Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI)Projects

Canada Fund has supported 104 projects in Bhutan since it was established in 1984. All of these have been small projects in the education sector. The Canada Fund supports the education sector in Bhutan for two reasons:

First, historically Canada's links with the education sector in Bhutan have been very strong. Fr. W. Mackey, a Canadian Jesuit, assisted the Royal Government of Bhutan to establish a secular secondary school system. Father Mackey lived in Bhutan for more than thirty years and worked in the Education Division until his death in October 1995. Also more than 50 Canadians have taught in the schools of Bhutan and more than 80 Bhutanese educators have been studied in Canadian institutions.

Secondly, with the quickly expanding school system the needs in the education sector are enormous.

Over the last 20 years, over 2.5 million Canadian dollars has been disbursed through Canada Fund projects to support projects such as:

• the acquisition of library books, science equipment, blackboards, typewriters, duplicators, storage cupboards, furniture and fuel efficient cook stoves for rural primary schools throughout the country.

• the building and equipping of high school science labs.

• the building and renovating of the girl's dormitories at two institutions.

• in-service training for teachers and headmasters.

• production and printing of locally written textbooks and storybooks.

• establishment of Youth Development Fund.

• provision of solar power in some of the remotest schools.

In May of 1996 during the visit of the High Commissioner it was announced  that the Canada Fund for Bhutan had been reinstated after a lapse of two  years. Since then over C$ 950,00 has been released to support 48 projects  (BH56 to BH104)