Education for Lifelong Citizenship

In May 2026, Lord Verjee visited ELC High School in Thimphu, Bhutan, spending a day with its students and teachers and experiencing an educational philosophy rooted in kindness, compassion and human flourishing.

The school’s guiding vision—“eduCARING for Universal Happiness”—reflects Bhutan’s belief that education should nurture the whole person, preparing young people not simply for examinations, but for purposeful and fulfilling lives.

At the heart of ELC’s approach are the Four Pillars of Wellbeing: mindfulness, community, self-curiosity, and contentment and balance. Together, they give young people the emotional awareness and practical skills to understand themselves, care for others and respond thoughtfully to the world around them. Wellbeing is not treated as an addition to academic learning, but as an essential part of it.

Kindness runs through this philosophy. Students learn that kindness is more than an abstract value: it is something to be practised through empathy, attentive listening, generosity and service. By creating a culture in which every student feels seen and valued, ELC demonstrates how schools can become places where confidence, compassion and a sense of belonging grow alongside knowledge.

Lord Verjee’s visit offered an uplifting glimpse of what education can be when intellectual development and human values are given equal importance. ELC’s work closely reflects The Rumi Foundation’s belief in nurturing young hearts and minds and equipping the next generation to build a more caring and harmonious future. Its students are a hopeful reminder that when kindness is placed at the centre of education, its impact can extend far beyond the classroom.