When Yangchen Dema was 14 years old, she made a decision that no child should have to make. While most children were going to school and thinking about their future, Yangchen was thinking about her family. Without her birth mother by her side, Yangchen took on family responsibilities early and left school after Class 6.
Instead of books and classrooms, her days were filled with household work, caring for the family, and herding cows. At an age when many children were still enjoying their childhood, Yangchen was already carrying adult responsibilities. For many people, leaving school so early would have closed many doors. But Yangchen did not let her situation define her life.
Her entrepreneurial journey began in Chumey, Bumthang. Her first job was as an accountant at a milk processing unit, a small community-owned initiative. There, she began to understand how local businesses worked and how communities could support each other through small enterprises.
Later, she started a small restaurant and grocery shop on her own just to make a living and support herself. After some time, she joined a women’s group that produced traditional noodles. Watching the women work with local grains opened her eyes. She saw the value of Bumthang’s traditional noodles like Jangbalay and Puta and realized that these local foods carried the taste and culture of Bhutan.
Slowly, a dream began to form in her mind. She wanted to build a business around Bhutan’s local grains.
Yangchen even managed to secure land to build a factory. For a moment, it felt like her dream was coming closer. But there was a painful reality. She had the land, but she did not have the money to build the factory. Still, she refused to give up.
Yangchen moved to Thimphu and started running another small restaurant just to survive. Life was not easy. There were long days, financial pressure, and moments when everything felt overwhelming. There were times when she wondered if she should stop trying. But the dream of building something meaningful never left her.
Then she heard about a call for business proposals from the Loden Foundation. With courage and hope, she decided to apply. Her vision was simple to promote Bhutanese grains and traditional noodles. Soon after, she received the support she needed.That moment marked the beginning of Tara Noodles. She also acknowledges the support of the Startup Center space provided by the Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship, MoICE, which helped her continue developing the business.
Even today, Yangchen continues to face challenges. Without higher education, she sometimes feels unsure of herself in professional spaces. But she has never stopped learning. Step by step, she taught herself how to use email and digital tools like ChatGPT to manage and grow her business. Every new skill she learns gives her more confidence. Running a business is not easy. There are still days when the pressure feels heavy. During those moments, the support of other women has made a big difference in her life. Yangchen shares that many friends and mentors stood beside her during difficult times, especially women entrepreneurs who encouraged and guided her.“They supported me when I needed it the most,” she says.
Today, she tries to give back in her own way. Through her business, she creates jobs and continues her mission to promote Bhutan’s local grains so that traditional food and culture can continue for future generations. When Yangchen speaks to young girls in Bhutan, her message is simple and honest. She encourages them to focus on their studies and to become financially independent. She knows that life can be difficult, but she believes that opportunities are always there for those who are willing to try.
“It’s just about taking action,” she says.
She often reminds herself of the words that carried her through many difficult days.
Small or big, just do it. It should make you happy.
Yangchen Dema’s story reminds us that strength does not come from degrees or titles. It comes from resilience, courage, and the determination to keep moving forward, even when life is difficult.
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate women like Yangchen who turn struggle into strength and continue to build opportunities for others.
