Bhutan Nuns Foundation

The Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF) is a charitable organization founded in 2009 that provides support and resources for girls and women living in nunneries and their surrounding communities throughout Bhutan. It describes itself as a high-leverage means of empowering and educating Bhutanese girls and women, improving the living conditions and economic vitality of rural villages, and preserving Bhutan's strong, sustainable culture as it faces rapid economic development. The foundation operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck, who has described BNF as "a bridge—connecting the generosity of our supporters with the dedication of our nuns, inspiring a cycle of compassion that endures like a drop in the ocean." BNF's work is grounded in the observation that many girls and women in Bhutan enter nunneries for short to long periods to gain an education and escape poverty and abuse, dedicating their lives to serving society and often helping needy families and serving as role models. Despite this contribution, Bhutan's twenty-one nunneries receive nearly no support and often lack basic sanitation, sleeping and cooking quarters, trained teachers, and learning materials. BNF leverages contributions to promote empowerment, education, improved living conditions and increased economic vitality of rural villages while preserving Bhutanese culture. The foundation's stated goals include establishing a Training and Resource Centre for skills training for nuns and laywomen, providing educational support to grassroots women and young girls who wish to become nuns or pursue higher education, and supporting the self-sufficiency of nuns and nunneries by developing networks among nuns, grassroots women, businesses and other organizations in Bhutan. Its messaging emphasizes that it helps vulnerable nuns—many entering as young as five—gain the skills and confidence they need to lead, serve and uplift their communities. BNF presents itself under the tagline "Educate. Empower. Transform." and frames its mission around better living standards, quality learning, and tools for personal and community growth.

The Bhutan Nuns Foundation (BNF) was founded in 2009 as a charitable organization providing support and resources for girls and women living in both nunneries and their surrounding communities throughout Bhutan. From its inception, BNF framed its mission around a high-leverage approach: empowering and educating Bhutanese girls and women, improving the living conditions and economic vitality of rural villages, and preserving Bhutan's strong, sustainable culture as it faces rapid economic development. The foundation's work responds to a specific social reality in Bhutan. Many girls and women enter nunneries for short to long periods to gain an education and escape poverty and abuse. These women dedicate their lives to serving society, are very involved in local communities, often help needy families, and serve as role models for other girls and women. Yet despite the great contribution nuns make to society, Bhutan's twenty-one nunneries receive nearly no support. They often lack basic sanitation, sleeping and cooking quarters, trained teachers, and learning materials. BNF leverages contributions received to promote empowerment, education, improved living conditions and increased economic vitality of rural villages, while also preserving Bhutan's strong, sustainable culture during a time of rapid change. The foundation operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck. In a letter from the Queen Mother published by BNF, she reflects on the passage of each year and the importance of learning from the past to approach the future more meaningfully, a message that underscores the foundation's ethos of continuous improvement and compassionate service. By its own account, BNF has pursued seventeen years of compassion in action—transforming lives, nurturing potential, and strengthening the role of nuns in Bhutanese society. Its stated goals include establishing a Training and Resource Centre to provide skills training to nuns and laywomen and build their capacity in various employable and professional areas; providing educational support to grassroots women and young girls who wish to become nuns and who wish to pursue higher education; and supporting the self-sufficiency of nuns and nunneries by developing and strengthening networks among nuns, grassroots women, businesses and other organizations in Bhutan. The foundation's public messaging emphasizes that support gives girls and women education, skills, and dignity, and that BNF helps vulnerable nuns—many entering as young as five—gain the skills and confidence they need to lead, serve, and uplift their communities.

• 2009

  Bhutan Nuns Foundation founded as a charitable organization supporting girls and women in nunneries and surrounding communities throughout Bhutan.

• BNF operates under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Yangdoen Wangchuck.

• BNF pursues goals including establishing a Training and Resource Centre, providing educational support, and supporting self-sufficiency of nuns and nunneries.

A charitable foundation under royal patronage that bridges donor generosity and the dedication of Bhutanese nuns, focused on education, empowerment and cultural preservation.

1. 1Bhutan Nuns Foundation - Educate. Empower. Transform.bhutannuns.org
2. 2Our Story – Bhutan Nuns Foundationbhutannuns.org
3. 3Bhutan Nuns Foundationwikidata.org