The document describes the Kindle a Flame program started at Druk School to provide educational opportunities for underprivileged children. The program began with 10 enthusiastic students and grew to 12 students the next day. Teachers conducted the classes respectfully and treated the students as adults. Students appeared grateful for the opportunity and engaged well in the classes. The program aims to strengthen values of compassion and empathy that are important in Bhutanese culture. It discusses students' concerns about baby sisters of classmates who miss out on education, and proposes conducting a survey to potentially include more such children in the program.

1. Kindle
a
flame
Design
for
change
program,
2012
Druk
School
started
‘kindle
a
flame’
_
a
close
to
heart
program
with
a
lot
of
enthusiasm,
hope
and
love
on
the
19th
May
in
the
Druk
School
premises.
Going
by
the
look
and
expressions
of
the
students
I
could
say
that
the
feelings
were
mutual.
The
session
started
at
1
pm
with
the
DFC
co-­‐
coordinator
waiting
for
the
students
to
arrive.
Student
arrived
slowly
but
surely.
All
of
them
were
wearing
a
broad
smile_
the
best
attire.
Kindle
a
flame
started
with
10
enthusiastic
students
and
the
number
increased
to
12
the
next
day.
Observing
the
students
participation
in
the
class
one
aspect
was
clear
that
each
one
of
them
valued
the
opportunity
provided
to
them
both
by
the
Druk
School
and
the
respective
employers.
Teachers
conducted
class
in
a
slightly
different
manner
especially
with
regard
to
addressing
them.
They
were
treated
like
adults
and
lot
of
respect
was
shown
by
the
teachers
in
talking
to
them.
It
was
a
beautiful
atmosphere
where
compassion,
love
and
respect
must
have
taken
roots!
The
picture
shall
remain
in
my
memory
itched
forever.
In
Druk
School
school
captains
and
volunteer
students
make
every
project
easy
and
worthwhile.
All
the
volunteer
students
who
were
responsible
for
that
day’s
class
were
present
in
full
force.
The
student
worked
in
collaboration
with
the
teacher
and
contributed
equally
to
make
the
class
a
success.
I
could
see
the
enthusiasm
and
excitement
in
each
volunteer
student’s
face.
Their
interaction
with
the
student
and
manners
were
reflection
of
the
Druk
school
teachers
_
loving,
caring
and
supportive.
They
were
not
pushing
the
student
but
gently
steering
them
to
learn.
Kindle
a
flame
project
requires
a
lot
of
sacrifice
on
each
teacher’s
part
as
it
is
giving
up
on
their
much
deserved
break.
But
kudos
to
the
teachers
they
are
so
enthusiastic
and
driven
about
this
project
that
each
teacher
arrives
on
time
(some
ahead
of
time)
fully
prepared
with
a
smile
in
the
face.
Teachers
in
Druk
School
are
living
up
to
the
nobility
of
the
profession
in
everyway.
I
had
the
opportunity
to
interact
with
a
few
students
and
asked
if
they
were
happy
that
their
employers
gave
this
opportunity.
With
regard
to
their
response
you
don’t
need
a
second
guess.
All
of
them
responded
that
they
were
not
only
happy
but
‘very
happy’.
In
the
land
of
GNH
that’s
the
response
I
can
comprehend
and
measure.
Applause
to
the
family
who
gave
this
right
to
education
to
their
baby
sisters!!!!
Anupa
Gurung

4.
Kindle
a
flame
DFC
project,2012
Druk
School
“Access
to
education
is
a
constitutional
requirement”
Lyonchen
Jigme
Y.
Thinley
Compassion
and
Empathy
are
essence
of
GNH.
Our
culture
and
traditions
are
built
on
them
and
social
fabrics
are
held
by
them.
Druk
School
has
a
compassionate
and
empathetic
community
and
school
further
strengthens
these
values
through
various
classroom
and
outdoor
activities.
To
inculcate
and
encourage
these
values
school
recognizes
the
student
by
acknowledging
them
and
their
contribution
in
the
school
assembly
and
displaying
their
names
in
the
student
notice
board.
Feel
Druk
School
has
many
students
who
live
close
by
and
they
are
accompanied
by
loving
and
caring
baby
sisters
up
to
the
school
gate.
A
few
students
noticed
some
baby
sisters
sitting
at
the
gate
and
looking
beyond
the
gate
longingly.
They
shared
their
feeling
of
empathy
and
compassion
with
their
teachers.
They
questioned
if
they
had
been
to
school
ever.
Would
not
they
too
like
to
play
with
friends
and
go
to
school?
Why
would
the
baby
sitters
parents
send
them
away
to
work
when
they
themselves
could
not
live
without
them?
IMAGINE
The
concern
was
discussed
in
the
Environmental
and
Social
Awareness
Club
with
the
club
co
coordinators
and
club
members.
The
following
ideas
were
accepted:
• Make
a
survey
of
students
having
baby
sisters
in
the
age
range
of
6
to
14

5. through
respective
class
teachers.
• Send
the
consent
forms
to
the
parents.
• Introduce
and
present
the
idea
during
the
upcoming
parent’s
teacher
meeting.
• Collect
the
consent
form
during
open
house
meeting
by
the
concerned
class
teachers.
DO
Co
coordinators
and
students
sat
together
to
work
on
the
program.
Student
volunteers
were
invited
to
sign
in
for
the
program.
SHARE
The
idea
was
shared
with
the
teachers
during
staff
meeting
and
with
parents
during
the
parent’s
teachers
meeting
and
open
house
meeting.
Respective
employers
were
supportive,
eager
and
excited
about
the
program.
It
took
a
while
for
the
program
to
take
off
but
enquiry
kept
pouring
in
from
the
concerned
employers.
With
great
enthusiasm
and
compassionate
heart
‘kindle
a
flame’
took
off
on
the
19th
May,
2012
beautiful
afternoon
in
the
Druk
School
premises.
May
I
take
this
opportunity
to
present
a
brief
report
on
our
kindle
a
flame
project
that
took
off
on
19th
May,
2012.
Our
project
has
20students.
Teaching
schedule
was
1pm
to
5pm
for
two
days
in
a
week,
Saturday
and
Sunday.
Subjects
taught
were
1. English

6. 2. Math
3. Dzongkha
4. Social
Skills
which
includes
personal
hygiene,
games
and
health
related
topics
addressed
by
trained
professionals
of
JDWNR
hospital.
5. Senior
students
along
with
60
teaching
faculty
volunteered
to
contribute
in
this
noble
Endeavour.
Guardians
were
immensely
supportive
in
this
noble
Endeavour.
Coordinators
Madam
Anupa
Gurung
Lopen
Dechen
Namgyel
Madam
Anjana
Mongar