𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞’𝐬 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐕𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬

… 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒑 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒅𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒃𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒋𝒐𝒃𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒖𝒏𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉

By Kezang Choden

After completing the Basic Entrepreneurship Course on New Business Creation for the Domestic Resource Service Group and unemployed youth in 2023, Tshering Peldon, a mother of five, has emerged as a strong community advocate. The training was organized by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment and the Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship.

Since then, Tshering Peldon has been actively assisting unemployed youth and struggling parents in securing jobs across the country. Through her efforts and network, she has helped more than 100 individuals find employment opportunities, offering them a chance to rebuild their lives with dignity and stability.

Her husband, social activist Tashi Dhendup, popularly known as Acho Tashi, has also been widely recognized for his community initiatives. After successfully completing his nationwide “Say No to Divorce” journey, which focused on strengthening family bonds and promoting social harmony, he continued to work closely with communities on social issues.

Building on their shared commitment to service, the couple officially launched a cleaning service in Wangdue Phodrang on September 13, 2025. The initiative aims to create sustainable employment opportunities, particularly for unemployed youth and single parents, while contributing to cleaner and healthier communities. The business provides both income and a sense of purpose to those who may otherwise struggle to find stable work.

Beyond entrepreneurship, the couple has recently taken another step to support vulnerable families. They formed a support group of more than 100 members to assist mothers facing financial difficulties during childbirth. Members of the group contribute voluntarily, giving according to their ability. The collected funds are used to ease hospital-related expenses for mothers in need.

Through their combined efforts in employment creation and social support, Tshering Peldon and Acho Tashi are demonstrating how grassroots initiatives can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Their work reflects a growing movement of community-driven action focused on compassion, opportunity, and shared responsibility.

The couple shared that nearly 99 percent of their financial aid is directed toward single mothers who are struggling to meet basic needs. They explained that many of these women face emotional and economic hardships, especially when raising children on their own. Their support aims to ease the burden and provide timely relief during difficult periods. In addition to assisting single mothers, the couple has also been reaching out to hospitals to provide support specifically to mothers in need during childbirth. They said hospitals are among the places where they witness some of the most urgent and heartbreaking situations, particularly involving women who lack the financial means to meet basic childbirth expenses.

Acho Tashi shared that his nationwide Say No to Divorce journey played a major role in inspiring this initiative. During the campaign, he met many individuals who encouraged him to extend financial support to families facing crises. Those experiences motivated him and his wife to become more actively involved in helping mothers who genuinely need assistance.

He emphasized that timely support is their priority. “We want to reach our help to mothers at the right time, especially when they have no one else to rely on,” he said.

The couple also stressed the importance of maintaining confidentiality. They believe that protecting the dignity and privacy of beneficiaries is essential.

“With our help, we respect their confidentiality. That is why my group members and I do not expose their identities,” Acho Tashi said.

Through their quiet efforts, the couple continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of many families, offering not only financial relief but also hope during challenging times.

Tshering Peldon shared that the group has installed a steel cupboard at the hospital dedicated to mothers and newborns who have no support from family members or relatives. The cupboard is stocked with basic necessities for childbirth and postnatal care, including baby diapers, sanitary pads, adult diapers, baby clothes, and other essential items required during and after delivery.

She explained that the initiative was started after the team witnessed several cases where mothers struggled to afford even the most basic supplies. In some instances, women arrived at the hospital without proper clothing for their newborns or essential hygiene products for themselves. The cupboard now serves as an immediate source of relief for such mothers, ensuring that they receive timely support without feeling embarrassed or helpless.

According to Tshering Peldon, members of the group contribute generously in different ways. Some provide financial assistance, while others donate baby clothes, toys, blankets, and nutritional food for both mother and child. The group regularly replenishes the cupboard to ensure that items are always available for those in genuine need. She added that the initiative is handled with care and confidentiality to protect the dignity of the beneficiaries. So far, the group has supported 13 cases through this arrangement, offering practical assistance and emotional reassurance to mothers during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. The team hopes to continue strengthening the initiative and expand their support to reach more mothers who require urgent help during childbirth.

Sonam Peldron from Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhag said she was inspired to join the group after following Acho Tashi’s journey on social media. She shared that his commitment to supporting vulnerable families encouraged her to take part in the initiative and contribute in whatever way she could.

According to Sonam Peldron, as a woman, she understands the challenges mothers face, especially during childbirth. She believes that women often go through similar struggles, and even a small act of kindness can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life. She said she feels happy when she is able to extend support, even in a modest way, without expecting anything in return.

She also emphasized that community support should not depend solely on the government.

“As Bhutanese, people should come forward to help one another, even if the contribution is small. Collective effort and compassion can ease the burden of families facing difficult circumstances,” she said.

Sonam Peldron further stated that she is committed to remaining an active member of the group. She noted that the group maintains transparency in its work, with regular updates shared among members through their group chat to ensure accountability and trust.

Jigme Tenxin, a resident of Phuentsholing, shared that although he does not personally know Acho Tashi and Tshering Peldon, he learned about their work through TikTok. He said the videos highlighting their support for single mothers and their ongoing hospital initiative drew his attention and inspired him to learn more about the group’s efforts.

He explained that effective management and a positive working attitude are key factors in any social initiative. After joining the group, he observed that the activities were carried out with transparency and strong credibility. Regular updates, open communication among members, and clear reporting of assistance provided have strengthened his trust in the initiative.

Jigme Tenxin said the group’s commitment to accountability and genuine service motivated him to become actively involved. He added that he is prepared to continue supporting the initiative for as long as it maintains its current standard of transparency and dedication to helping those in need.

He noted that community-driven efforts like this demonstrate how ordinary citizens can come together to support vulnerable families and make a meaningful difference in society.

Sonam (name changed), a resident of Paro, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the group for providing essential items required during childbirth at a time when she felt completely alone and uncertain about her future. Currently eight months pregnant, Sonam shared that she divorced her husband in November 2025. Since then, she has been struggling to manage her situation on her own. She has a three-year-old child and is preparing to give birth to her second baby. She said the months following the separation were emotionally and financially challenging, as she had hoped her former husband would extend support. However, she said he remained indifferent to her condition.

Sonam said, “I was very worried about my situation during this pregnancy. I did not know how I would manage the expenses for delivery and the needs of my children.”

She explained that she came across information about the group’s support through Tshering Peldon’s outreach efforts. After learning about the assistance being provided to mothers in need, she gathered the courage to reach out. She said the response was immediate and compassionate, which eased her anxiety during one of the most vulnerable periods of her life.

The support included basic necessities required during delivery and postnatal care, which she said brought her immense relief. Beyond material assistance, she added that the encouragement and understanding shown by the group gave her renewed strength and hope.

She also said that the initiative has not only supported her practically but also reminded her that she is not alone. She expressed deep appreciation to the members who stepped forward to help her prepare for the arrival of her child with dignity and confidence.

The couple and members of the group have called on the public to inform them if they come across mothers facing similar hardships. They said that timely information from the community allows them to respond quickly and extend assistance when it is needed most. As the group remains active on various social media platforms, they encouraged people to reach out through these channels to report genuine cases that require support.

Tshering Peldon stated that the initiative relies not only on the efforts of its members but also on public awareness and cooperation. She explained that many cases are identified through messages and shared posts online, which enable the group to verify situations and provide help without delay. According to her, community participation plays a vital role in ensuring that no mother in distress is overlooked.