TCV to Host Study Program for Tibetan Children from West
Thursday, 3 July 2008, 10:04 a.m.
New York: A six-week Summer
Study Program for the Tibetan children brought up in North America
begins at the Tibetan Children’s Village in Dharamsala from 7 July.
The program, launched by the Tibetan Children’s Village in
collaboration with the Office of Tibet in New York, will end on 16
August.
Around 30 Tibetan children, aged between 10 and 20, from the United States and Canada are participating in the program.
During their six-week stay at the Tibetan children’s Village,
the participants will learn about Tibetan history, culture and
religion, the current situation in Tibet, and the functioning of the
exile Tibetan administration.
They will also learn the Tibetan language.
The topics for discussion during six-week intensive program
ranged from introduction to Buddhism to folk tales of Tibet, Tibetan
festivals, overview of the Tibetan history, introduction to the
institution of the Dalai Lamas, the current situation in Tibet, and the
history and development of the Tibetan Children Village, etc.
The participants will also take part in two mock practices of
Tibetan marriage and Losar (New Year) celebration. Though they will
learn Tibetan music and dance every day, they will also practice a
Tibetan play (drama) together during their stay. .
The chef at the Tibetan Children’s Village, Majen Migmar, will introduce the participants to the Tibetan cuisines.
Apart from class room discussions and practices, the
participants will visit Tibetan Children’s Village in Chauntra, Suja,
and Gopalpur to get more exposure.
During these trips, the participants will be given opportunity
to closely interact with the inmates of these schools. They will also
explore monastic and other institutions in and around Bir.
In Dharamsala, the participants will visit and explore the
Library of Tibetan Works and Archive, the Institute of Tibetan Medicine
and Astrology, the Tibetan Institute of Performing Art, the Tibetan
Center for Human Rights and Democracy, and Gu-chu-Sum.
When they visit the Tibetan Institute of Performing Art, the
participants will have an opportunity to witness a special performance
of the TIPA members.
More than 15 resource persons will be involved to make the program successful and meaningful.
At the end of the program, the participants will tour Dehradun
and Bharatpur where they will explore TCV Model School and Vocational
Training School in Selakui, Namdroling Monastery, Drikung Kagyu
Institute, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary etc.
The participants will have an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
–Report filed by Tsewang Phuntso, liaison officer – Latin America, Office of Tibet, New York