Latest News 

  • SJI Profile 03/04/2012

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  • Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche Speaking on the SamdrupJongkhar Initiative 28/11/2011

    Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, who started the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative in 2010, gave two seminal talks on the SJI at his Chokyi Gyatso Institute in Dewathang, Samdrup Jongkhar on 3 and 5 November, 2011. The first was to 300 Samdrup Jongkhar farmers trained in organic methods by the Samdrup Jongkhar...  more »

  • SJI 2012 project plan, budget, and proposal 28/11/2011

    A draft Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative project plan, budget, and proposal for the 2012 calendar year, covering intended activities in organic farming, appropriate technology, zero waste, youth outreach, and other areas is now ready for review and discussion. After revisions in the coming weeks, this proposal will be soon be submitted for funding.  more »

  • 19 October, 2011: SJI/JNP to begin first solar drier project 24/09/2011

    The emerging Centre for Appropriate Technology at the Jigme Namgyel Polytechnic in Dewathang is starting its first project in collaboration with the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative. Faculty member Denten Zangpo, just back from 2 weeks of SJI-sponsored training at the Barli Development Institute in Madhya Pradesh, will construct a solar drier...  more »

  • SJI Reading and Resource Collection 23/05/2011

    A new collection of readings and resources on the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative, including inspiring statements from Their Majesties the Fourth and Fifth Kings with relevance to SJI objectives, values, and principles. The collection also contains key materials on organic agriculture, appropriate technology, and zero waste from the December SJI Launch...  more »

  • SJI Organic Study Tour to India 10/05/2011

    Kuensel published an article on SJI's Samdrup Jongkhar farmers’ recent 3-week SJI organic study tour to India.  more »

  • Summary Overview of Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative 10/05/2011

    A one-page summary overview of the SJI and current SJI activities.  more »

  • Farmer Trainings 30/04/2011

    Three farmer trainers from the Organic Farming Association of India, who have excellent experience in forming and managing small-holding organic farming cooperatives in northern India, came to Samdrup Jongkhar to facilitate formation of farmer cooperatives from 17-28 February.  more »

  • Solar Engineers Training Report 30/04/2011

    In March, six women from remote Lauri Gewog, Samdrup Jongkhar, Bhutan, travelled to Barefoot College in Rajasthan, India at the invitation of Bunker Roy to be trained as solar engineers. For some it was the first time out of their village, for all it was their first journey abroad.  more »

  • Dr. Vandana Shiva’s address to the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative Launch on organic vs chemical agriculture 30/04/2011

    Read Dr. Vandana Shiva’s brilliant address to the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative Launch on organic vs chemical agriculture and her answers to farmer’s questions.  more »

  • Centre for Appropriate Technology at Jigme Namgyel Polytechnic, Dewathang 29/04/2011

    Read about the proposal for the new Centre for Appropriate Technology at Jigme Namgyel Polytechnic, Dewathang – one of the core proposed components of the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative. More  more »

  • New Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative Documents Now Available 27/04/2011

    Several new SJI documents are now available for perusal. Please click on the following links to download these documents:  more »

  • In Memorium-Jimmy McGilligan 23/04/2011

    All of us at the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative are shocked and saddened by the news that our dear friend James (Jimmy) McGilligan O.B.E. passed away on April 21, 2011 after a tragic accident that took place on April 4, 2011. Jimmy was the manager of the Barli Development Institute for Rural Women in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India--a source of research, training, development, and transfer of technology for village and tribal women in Central India.   more »

  • Job Opportunities at SJI 15/03/2011

    The Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative is seeking three highly motivated individuals to take the following leadership positions: Program Manager; Agriculture Coordinator; and Appropriate Technology Coordinator. Detailed job descriptions and application instructions are available on this site under "Get Involved", subsection: "Career Opportunities." The deadline for applications is 7 April, 2011.  more »

  • Honourable Prime Minister

    The Honourable Jigmi Y. Thinley was Chief Guest at the launch of the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative (SJI) December 18-20 in Dewathang, Samdrup Jongkhar. "I cannot express how important this initiative is for the country," said Lyonchhen. "Government alone can't make GNH happen. To put GNH into practice we need the full participation of every single Bhutanese citizen..." Please see HPM's Launch speech in the Words of Wisdom section of the website.  more »

 

"Bhutan is a democracy now. So far things have gone well. But we citizens now have to shoulder responsibility without someone else having to tell us. It is a matter of fulfilling our responsibilities without the prodding of a cowherd."
  --Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Read Rinpoche's Inaugural Address