Canada Youth Tibet Advocacy Workshop for Tibetan University Students and V-TAG Members Commences in Toronto

June 10, 2024

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Dr Namgyal Choedup, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Office of Tibet in the United States interacting with participants in the Central Tibetan Administration’s Advocacy Efforts based on the Vision and Wisdom of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Toronto: In a concerted effort to bolster advocacy for the Tibetan cause, the Office of Tibet, Washington DC, in collaboration with the Department of Information and International Relations, spearheaded a pioneering initiative aimed at enhancing the skills and capacities of Tibetan youth and members of the Voluntary-Tibetan Advocacy Group (V-TAG) in Canada. Over 40 Tibetan youth, most of whom were high school students, attended the training at the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre.

The workshop was orchestrated with invaluable support from the Canada Tibet Committee, working in close cooperation with the Central Tibetan Administration and V-TAG Canada, who meticulously crafted the training agenda and gathered an incredible panel of experts and speakers. The participants were immersed in a transformational journey designed to develop an understanding of the urgent need of the Tibetan youth to build leadership qualities to spearhead the Tibetan movement as per the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration to resolve the Sino-Tibet Conflict.

V-TAG members from Canada demonstrated an indomitable spirit as they played pivotal roles in orchestrating the seamless execution of the training program. With unwavering dedication and meticulous planning, V-TAG members took centre stage as the main masters of ceremony, embodying the essence of teamwork and collaboration.

After the registration of the participants, the attendees were greeted with heartfelt embraces and words of encouragement, setting the tone for the 2-day training ahead. As the session commenced, a poignant video on land acknowledgement reverberated through the room, honouring the ancestral lands upon which the training stood and invoking a profound sense of reverence for Indigenous cultures and traditions. Facilitators then elucidated the learning objectives and goals for the weekend, articulating a shared vision of empowerment, advocacy, and solidarity.

Tsultrim Gyatso, Chinese Liaison Officer, Office of Tibet, briefed participants on the Central Tibetan Administration’s strategy based on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s vision and wisdom. Tenzin Kunkhen, staff of Tibet Advocacy Section, Department of Information and International Relations, provided an in-depth presentation on the Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group (V-TAG), a key youth advocacy initiative of the 16th Kashag, as well as the achievements of the V-TAG across the globe. The panel concluded with an engaging session of questions and answers, where participants eagerly interacted with the speakers, delving deeper into the nuanced topics discussed and gaining invaluable insights to further enrich their advocacy endeavours.

During his talk, Sherap Therchin, a distinguished advocate and Executive Director of the Canada Tibet Committee, illuminated the historical context and ongoing advocacy efforts of the Committee aimed at bolstering human rights in Tibet. With profound expertise and impassioned conviction, Therchin elucidated the multifaceted challenges facing Tibetans and the steadfast commitment of organizations like the Canada Tibet Committee in advocating for justice and freedom. Furthermore, he provided a comprehensive introduction to the Joint Letter, a pivotal advocacy tool, and outlined specific ASKs for Tibet Lobby Day 2024, slated for submission to Canadian Members of Parliament. Therchin’s compelling presentation not only served to galvanize participants but also underscored the critical importance of collective action and strategic advocacy in effecting tangible change for the Tibetan people.

In the afternoon, Tibetan activist and leading expert on China’s assimilation and education policies in Tibet based in Toronto, Dr. Gyal Lo presented a comprehensive discussion about China’s policy of forced assimilation in Tibet, beginning with a brief overview of the 17-point agreement that the Chinese Communist Party signed under duress to assert their authority over Tibet. According to Dr Gyal Lo, China’s development policies in Tibet are intended as a cover-up for its blatant human rights violations against Tibetan people and as a means of gaining the trust and respect of Tibetan people, which will never be achieved. He also discussed the colonial residential schools widely operated in Tibet, citing examples of his own nieces who were admitted to these Chinese schools where they were unable to speak proper Tibetan and acted differently towards their parents. He also briefly talked on the 7 stages of Colonization in relation to the illegal occupation of Tibet by the People’s Republic of China. As a result, he became aware of the grave consequences such schools have on Tibetan children. The speaker also answered questions that participants had on the subject after the talk.

During session 4, Winnie Ng, Chair Emeritus, Unifor-Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy, enlightened the attendees on human rights and building coalitions across movements as well as contemporary challenges and opportunities for human rights advocacy in Canada. During her presentation, she stressed the importance of coalition building in advocacy, which she described as the art of building intentional relationships as the basis for effective collective action. She also stressed the importance of having genuine care for the cause and each other in the coalition in addition to taking into consideration and respecting the ideological differences and providing an opportunity for intergenerational and intersectional perspectives to be included in the cause. She answered a few questions that participants had on the subject at the end of the session.

The attendees were then divided into groups of 5 and discussed and developed concrete action plans for advocating for Tibet in Canada. Using chart paper, each group engaged in brainstorming, focusing on specific advocacy categories provided to them, including identification of the best advocacy campaign, the target audiences, and the best practices of the advocacy. After the brainstorming session, each group took turns presenting their action plan to the larger group.

In the evening, a session of Canada Sino-Tibet Youth Interaction took place under the lead of Tsultrim Gyatso, Chinese liaison officer of the Office of Tibet, Washington. Various Chinese from the mainland as well as Uyghurs, Southern Mongolians attended the session and took part in deep discussions with Tibetan Youths, especially V-TAG members, on China politics and the future of Tibet. The interaction marked a first time experience for most of the Tibetan youth who believe it is important and helpful to have more similar experiences in the future with nationalities sharing common goals.

The first day of the workshop concluded at 9 pm in the evening and participants dispersed to gather for the second day of the workshop on 9 June 2024.

-Report filed by the Tibet Advocacy Section, DIIR-