a common goal, we can achieve anything.”
— Lhasen Karma Tashi, Class 8, Dr. Tobgya SchoolAcross the venue, partner-led stalls and activities brought these conversations to life, with initiatives focused on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and innovation, mental health and wellbeing, climate action, environmental conservation, food systems, inclusion and support for persons with disabilities. Together, the day’s conversations pointed to a simple but powerful idea: values can endure even as the ways we live them change. Each generation inherits something from those before it and has a role in deciding what to carry forward, what to reimagine and what to build anew.
