Kasur Jetsun Pema Apprises Japanese Supporters on Education Development in Tibetan Community Thursday, 9 July 2009, 10:02 a.m.

Jetsun Pema, known as Ama la or “Mother” to Tibetan children, was honoured with World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child in recognition of her persistence fight for the rights of the Tibetan children in 2006/Photo: Kim Naylor

Tokyo: Kasur Jetsun Pema, known as Ama la or “Mother” to Tibetan children, who was the former president of Tibetan Children’s Village in India, is currently on a visit to Japan organised by the Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Japan & East Asia.On 20 April 2006, Kasur Jetsun Pema was honoured with World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child in recognition of her persistence fight for the rights of the Tibetan children.The Tibetan Children’s Village school with its humble beginning in 1960, has today become thriving, integrated educational community for destitute Tibetan children in exile, as well as for hundreds of those escaping from Tibet in every year. It has established branches in India extending from Ladakh in the North to Bylakuppe in South, with over 16, 178 children under its care. The main purpose of the visit was to meet and to thank the Japanese sponsors and supporters and to apprise them of the education development effort in the Tibetan community in exile.  Kasur Jetsun Pema reached Tokyo on 1 July 2009, she was received at the airport by Mr. Lhakpa Tshoko, Representative of Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Japan & East Asia and Mr. Lungtok, Deputy Secretary of the office.  On 4 July, Tibetan Education Support Foundation headed by Mr. Hiroyuki Sukeyasu, hosted a luncheon reception for Kasur Jetsun Pema at Southern Tower Hotel. Around sixty members and sponsors attended the event. Mr. Sukeyasu welcomed the Kasur and apprised her of the activities of the group and sponsorship program. Kasur Jetsun Pema thanked the Foundation for their sincere and continued support in educating the Tibetan children in exile and informed them about the education system under Central Tibetan Administration in India.  Later she made a brief appearance before the Free Tibet Concert organized by Earth Garden at Yoyogi Park, where many Japanese and Tibetan youngsters had gathered. In the evening, she attended the 74th birth anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Hotel Okura as the chief guest.

Ama Jetsun Pema la (2nd R) with HRM Queen Silvia of Sweden (3rd R) during the presentation of World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child on 20 April 2006/Photo:Elin Berge

The following day, she attended a reception by KIKU, a Japanese public sponsorship network headed by Mr. Kubo Takahashi supporting children in Tibetan Children Village in India. Some Tibetan also attended the reception. Former students of Tibetan Children’s Village school welcomed Kasur Jetsun Pema with a song “Ama Jetsun Pema” from Pemtse’s hit chart.  In the evening, she gave talk on “Human Value & Education” at Tokyo Olympic center organized by KIKU. Some two hundred plus people attended the talk. She gave brief introduction on the education system in Tibetan school in India, particularly in TCV. She said education system should be able to meet the challenges of the modern world, develop human resources, promote democratic values and inculcate universal responsibility in the children.  She said, “Purpose of education is to raise good human being. Values may differ, but important thing is it should be a child development centered education. Learning from book to pass exam should be discouraged. Children should be encouraged to communicate and ask question to develop analytical mind. Even Lord Buddha has said that his teaching should be tested before practicing like any goldsmith would test the purity of gold.”  During the question and answer session, when asked how the teachers should earn respect from the children, she said the best way to earn the respect of the children is to respect them first. A lady asked if TCV School has bully problem, she said the school does have, but in a very limited way and that the teachers and foster parents were under strict instruction to check this problem. To a question about teaching the feeling of gratefulness to children, Kasur said that instead of telling the children to feel grateful about something, they should be raised in such a way that they feel the gratefulness themselves. The talk and the question and answer series were received greatly by the audiences.  The next day Kasur left for Hiroshima where she visited the Memorial Hall and prayed for the victim of atomic disaster and world peace. Later in the evening, Tibet Support Groups and sponsors in Hiroshima and neighboring areas gathered to greet Kasur Jetsun Pema and hear her talk. Representative Lhakpa Tshoko briefed the gathering about the critical situation in Tibet and how the Chinese policies have adversely affected the education opportunities in Tibet. Around 400 hundred supporters and sponsors gathered at the reception. Kasur thanked the gathering for their concern and continued support. She explained about the education system and the progress in exile community. The people expressed their happiness to be able to meet Kasur and hear her report on education situation in exile.  Kasur Jetsun Pema visited Ishikawa ken the next day. She met the Madam Baba, a long time supporter and representative of Busshokai sponsorship group. Kasur interacted with the Busshokai members and other supporters in the area.