Bhutan
For Desum, growing up in Bhutan has meant living in harmony with nature and carrying forward traditions grounded in Buddhist values of compassion and non-violence. In her application, she spoke of pride in her cultural roots, from clothing to festivals, and the way her people work together to preserve their environment. Her blog during the trip reflected this same balance of reverence for culture and curiosity for the world beyond Bhutan. She especially highlighted photography as her way of capturing moments of joy and learning, whether among peers or in the bustling streets of Indian cities. Witnessing firsthand the impacts of climate change on agriculture and hydropower back home made her more attuned to similar concerns in India. The Leadership Collective gave her the chance to experience life outside her country for the first time, and she embraced it with openness, weaving together compassion, tradition, and a global outlook.