Who knew SCCI+, the Service with Care and Compassion Initiative Plus, which began as just a pilot project (In the form of Club in PCE) of the Disabled People’s Organization Bhutan (DPOB) and the Royal Society for the Senior Citizens (RSSC), would one day touch such great heights? What started as a humble effort within the walls of Paro College of Education has now grown to be recognized locally, nationally, and even regionally and internationally.
Just a year old and yet, it has already begun to make a difference in ways that truly matter. Perhaps not the kind that shakes the world, but the kind that quietly touches hearts. And that, to us, is the most meaningful kind of impact.
SCCI+ was established on October 13, 2024, as a youth-led club under Paro College of Education by DPOB and RSSC. Our members, over 50 passionate students call themselves the Nyingjay Youth Volunteers (NYVs), meaning Youths filled with Compassion. We began by serving 19 senior citizens with disabilities, providing them with care, companionship, and comfort. Today, we continue to serve 13 of them regularly, offering help in household chores, basic maintenance, health checkups, and emotional support.
Our weekends often don’t look like everyone else’s. While others rest, we walk through narrow lanes, climb steps, and enter small homes filled with stories, laughter, and sometimes tears. We sweep floors, prepare meals, fix broken furniture, and most importantly we listen. We listen to stories of the past, to silent struggles, and to unspoken gratitude. We may not have much, but we give what we can- our time, our energy, and our hearts.
Through these small acts of service, we’ve learned that compassion doesn’t need grand gestures-it just needs genuine intention.
One of our proudest milestones was being selected as one of the three youth-led groups under the SHIFT Campaign 2025, funded and supported by Save the Children Bhutan. Our campaign focused on creating an inclusive society for vulnerable groups, particularly persons with disabilities and senior citizens. From storytelling campaigns and focus group discussions at the Wangsel Institute for the Deaf, to advocacy programs in schools and colleges, every event reminded us that awareness and empathy can light the way for change.
But SCCI+ didn’t stop there. The world began to notice. Our dedication and vision for an inclusive community reached beyond the borders of Bhutan. This year, we were honored to be recognized regionally and internationally, and I personally had the opportunity to represent SCCI+ and Paro College of Education at a Regional Intergenerational Workshop in Bangkok, Thailand.
Standing among changemakers from across Asia, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride. To think that our small initiative which was born out of care and compassion was now being acknowledged on an international platform was surreal. It wasn’t just recognition for our work; it was a recognition of the spirit that drives us- the belief that kindness can transform communities.
That experience changed my understanding of leadership. I realized that true leadership isn’t about leading from the front; it’s about walking beside others. It’s about empowering every individual, regardless of age or ability, to realize their worth. It’s about creating space where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
Looking back, Dekhar from a year ago would be so proud of the person I’ve become. There were times when I almost gave up, when balancing academics, volunteer work, and personal struggles felt too heavy. But SCCI+ became my source of strength and purpose. Through this journey, I learned that leadership is not about perfection; it’s about passion, patience, and persistence.
Every smile from our care receivers reminds me why we began. Every challenge reminds me why we must continue. And every recognition reminds me that even small acts, when done with love, can echo far beyond what we imagine.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the unwavering faith and guidance of our parent organizations- DPOB and RSSC. They believed in us when SCCI+ was nothing more than a seed of an idea. They trusted our potential, guided our steps, and supported us at every turn. To them, we owe our deepest gratitude, for giving us the wings to fly, for seeing leaders in us even before we saw it ourselves.
And above all, we are profoundly thankful to Paro College of Education for being our strongest pillar. Our college has always been more than just a place of learning- it’s a home that nurtures hearts filled with empathy and minds that dream of change. Every initiative we took was supported and celebrated. Every step we walked was encouraged. Paro College gave us the platform to transform our compassion into concrete actions, and that’s something we’ll forever be grateful for.
SCCI+ is a reflection of what Paro College stands for- a community of educators, advocates, and dreamers working together to create a more caring and inclusive world. The college has shown us that education is not limited to classrooms; it’s also found in the laughter of an elderly woman we visit, in the tears of gratitude from a person with a disability, and in the strength, we discover in ourselves along the way.
As we move forward, our dream remains simple yet powerful- to continue serving with care, acting with compassion, and building an inclusive community where no one is left behind. We know there’s still much to learn, but we walk forward with hearts full of hope.
Because SCCI+ may have started as a small pilot project- but today, it’s a movement that carries the spirit of Paro College, the guidance of DPOB and RSSC, and the voices of youth who believe that change begins with compassion.
And as we move forward, we’ll continue to hold onto the same simple dream that started it all-
to serve with care, to act with compassion, and to build an inclusive world, one heart at a time.
And as I write this, I can only smile and think– if this is what just one year has brought, imagine where care and compassion will take us next.