MILAN, Italy: Kalon Dolma Gyari has called on the Tibetan community in Italy to shoulder greater responsibility in the sustainable development of needy Tibetan settlements in India.

In her first tour to the West since becoming Kalon for Department of Home, Kalon Gyari introduced the Sister Shichak (settlement) project to the members of Tibetan community in Rome, Milan and South Tyrol, Italy. 

Kalon Gyari said the Sister Shichak is Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay’s vision to strengthen the ties between the Tibetans living in the West and those living in settlements in India. The initiative is based on Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay’s three guiding principles of unity, innovation and self-reliance.

The Sister Shichak initiative aims for the Tibetan communities in the West to extend a helping hand to needy Tibetan settlements financially, culturally and socially, and establish a strong bond with them. The Central Tibetan Administration has identified 10 Tibetan settlements under this initiative.
 
In a spontaneous response during the meeting in Bolzano, seven members of the Tibetan community immediately agreed to sponsor eight needy elder Tibetans living in Old People’s Homes. Undeterred by the small number of Tibetans in Italy, the community members expressed support for the Sister Shichak project. They pledged to explore how the community could contribute to the project’s success.
 
The Department of Home is responsible for 46 Tibetan settlement offices, 71 settlements and cluster units, 12 major agricultural settlements, 21 small agricultural settlements, 20 co-operative societies, 20 handicraft centres and 20 cluster units in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
 
On 2 August, Kalon Dolma Gyari met with two Italian Parliament members, Ms Federica Mogherini and Ms Silvia Fregolent, in Rome.
 
Kalon Gyari said that the 120 Tibetans who self-immolated had no other option to express their grievances themselves about the very tragic and difficult situation in Tibet under the Chinese authorities. The Tibetan self-immolators with folded hands are appealing for international help and support for Tibet. She said the international community must respond to their cry for help.
 
Ms Mogherini said that it is a duty to support the non-violent struggle of the Tibetan people. She expressed her appreciation for getting the updates on the current situation in Tibet.
 
Kalon Gyari also called on Mr Marco Pannella, the President of Radical Party.
 
Tomorrow Kalon Gyari will meet with officials in Bolzano and Trento of South Tyrol, one of the five autonomous regions in Italy. On Tuesday she will leave for Brussels and then travel to the Netherlands and France.