Li Foundation was honoured to welcome a Bhutanese delegation and representatives from Temasek Foundation, Enlight Foundation, and Octava Foundation to our office for an exchange on inclusive development, happiness, and philanthropy. The visit provided an opportunity to discuss Her Majesty the Queen of Bhutan’s ambitious vision – establishing the 2.77-acre SELWA centre in Thimphu to empower persons with disabilities through holistic education, vocational training, rehabilitation support, and inclusive employment.
The conversations highlighted the strong alignment and areas of learning between Singapore and Bhutan despite their different contexts. Singapore is widely recognised for its strategic approach to leadership, innovation, and philanthropy, while Bhutan continues to inspire the world through its commitment to Gross National Happiness (GNH), sustainability, and holistic well-being.
At the heart of these exchanges was a shared belief that long-term societal well-being should remain central to development efforts. The SELWA initiative’s focus on supporting persons with disabilities resonated strongly with Singapore’s growing emphasis on inclusion and community-centred development. Participants explored how Bhutan’s values-driven approach could complement Singapore’s technical expertise and ecosystem building, and how Singapore’s experience in inclusive design could benefit Bhutan. We also discussed the possibility of leveraging further resources and cross-border collaboration through networks such as Asia Philanthropy Circle, Asia Community Foundation, and The Giving Pledge to collectively realise Bhutan’s vision of Gross National Happiness and long-term holistic development.
As part of the visit, Li Foundation also hosted the Bhutanese delegation for a tour of Enabling Village. The visit offered inspiration and practical reference points for the design and development of Bhutan’s future SELWA inclusive village. Through the tour, delegates observed how accessible infrastructure, inclusive employment opportunities, community spaces, and social services can be thoughtfully integrated into a shared environment that empowers persons with disabilities and fosters social participation.
The exchange underscored the potential for deeper collaboration between Singapore and Bhutan in shaping new models of purposeful giving and inclusive development across Asia. By combining innovation with well-being and technical expertise with human-centred values, both countries have an opportunity to contribute to a more compassionate, sustainable, and inclusive future for the region.
The book showcases how the participants challenged their limits and conquered the World Marathon Challenge and North Pole Marathon to inspire people to challenge their own limits and pursue their dreams boldly.
The book tells the stories behind the event which saw the largest number of people in history running 1045km round Taiwan in 19 days.