Dharamshala: The International Tibet Youth Forum, a flagship initiative of the 16th Kashag is being held in Dharamshala in which more than 100 Tibetan youth with different educational and professional backgrounds from over 16 countries are participating.
The inaugural session of the three-day seminar was held this morning presided over by Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration along with Secretary Karma Choeying and Additional Secretary Tenzin Lekshay.
DIIR Secretary Karma Choeying delivered the welcome address, highlighting the importance of the participants to keep up the efforts to sustain the movement long after the forum is over. He introduced the programme after which he wished the participants good luck in the three-day long event.
In his inaugural address, Sikyong expressed his happiness and hope that the Tibetan movement would be strengthened through the forum. “Since the opening of the V-TAG in 2021 in Zurich, through slow and steady steps today we have reached this pinnacle under the stewardship of the Department of Information and International Relations. The vision paper states that we should be able to hand over the reigns of the Tibetan movement to the next generation of Tibetan youth. As His Holiness reminds us we should hope for the best while preparing for the worst, we hope to return to Tibet soon. Until that time, we should sustain our movement. The first generation of Tibetans who had no education, no experience had faith in His Holiness the Dalai Lama and worked extremely hard to provide for us.” He added that now the responsibility of the movement rests upon the shoulders of this generation and said this forum provides them the opportunity to interact and know about Tibet cause and more. This forum has brought together distinguished speakers, experts and knowledgeable in their domains, he said.
On this special occasion, His Holiness delivered a virtual message from Ladakh for the Tibetan youth, explaining that “the cause of Tibet is not only political, it’s also about establishing world peace by training the mind on the basis of reason”.
“By developing love, compassion and the special resolve to bring benefit and happiness to all sentient beings, we aspire to help all sentient beings, especially all human beings on this earth”, His Holiness added and advised the gathering to replace negative emotions with compassion.
Additional Secretary Tenzin Lekshay gave the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sikyong and Secretary Karma Choeying. He also thanked the participants for making it to the forum despite the heavy rain situation in Dharamshala.
The guests speakers invited to interact with youth included former Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kelsang Gyaltsen, former Chief Election Commissioner, Tashi Phuntsok, Director of Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Geshe Lhakdor, Executive President of Kreddha, Dr Michael Van Walt Van Praag, Professor Tsangdruk Topla, College for Higher Tibetan Studies, Tenzin Geyche Tethong, Former Secretary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tencho Gyatso, President, International Campaign for Tibet, Sherap Therchin, Executive Director, Canada Tibet Committee, Gloria Montgomery, Coordinator of Tibet Advocacy Coalition, Kyinzom Dhongdue, Strategic Campaigns Lead, Amnesty International, Australia and former political prisoner, Phuntsok Nyidron.