As the third group of volunteers began their work in Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), His Majesty King Jigme announced the launch of Pelsung, meaning “Guardians of Prosperity”. The new national initiative aims to empower Bhutanese youth to develop creative and practical solutions for the GMC, envisioned as Bhutan’s city of the future. His Majesty described Pelsung as the third pillar of nation-building, joining Desuung (Guardians of Peace) and Gyalsung in strengthening the country’s foundations.

“For a small population, every single person matters, and these programmes are intended to empower our people, to build harmony and the capacity to work together. As His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo said in the 1974 Coronation Address, our collective efforts will have far greater impact than the concerted efforts of a few,” His Majesty said.

Empowering the Next Generation

His Majesty highlighted that the vision of Gelephu Mindfulness City reflects Bhutan’s collective aspirations taking shape, with the sacred duty of safeguarding the nation’s unity, harmony, and identity resting on the shoulders of its youth.

“Everything we are doing today is for our youth – so that they will be better versions of us, better prepared, smarter, and more hard-working. It falls on us to build that future, and on them to protect it and take it to greater heights,” His Majesty said.

“That is the reason Pelsung has been created. I invite larger and larger numbers — the brightest and strongest amongst us — to join. We begin with 300–400 Pelsups, but expect to have thousands in the coming years. While today we bring in experts to help build the GMC, it is imperative that Bhutanese are able to take over the responsibility and become its custodians.”

A Call to Trust and Nurture Youth Leadership

Reflecting on his own experience, His Majesty said, “My father entrusted the responsibility of Kingship to me when I was only 26, with enormous confidence and even greater expectations. I would like to learn from past precedent, and His Majesty’s immense wisdom, and recognize the potential of our youth. We certainly value experience, age, and education. But we must also rely on our youth to take the nation forward.”

“My father took a leap of faith in me, and I have always endeavoured to not disappoint him, my people, and above all, our choechang sungma.”

The Spirit of Resilience and Adaptability

“It is not how you fit into a role that matters, but how you adapt — how quickly you can learn, absorb information, exercise good judgement, and reinvent yourself,” His Majesty said. “Success requires adaptability, humility, resilience, and a constant appetite to learn. Every moment of your life, you are growing, becoming stronger, and your conviction solidifies. Only when you know what is worth fighting for do you learn how to succeed.”

Acknowledging the challenges ahead, His Majesty added, “There will be heartaches and disappointments. If it were easy, every country in the world would be better off and do exactly what we are doing. We have to be resilient in the face of challenges to do what others cannot.”

The First Cohort of Pelsung

The inaugural group of Pelsung participants consists of about 300 youth, selected from thousands of applicants from Bhutan and abroad. They include civil servants, private employees, students, and recent graduates. Their training includes a Youth Integration Programme developed with the support of Desuung, focusing on teamwork and community building.

Participants will also attend GMC Talks with experts from the Gelephu Mindfulness City Authority and collaborate on ideas under four themes — Social and Cultural, Business and Commercial, Governance and Planning, and Architecture and Urban Design.

The Spirit of Service and Unity

His Majesty expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming response from the public, noting that people from across Bhutan have shown tremendous enthusiasm to participate in volunteer efforts.

“This is the true spirit of Bhutan — our unity, and the manner in which Bhutanese come together with the noble intent of benefiting all sentient beings,” His Majesty said. “That is what makes Bhutan special, and sets us apart.”

Among the attendees was 98-year-old Lopen Basokarp, the former Yangbi Lopen and Druk Thugsey recipient, who had requested to join the voluntary work in Gelephu — a powerful symbol of dedication and lifelong service to the nation.

A Shared Vision for Gelephu Mindfulness City

The ceremony was graced by Her Majesty Queen Jetsun Pema, Members of the Royal Family, international guests, government officials, and the people of Gelephu.

Meanwhile, the third zhabtog programme for GMC, involving more than 5,600 volunteers, began on the same day and will continue until 10 October — yet another testament to the collective will and commitment of the Bhutanese people in shaping a mindful and prosperous future for the nation.