Tibetan Student’s Educational Tour Program

May 30-June 08, 2022

Lha Charitable Trust organized an Educational Tour Program for 14 teenagers from Sambhota Tibetan School in Miao, Arunachal Pradesh from May 30th to June 8th, 2022. The students, escorted by two teachers, were all first-time travelers outside of their settlement.

The aim of the program was to provide students from remote Tibetan settlements in India more exposure to central Tibetan administrative functions and institutes in Dharamshala. An additional focus lay on confidence building and learning about study and job opportunities available within the Tibetan community. The educational tour therefore entailed various exposure activities on Tibetan culture, identity, and life in exile.

The students were introduced to the evolution of democracy in exile under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, as well as the political setup and functioning of the Central Tibetan Administration. Visits to the Tibet Museum, the Library of Tibetan Works and Archive(LTWA), and the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy offered the students valuable insights in different aspects of Tibetan culture, identity, and history. In Norbulingka they learned about Tibetan art and handicraft, the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts presented insights into Tibetan opera and music and Men-Tsee-Khang gave them an understanding of the history and function of Tibetan medicine and Astrology to create awareness on activism, the students visited selected NGOs like the Tibetan Youth Congress, the Tibetan Women’s Association, Gu Chu Sum, Students for Free Tibet, and Voice of Tibet. Furthermore, the students visited a variety of monasteries, and Geshe Lhakdor la, Director of LTWA, provided an introduction to Buddhism and meditation. The highlight of the tour was a two-day teaching by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Avalokiteshvara empowerment. The program also entailed some leisure and fun activities like movie and game nights, going to the cinema and having a picnic and swim at the river. Since lasting happiness requires a balance of body and mind, the students were introduced to yoga and meditation by a certified yoga teacher. They continued their yoga session in the mornings on various days for the entire duration of the program.

Understanding the lack of travel and knowledge of Tibetan culture, especially for children from remote settlements, we believe this educational program has immense potential to benefit our youth. With financial help from generous individuals and longtime friends of Lha, we were able to implement this program. We hope to be fortunate enough to continue this program in the future.

Testimonies by the students of Sambhota Tibetan School in Miao:

“Due to your kind help, I got to know lot of new things about our culture and religion, having blessing of H.H the Dalai Lama was my most precious moments at Dharamshala”. Tenzin Rigchok, Class VII

“I have never seen Dharamshala before, but Education program organized by Lha Charitable Trust gave me an opportunity to see Museum of Tibet and etc.” Tenzin Rabgyal, Class VII

“I got an opportunity to see the Central Tibetan Administration and Education department which I used to see in the textbook and in mobile phone. With the help of Lha Charitable Trust, I got to see them in my life”. Tenzin Buti, Class VIII

“During H.H the Dalai Lama teaching, he told us to be a kind person, help all the sentient being and recite the mani prayer frequently.”Lakey Dolma, Class VIII