Founder
Karma Kelvin Dorji
Social worker · Volunteer · Founder
His work is rarely described in grand terms, even by those who have benefited from it. It is best understood simply: he shows up, and he brings others with him.
Early life
Service became the direction.
Karma Kelvin Dorji’s public identity today is closely tied to community service, but the work grew gradually rather than from a single formal plan.
Originally from Trashi Yangtse, public accounts describe an earlier period of his life at Trashigang Dratshang before he later lived and studied in Darjeeling, after he and his brother were adopted by a foreign family.
Years later, encounters with people facing hardship in Bhutan — combined with the reach of social media — helped shape a form of service that was direct, public and highly personal.
A turning point
From TikTok to a real-world relationship.
One of the stories associated with the early growth of Karma’s social work involved Thinley Gyeltshen of Rangshikhar, Trashigang. They first connected through TikTok.
What could have remained an online interaction became something much more tangible. Karma met Thinley, learned about his circumstances, and shared the story more widely.
The experience demonstrated something that would become central to the initiative: digital platforms could connect people who might otherwise never meet — and those connections could become real acts of support.
Reach
Social media became part of the service.
For Karma, an online following became useful because it could be activated.
Posts could bring attention to people facing hardship. Supporters could offer assistance. Volunteers could connect. Donors could see where a particular need existed.
That transformed social platforms from channels of communication into a community network capable of responding in the physical world.
Followers can become helpers.
Service across Bhutan
Based in Thimphu. Present everywhere.
Karma Kelvin’s work extends past Thimphu into communities across the country — including remote districts that are harder to reach. Support has included food, clothing, hygiene products, medical equipment, direct care and donor mobilisation, depending on what each situation actually calls for.
National recognition
Recognition for volunteerism.
On 17 December 2025, during Bhutan’s 118th National Day celebrations, Karma Kelvin Dorji received the National Order of Merit (Bronze) from His Majesty The King.
The recognition highlighted years of volunteer service supporting people including older citizens, persons with disabilities, individuals battling addiction, and families in need across Bhutan.
The honour marked a national recognition of work that had largely grown one person, one request and one community response at a time.
National Order of Merit — Bronze
17 December 2025
Awarded by His Majesty The King during Bhutan's 118th National Day, in recognition of Karma Kelvin Dorji's service through volunteerism and support for vulnerable communities.
He was also among prominent Bhutanese social influencers invited to a 2025 Ministry of Health workshop on mobilising public voices around healthier communities.
Ongoing
Recognition was a milestone, not an ending.
The work continues through the same channels through which it grew: people reaching out, communities responding and volunteers showing up. The circumstances change. The principle does not.
“We are here to serve, not to be served.”
Follow the work he continues to do.
Much of it is shared directly, in real time, through Karma Kelvin & Team's social channels.