Tibetan Children’s Village School celebrates 49th Founding Anniversary Monday, 26 October 2009, 2:30 p.m.

Students on the ground on 23 October 2009, 49th TCV founding day. Photos/ Tsepal, Tibet.net

Dharamshala: Tibetan Children’s Village School (TCV) celebrated the 49th founding anniversary at the Upper Tibetan Children’s Village school, Dharamsala on Friday, 23 October. Anniversary program began with the march pass by the students above eighth standard, carrying  Tibetan National flag and the Indian national flag with the banners  of TCV logo. Other banners with different messages like, Save Tibet from extinction, Heal the world, Small step for a big change, Sport speaks a universal language, Let the best win, Victory in all paths, Seize the day,Youth power, Atoms for peace, Let pen and peace play along, and the last one is ‘Friend in need is friend indeed’ written with  50 years  and a Tibetan national flag. One minute mourning for the four young Tibetans who were killed on an alleged role in peaceful protest against the decades of repression by the People’s Republic of the Chinese Government was observed at the very beginning of the program.

His Eminence Gyalwa Karmapa speaks to the students.

Speeches on the 49th founding anniversary of TCV TCV President, Mr. Tsewang Yeshi expressed gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, late Tsering Dolma la, Jetsun Pema la and all the staffs of the TCV for their great contribution in forming and nurturing of TCV.  Mr. Yeshi conveyed ‘Thank you’ to the Indian government and the people of India  for their unwavering support and understanding. Mr. Yeshi also thanked all the sponsors and the friends to the TCV saying “their help and support means a lot in this time of tragedy”, “ Thank you all”. Kalon Tsering Phuntsok, Kalon for the Religion and Culture Department,  Central Tibetan Administration said, the students should know the importance of education in fulfilling our endeavours. He continued, “we should know how the Chinese government is doing in Tibet?”, every individual should take the responsibility for the cause of Tibet. Kalon Tsering Phuntsok also said that keeping our interest on the Sino Tibetan dialogues carefully is very important. Deputy Speaker, Dolma Gyari of the Tibetan Parliament in-exile, expressed great sadness over the Chinese governments brutal verdict on the four young Tibetans who where given death sentence on 20 October.  His eminence Gyalwa Karmapa was the chief guest on the occasion. Gyalwa Karmapa said, “ being a Tibetan, its the  responsibility of every  Tibetan to preserve the traditional Tibetan education and values”. He said that the older generations passes away and we should learn from them on our traditions. Gyalwang Karmapa told the students, to excel in one’s field with having interest on one’s choice of subject. Gyalwa Karmapa emphasised on having education with our religious, cultural, and our traditional values imbibed to make it a meaningful one. To the teachers, Gyalwa Karmapa said that the teachers should always teach the children with love and compassion, the students mostly who have come from Tibet leaving their parents and home. Gyalwa Karmapa lauded TCV for doing well for decades of being in exile. Gyalwa Karmapa finally said every Tibetan individuals should take responsibility to preserve our religion and culture. Award distribution Staffs of TCV with 20 years of service to the TCV were distributed with the TCV Service Recognition Awards by Gyalwa Karmapa.  Deparment of Education’s best boy and best girl awards and the TCV Common Examination Awards were also presented by Gyalwa Karmapa. Performance by the students Following the award distribution students who paraded sung TCV school song Khenpai Yeshi. About 400 small children presented a group song Gyun miyi nupa to express gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. A hundred of the eleventh standard Science students of TCV school presented a beautiful folk dance performance called Riyi dhuzin. 760 Senior and middle school students then presented a callisthenic display forming ‘Thank you India’ showing gratitude to the Indian Government and the people of India. They formed Namgyal stupa symbolising victory, for the long life to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Then the students formed Cut CO2 350, which is to convey the message to cut carbon emission to 350 parts per million to make the world a safe place to live. Last callisthenic display formed was Unity in diversity, this message which His Holiness the Dalai Lama have been saying is about unity in diversity of religion and culture of the world to coexist being the members of the same human family in peace and harmony. Mr. Phuntsok Namgyal, Village Director in his word of thanks congratulated Chief Justice Commission Ngawang Phelgye and Election and Public Service Commissioner of the Central Tibetan Administration for their recent appointment to the posts on behalf the Tibetan Children Village School. More Pictures:

Mourning for the four young Tibetan who were given death sentenceby the PRC Government on 20 October 2009.