In recent years, the number of children and young people in Bhutan who have come into conflict with the law has risen significantly. The Bhutanese non-governmental organisation Nazhoen Lamtoen is the only non-governmental organisation that works with the Royal Bhutan Police to support these children in the YDRC juvenile detention centre by providing vocational training, helping them enter the workforce and offering individual support on their journey back into society.
With project funding from the City of Vienna, police officers and staff at the Half Way Home child protection centre are being trained as trainers. Twenty-five children and young people at the YDRC and children at Half Way Home are receiving qualified training and thus particularly important start-up assistance for an independent life.
No Future Without Education
The main problem that children in conflict with the law face is the lack of effective reintegration support after their release from the YDRC. They often lack any family support and, in most cases, have had no opportunity to acquire skills that would enable them to find stable employment. Without marketable skills, these children often take on menial jobs or return to crime, perpetuating the cycle of crime and poverty.
In addition, there is a need for qualified trainers who can teach advanced skills in various areas, as the current police and home staff do not have the expertise to provide these children with high-quality vocational training.
Half Way Home
The home offers immediate protection and support to children who have been affected by violence, abuse, neglect or abandonment. Since its foundation, the home has provided important services to 115 children. The children who are taken in there often come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and are at risk due to serious family problems such as alcoholism, mental health issues and experiences of violence.
The main task of the home is not only to provide protection, but also to create opportunities for the development of skills that can help the children return to society as independent and productive members. Without such services, these children would be even more vulnerable and might be forced into domestic work, agricultural labour or other menial jobs with minimal income prospects.
Measures/activities at the YDRC and Half Way Home
- Improvement of vocational training facilities: Modernisation of existing training facilities with modern equipment and technology. Provision of specialist courses in tailoring, baking, painting, hairdressing and digital media.
- Training of police and Half Way Home staff: Providing training programmes to equip staff with the necessary skills to become certified vocational trainers. Developing a curriculum for training police officers in professional-level vocational teaching techniques.
- Collaboration with employers: Establishing partnerships with local businesses, media companies and craft businesses to create employment opportunities for children after their release. Promoting corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives that encourage employers to support the programme by hiring at-risk young people.
- Certification and job placement: Enrolling children in advanced certification courses in collaboration with vocational training institutes. Facilitating job placement and providing salary support during the initial employment phase to ensure a smooth transition.
- Ongoing support: Offering support programmes for young people after release, including guidance on managing their income, establishing good habits and avoiding situations that could lead to reoffending.
Nazhoen Lamtoen
The Youth Development and Rehabilitation Centre (YDRC) is the only facility for these children and young people, and Nazhoen Lamtoen is the only civil society organisation (CSO) that works with the police to provide rehabilitation services and support reintegration efforts. In addition, Nazhoen Lamtoen runs the Half Way Home child protection centre for children in difficult situations.
In terms of numbers, Nazhoen Lamtoen has reached a total of 899 children (382 boys and 517 girls) in difficult circumstances by 2024 and has established more than 100 micro-enterprises for their families in the six pilot districts of Zhemgang, Chhukha, Dagana, Thimphu, Paro and Mongar.
In addition, Nazhoen Lamtoen had the opportunity to work with a total of 126 children (121 boys and 5 girls) who had come into conflict with the law, including 59 children in cases involving diversion and reintegration.
The child protection home or ‘Half Way Home’ for children in difficult circumstances was established in 2019 and has helped 115 children (62 girls and 53 boys) to date.
In Bhutan, children are defined as persons under the age of 18 in accordance with the Child Care and Protection Act 2011 and the international standards of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The offences in question are primarily drug abuse, violence and theft, but also various other criminal activities. In recent years, the number of children and young people in conflict with the law has risen significantly, with over 300 schoolchildren alone involved in drug offences.
Project details
Project name: Reintegration of vulnerable children through vocational training
Funding: Project total EUR 41,231, of which City of Vienna: EUR 37,117
Project partner: Nazhoen Lamtoen
Project duration: 1 November 2025 – 31 October 2027
Thematic focus: Educational opportunities for vulnerable children
SDG Tracker: SDG 4 Inclusive, equitable and high-quality education;
