Swiss: On 30 August, the Rapperswil Section of Tibetan Community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, together with the Rapperswil Tibetan Weekend School, Rapperswil Tibetan Youth (Sontsa), and Football Club Rapperswil-Jona, joyfully celebrated the 90th Birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The celebration was courtesy by the presence of distinguished guests, including Tenzin Choesang from the Tibet Bureau, Kalsang Kangrang – Vice President of TCSL, Gen Tenzin Choezin from Rikon Monastery, Peter, President of the Rikon Tibet Institute, Luca Eberle, President of the Rapperswil-Jona School, and Karma Choekey, Head of the Tibetan Weekend School of TCSL. The community was also honoured by the presence of long-time supporters and many other well-wishers.

The program commenced with prayers led by Ven. Tenzin Choezin from the Rikon Institute, followed by a minute of silence in memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Tibet.

Yangchen Tsering, Head of the Rapperswil Section, then addressed the gathering. She highlighted the importance of the event in expressing the community’s gratitude and unity, while also extending heartfelt thanks to all contributors, parents, teachers, and volunteers for making the occasion meaningful and successful.

During the event, Tenzin Choesang and Kalsang Kangrang spoke about the extraordinary contributions of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama as a beacon of peace, compassion, and resilience for Tibetans and the wider world. They emphasised the importance of preserving Tibetan identity, language, and culture, particularly among the younger generation, and expressed their gratitude to everyone who contributed to making the event successful and meaningful. Luca Eberle also addressed the gathering, where he expressed his support and appreciation for the celebration.

The celebration featured a cake-cutting ceremony, during which attendees sang a heartfelt birthday song for His Holiness. Students from the Weekend Tibetan School enriched the program with cultural dance performances and the recitation of Tibetan poems.

To encourage creativity among the younger generation, a drawing competition was also held. The best entries were selected, and the winners were honoured with prizes, recognising their artistic talent and effort.

The event not only paid heartfelt tribute to the great spiritual leader but also strengthened the sense of unity within the Tibetan community, reaffirming their shared responsibility to preserve their rich heritage and cultural identity for future generations.