April 26, 2026
In the spirit of Zhabtog, the GNH Centre Bhutan participated in the 6th Round of GMC volunteer initiative
The 6th Round of the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) Volunteer Programme concluded on April 14, 2026, with Their Majesties, The King and The Queen, granting a Tokha to over 8,100 volunteers who gave five days of dedicated service to one of the most significant nation-building efforts in Bhutan's history. Among them was the GNH Centre Bhutan (GNHCB), which led team 4, with 300 volunteers drawn from every corner of the country.
A Royal Opening
The programme opened on April 10, 2026, graced by His Majesty The King, Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen Queen Jetsun Pema, His Royal Highness Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck and His Royal Highness Gyalsey Ugyen Wangchuck. Their Majesties worked alongside volunteers on the second day of the programme, joining thousands at various sites across Gelephu Mindfulness City in a powerful demonstration of shared national purpose.
The Royal presence set the tone for what followed: five days of extraordinary collective service, carried out in the spirit of zhabtog — Bhutan's cherished tradition of communal labour for the greater good.
GNHCB Leads Team 4
The GNHCB team led and coordinated efforts on the ground across all five days. Team 4 brought together over 300 volunteers from across Bhutan, including members of the monk body who undertook the long journey from Samdrup Jongkhar in the country's far east – travelling not because they were asked, but because they believed.
For ED Lhatu, their presence was one of the most moving aspects of the entire programme.
“When I saw our monks from Dujom Terling Choedra, who had travelled all the way from Lauri Gewog in one of the most remote parts of Samdrup Jongkhar, asking for nothing and simply offering their service, I was reminded of what this country is built upon. That journey alone speaks to why this city will be built and why it will endure,” he said.
Volunteers carried out site preparation works that formed the physical foundation of the city's earliest development. Tasks included large-scale land clearing, development of the area surrounding the Central Park — which will serve as the heart of the GMC — and the preparation of sacred ground for the 108 Janchub Chorten, whose number carries deep Buddhist significance and whose presence will anchor the city's spiritual identity for generations.
The 8,100-strong volunteer group was drawn from monasteries and religious communities, government ministries, dzongkhag administrations, businesses, and the general public across all 20 dzongkhags. The round also carried a remarkable international dimension: 155 Bhutanese from Australia made the journey home specifically to participate, and those who could not travel contributed financially, raising over AUD 66,000 to ensure the diaspora's collective stake in Bhutan's future.
ED Lhatu reflected on what that breadth of participation meant.
He said, “Standing among thousands of fellow Bhutanese — monks, youth, civil servants, and families who flew in from Australia — you understand that this is not just a city. This is our collective commitment to a vision that His Majesty has set for our nation and for the world. For GNHCB, being here was not a choice we deliberated over. It was the only place we could be."
Their Majesties The King and The Queen, together with Their Royal Highnesses, granted a Tokha to all volunteers. Their Majesties expressed deep appreciation to every individual who contributed their time, effort, and spirit over the five days of service. Their Majesties The King and The Queen also conveyed their warm wishes and blessings as volunteers returned to their families and communities.
The audience with Their Majesties marked a moment of shared national gratitude, bringing thousands together one final time before dispersing to their homes, dzongkhags, and countries.