June 11, 2026
THIMPHU – After receiving training from Women’s Self-Support Group on Waste Management in 2023 on crafting new products from plastic waste, Jamyang Choden, 44, from Lhuentse, decided to give it a try.
Today, she is a trainer, teaching other interested individuals how to weave and craft products from plastic waste. She produces a range of items, including handbags, baskets, pen holders, and rachu, among others.
To weave a basket it sometimes takes her a week or less, depending on the size. She earns between Nu 40,000 and Nu 50,000 a year by selling these plastic products.
With growing interest and skills, she attended a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme. Her interest in turning waste into cash has given her the opportunity to travel to places she had never been before. She has trained people in Merak, Sakteng, Soe, and Gangtey.
Jamyang Choden is one of the beneficiaries of the Women’s Self-Support Group on Waste Management and has since become a member.
According to Pema Yeadon, the founder of the group, rachu, a new item on their product line, sells well to international visitors, more than to locals during festivals.
Launched in 2022, this women’s self-support group on waste management has trained over 370 participants and generates additional income for women.
The group has travelled around the country, participating in events such as the Rhododendron Festival, the Great Yeti Quest Festival, the Tragopan Pheasant Festival, school trade fairs, and others, promoting and selling their products.
Founder Pema Yeadon said that during a week-long festival, they earn around Nu 15,000, which is then distributed as earnings to those who contributed to the products.
She said the initiative has helped housewives and others earn some income and motivated them to continue producing more items, which in turn helps keep the environment clean.
From June 3, the group began training 25 participants, including five men, in Gangtey, Wangdue.
This year, the group has trained women, youth, and men across the country, including in Lumang Gewog and Joenkhar Chiwog, Sakteng Gewog in Trashigang, reaching a total of 53 individuals.
Pema Yeadon said the training is based on community interest. “People saw our social media posts and contacted us for training. We then submitted a proposal to the Department of Tourism, and with funding support from the department, we train interested locals,” she said.
The training spans anywhere between two week and a month, depending on how quickly participants learn and grasp the techniques. Most sessions are conducted over two to three weeks.
After members complete their training, those who are interested are given the opportunity to attend ToTs.
Currently, there are two trainees each in Trashigang, Trashiyangtse, Zhemgang, Mongar, and Lhuentse.
Chimi Tshomo, 19, participated in a three-week training in her village in Lumang Gewog, taking the opportunity to learn something new during her winter break.
She said that following the training, elderly people in her village now ask her to make bags, baskets, and other items in exchange for waste.
“The training helps us keep the surroundings clean by reusing waste while also providing an additional source of income,” she said. “I got the opportunity to sell a few products during a festival and earned around Nu 1,500.”