Dear One and All, I never got a chance to thank properly for the bountiful love, support and guidance I received from you all. So, please accept my sincere KADRINCHEY for your relentless effort to support me and my wife’s dream. I thank you all on my wife’s behalf as well. I would like you all to know that I am greatly honoured by your grand support. If it was not for my wife, I would never have dared to lead such a vast project. I am neither qualified nor competent enough to be at the lead of such a huge venture. I decided to lead this program with much humility and hesitation. If I have doubted anybody in the process of formulating the idea of Camp RUF, then it should be me and just me. Actually, the nucleus reason that keyed me up to coordinate this project was because I couldn’t do anything for my wife when she was alive. I wanted to justify myself as her husband by doing one thing right and this project was all that was left behind for me to show my respect for her decision to marry me; for her unconditional love; for the growth she brought about in me; for her agreement to go with me to a remote school; for her life spent with me and for her last words that I couldn’t comprehend. However, from the very beginning of the project I had only one objective in my mind. I wanted to reach my wife’s idea of Camp RUF to the infinite children of Bhutan. And ever since the first conversation I had about the idea of Camp RUF with Mr. Nima Tshering, I least doubted its accomplishment. Moreover, with the passage of time, that brought me closer to, highly learned and inspiring people as you all, I forgot to even slightly doubt the accomplishment of the camp. The slightest doubt I carried, got erased with the joining of you all- who liked our Facebook page and helped us spread; who wrote to us with lots of suggestions and feedbacks; who helped me pen down the plans with every minute details; who volunteered to work for the camp RUF; who generously donated for the camp and who closely guided and supervised our progress. My wife never desired any kind of glory or personal benefit out of this project. She solely wished to reach her idea (that she very certainly thought would be constructive) to the infinite children of Bhutan and be content with the smiles that it brought on those innocent faces. With time this wish too came true and in the most preferred shape. Camp RUF is now no more just a story of an unfulfilled dream-project of Late Kelzang Chhoden. Camp RUF is now no more just an unaccomplished dream of a demised wife lived by her husband. Camp RUF is now a platform, from where the beams of pure humanity such as love, kindness, compassion, friendship and bonding radiate. As stated by Mr. Nima Tshering in his last post titled Camp RUF is about you! - A Social Movement, Camp RUF is about you, your hearts - a platform for reflections of your hearts and that you believe in the goodness of humanity.” It is the platform where people inspire each other and promote positive learning and integrated living. Therefore I would now like you all to do me a favour. Please let me now walk behind you all. I don’t feel it even right to call myself ‘Camp Coordinator’. I have always been a dedicated follower and an active group member but not a good leader. Back in the college of Education, Samtse, I was elected as a councillor in the final year. That was the year I found myself most confused and terrified. Ever since then, I realized I work worst at the lead and best as a member/follower. So it’s my earnest request to you all that, I be taken as an assistant from here on. Please lead the program and make me assist you all (not regulate). My body sweated and throat dried when I first decided to go and talk to Mr. Nima Tshering last winter. Yet, I did it coating myself with a pretentious confidence. I shivered from head to toe when I first went to see Honourable Secretary of Ministry of Education. I couldn’t even place back the tea firmly on the saucer- my hand was shivering a lot. Yet I dared to talk, picturing the smiles of hundreds of Bhutanese children. My head went blank when I approached Director General of Department of Youth and Sports. Yet, I assured him that I would not fail the department in any way. I didn’t know how to start a conversation when I called all those good hearted people who offered us help. Yet I conversed with all of them and got inspired every time I came across someone new. I couldn’t do much but nod and say ‘yes’ ‘las’ ‘true’ etc when Madam Deki Choden of ELC, so inspiringly talked to me. Yet, I registered myself deep in my heart as her student. This journey has been truly mesmerizing in the most educative manner. I learned a great deal of lessons and am inspired to learn more. So, please let me be a learner. Let me be a follower and let me be an assistant. I will sign the papers calling for Camp Coordinator’s signature. I will take the risk of everything. I will bring in the budget and I will gather people for the camp. I will plan and prepare everything. Thereafter, I would like each and every one of you to be fully functional without instructions. Camp RUF is no more a late lady’s dream. Camp RUF is no more a man’s initiative. Camp RUF is now OUR PROGRAM. And we are commonly responsible to make it successful. Let us all do something for the children of our nation. I am certain that Late Kelzang Chhoden would derive immense happiness and peace from this united act of service for the nation and her children. However, I don’t at all mean to retire from my duty for the Camp. I shall always be there for this noble task. Indeed I look forward to establishing the program as a full time organization some years from now. What I am seeking, is your support and the support that doesn’t wait for anyone’s direction. We normally wait for the leader or head’s direction but this time you are lead by a leader who can’t direct anyone. Therefore I would appreciate if the support and suggestions comes up along with full responsibility of its execution. Looking forward to working with you all and learning from you all With Utmost Regard and Respect Tenzin Dorji
Posted on: Mon, 29 Sep 2014 02:34:38 +0000