28 January, Kolkata: To support non-profit organisations in integrating wellbeing, sustainability, and people-centred values into their work, the GNH Centre Bhutan, in collaboration with Calcutta Ondoan, conducted a two-day workshop from 28–29 January 2026 at Seva Kendra, Kolkata. Organised with the support of Udayani Social Action Forum, the workshop brought together NGO practitioners seeking practical ways to apply GNH-inspired wellbeing principles in project design, implementation, evaluation, and organisational practice.

The training convened 21 participants from four organisations working across India and Nepal. Participants brought diverse grassroots experience in areas including women’s empowerment, public health, psychosocial support, disability inclusion, and community advocacy, creating a rich space for dialogue, reflection, and cross-regional learning.

The participating organisations reflected strong rights-based approaches to social justice and community empowerment. Their work spans engagement with Dalit, Adivasi, and rural poor communities; women; persons with disabilities; and people living with HIV and their families. Collectively, these initiatives highlighted holistic, community-led approaches that integrate human rights, gender justice, inclusive education, health access, stigma reduction, survivor support, and sustainable livelihoods.

The workshop was designed to help NGOs move beyond output-driven programming by engaging GNH as a guiding framework for holistic and sustainable development. Through interactive sessions, group discussions, reflective exercises, and practical tools, participants explored how GNH values can inform not only project planning and monitoring but also organisational culture and everyday decision-making.

The second day shifted from reflection to application. Building on the foundations of Day One, participants examined how GNH principles can be embedded within programmes and organisational systems, drawing inspiration from Bhutanese civil society initiatives that actively embody wellbeing-centred values. Through facilitated group exercises, participants refined their project ideas by engaging with the central question: “What would change if our organisation truly took happiness and wellbeing seriously?” Sessions on commitment-building, practical next steps, and the use of screening tools and surveys supported the translation of insight into concrete action.

Participants noted that the session brought a complete shift in focus when addressing comprehensive frameworks for projects and institutional functioning. They highlighted its holistic approach, which integrates socio-political and personal dimensions.

The workshop concluded with shared reflections and closing remarks, marking the completion of a focused learning journey aimed at strengthening values-driven, wellbeing-centred civil society practice. The programme was conducted with the support of the Calcutta Ondoan Organization, based in Spain, whose coordination made this collaborative learning exchange possible.