Photos courtesy of Heather McNeice.

A Home of Hope for Bhutan’s Women and Children

At the invitation of Her Majesty Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck, Queen Mother of Bhutan, four Australians – including Julia Booth, Honorary Consul – have formed a Special Advisory Committee to raise vital support for an urgent humanitarian need in this Himalayan kingdom.

Today, essential services for disadvantaged women and children in southern Bhutan are being run from a dilapidated shed—a place utterly inadequate to provide the safety, nourishment, and care required.

Her Majesty’s vision is clear: to create a purpose-built centre that will provide emergency accommodation, counselling, education, and reintegration programs for women and children facing domestic violence, gender-based abuse, trafficking, teenage pregnancy, and exploitation.

To make this vision possible, the Bhutanese government has gifted 5.5 acres in Sampheling, Chhukha District. From here, a new home will serve five southern districts, close to the Indian border, where the need is greatest: Chhukha, Samtse, Sarpang, Dagana, and Tsirang.

Bhutan is a unique nation, famous for its philosophy of Gross National Happiness, which places wellbeing, culture, community vitality, and environmental stewardship above economic growth alone. However, as in many countries across the world, women and children in Bhutan still face great hardship and remain the most vulnerable.

That is why immediate action is needed.

With your help, we can replace despair with dignity. We can build a place of healing and hope—a sanctuary that provides s