Karma Phuntsho is hailed as one of the recipients of the 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Award, widely recognized as Asia’s premier prize and highest honor. He is the first ever Bhutanese individual who has received this recognition.
Karma Phuntsho is president and founder of Loden Foundation, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) that aims to promote Bhutan’s education, social entrepreneurship, culture, and traditions. Since the program began in 1999, it has established five preschools, funded 219 students in different schools, awarded ninety-eight college scholarships, and held sixty-three Bhutan Dialogue Sessions for public
education. In terms of entrepreneurship, the Loden Foundation has acknowledged the challenges regarding youth unemployment in Bhutan through aiding help to the community to become social entrepreneurs.
Trained as a Buddhist monk, he continues to contribute significant studies for Bhutan with his research and publications. Phuntsho’s work includes one hundred books and articles that includes the History of Bhutan and Mipham’s Dialectics and the Debates on Emptiness, tackling the ancient to modern era of Bhutan and Buddhism. These two books have been recognized for their insightful and in-depth study
and approach. With the determination to promote, preserve, and protect Bhutan’s history and heritage, Phuntsho’s work has been an important instrument for Bhutanese culture to be maintained in the modern times.
Phuntsho’s initiative for contributing towards sustaining the legacy of his country amidst multiple problems faced has been recognized by the board of trustees, making him one of the individuals and organizations to receive the 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Award.
In an official statement, Phuntsho said “Our efforts and achievements are diminutive compared to what is happening in bigger countries. Yet, it is a great privilege to be associated with Asia’s champions of greatness of spirit and transformative leadership. I hope their qualities of courage, compassion, and wisdom will rub off on us more, and I pray that Asia continues to remain a source of such inspiration and influence.”
Alongside Karma Phuntsho of Bhutan, the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation has named three individuals and one movement to receive the 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Award: Japanese filmmaker Miyazaki Hayao, Thailand, Vietnam, and for Emergent Leadership Indonesian forest conversationalist Farwiza Farhan, Thail healthcare champions Rural Doctors Movement, and Vietnamese champion for
Agent Orange Victims Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong.
The 66th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Presentation Ceremonies will be held on 16 November 2024 at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila, Philippines where this year’s recipients will formally receive their respective Ramon Magsaysay Award medallion and certificate. The Presentation Ceremonies will be livestreamed on the Ramon Magsaysay Award’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.