WFF Bhutan Youth Chapter: SDG camp in Paro ignites youth leadership for a sustainable future

The World Food Forum (WFF) Bhutan Youth Chapter, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Country Office in Bhutan, hosted an engaging Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) camp in Paro under the theme "If not us, then who?". The two-day camp brought together 30 young changemakers for a journey of learning, collaboration and purpose-driven action.

The camp served as a launchpad for empowering Bhutanese youth to take meaningful action on the SDGs. Through interactive sessions, members explored innovative ideas, built critical leadership skills and strengthened their commitment to sustainable development.

The camp began with an SDG treasure hunt designed to spark curiosity and foster teamwork, followed by an onboarding  session introducing new members to the Chapter’s vision, roadmap and upcoming initiatives.  Members also had the opportunity to step into leadership roles, reinforcing collective ownership and shared responsibility for the Chapter’s mission. As a part of this camp, members visited Johlha Strawberry Farm, an innovative local enterprise led by a Bhutanese agripreneur.  The farm showcased how automated irrigation and temperature control systems can enhance agricultural productivity and enable off-season cultivation.

One of the most unique exercises during this camp was an activity centered around the development of board games for agrifood systems awareness. Participants were divided into five groups and tasked with developing original board game concepts centered on agrifood systems. These game ideas not only served as a team-building exercise but also as a strategic exploration of how educational games can raise awareness on sustainability, agriculture and community values.

In the past, the Chapter had collaborated with the Kanawaza Institute of Technology and Keio Media Design and developed the SDG action card game, ‘X Cross – Sustainable Bhutan Version'. New members of the Chapter were also introduced to this game and participated in a hands-on facilitation workshop, equipping them to lead similar sessions in schools and communities. A key highlight was the Inner Development Goals (IDG) workshop, which guided the participants to explore the personal qualities needed to achieve the SDGs.

The camp then featured an engaging session with Sean Watson, CEO of Mountain Hazelnut Venture Private Limited, one of Bhutan’s leading enterprises in sustainability and innovation. Watson shared his entrepreneurial journey, offering practical insights on resilience, social impact and values-based leadership that deeply inspired the group.
The SDG camp concluded with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility. Through interactive sessions, creative activities and reflective workshops, members explored their collective roles in transforming agrifood systems.