On December 12th Jetsun Pema la the, President of Tibetan Children’s Village Schools spoke to a small group of Tibetans on the importance of Education. The program was sponsored and organized by office of Tibet and Tibetan Women’s Association of New York. The Tibet House itself offered Amala a special souvenir.
She spoke on the importance of education whereby stressing the need on making Tibetan kids Tibetans. It may sound strange when we say Tibetan kids Tibetans but, we know for the fact that some of our youths are being influenced by American Culture. It is feared that we are on the verge of losing our identity specially in the west where American culture is fast being infused in today’s Tibetan youth. Having read the very speech she prepared for the Dutch Aid to Tibetans in Holland she emphasized the need for the Tibetans to help the Tibetans. She said that many of the sponsors having visited India and seeing the Tibetan Schools far more better than the Indian Schools in every aspect feels reluctant in donations. Many of the Tibetan kids coming from Tibet are being admitted in TCV school and Mussoorie homes and for them we need to have funding as their parents feel that their kids can better education in India. In order for our culture and religious philosophy to survive we need to teach our Tibetan kids the sustainability of own identity.
The donors questions as to why can’t Tibetans sponsor Tibetan kids as, many now are well off owning businesses all over the world. She was proud to tell them that 97 percent of the parents of 1000 kids at Lower TCV school are being born by the parents themselves and many more are willing to bear the fees in order to give the best education they can for their kids.
She told the group that with Pavarotti’s contribution a new school has been built where the most talented Tibetan kids will be selected. The fund only reaches to the structure and the buildings but it has been felt to sponsor the kids to complete their high school to the least. Some of the Tibetans and Tibetan organizations have already volunteered to sponsor kids. From New York Nechung Institute will sponsor one kid for a period of ten years which will incur $5000. TCV alumni of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut who requested for a special talk with her proposed on sponsoring at least five kids which will be finalized once they have a meeting.
Jetsun Pema la also said that TCV School is willing to take Tibetan kids from America in order to help the Tibetan parents if they want. She gave some tips on how to apply for transfer and visa application. Plans for summer school and exchange students are also being planned and discussed where San Francisco has already given the green light.
