As per the suggestion and gracious support of most venerable Lakha Rinpoche, founder and Chairman of Tibet Charity, we were happy to take our volunteers to visit the local Tibetan settlements and schools in the area. We wanted to give them a feel for how the Tibetans actually live in a closed community, outside the bustling tourist town of McLeod.

It was also our way of repaying them, though in a very small way, for all the help we receive from them in the fields of education, health care and animal care. They have come from various parts of the world at their own expense with the sincere desire to help us in our endeavor to assist the Tibetan refugees and the animals here in Dharamsala.

We all gathered outside Tibet Charity house at 7 a.m. on 30th April 2010, loaded up the taxis and made the two-and-a-half hour drive to Chauntra.Upon arrival, our volunteers were given a very warm reception by the school administration with ‘khatas’, a traditional Tibetan white scarf. After offering us tea and snacks, we were then given a tour of the school. We were amazed to see the pupils playing traditional Tibetan religious instruments including trumpets, cymbals and drums with so much skill. Students in the music class entertained us with traditional Tibetan music and songs, demonstrating their skills with all different kinds of instruments. We all left the school admiring the cleanliness, discipline, and above all else, the loving smiles of the children.

We then went to see the magnificent Zongsar Institute of Higher Buddhist studies. We were all wonderstruck by the grandeur and the beauty of the place. In spite of housing close to five-hundred monks, not even the slightest noise could be heard. We were told that they were all engrossed in their studies.

We then had our lunch in Bir, and then from there we went to see the Sherabling monastery in the forest near Battu, a small Indian hamlet. Though we would have loved to get the blessings of His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche, we were told that he was not feeling well. But nevertheless we felt blessed to be in the presence of the tranquil and serene environment of the monastery.

On our way back to Dharamsala we visited Tashi Jong, a small Tibetan settlement close to Palampur. We then went to see the nunnery administered by Ani Tenzin Pelmo, a British nun who undertook rigorous retreat in the hills. She wrote about her experience in her book entitled A Cave in the Snow.

It was around 6 p.m. when we finally arrived home in McLeod. We were all a bit tired but the experience of the day was something we all would cherish for the rest of our lives.

I thank most Venerable Lakha Rinpoche for this wonderful suggestion. We hope to make it a regular event in the future for our forthcoming volunteers as well.



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- 6th May 2010

On 18 April 2010, Mr. Thubten Samphel, the Secretary of the Department of Information (DIIR), gave a talk on the single most issue concerning all Tibetans - The Middle Way Approach - which was formulated to peacefully resolve the Tibet-issue in a mutually beneficial way for both China and Tibet. The Middle Way Approach is the current basis on which the Tibetan Government-in-Exile hopes to resolve the issue of Tibet once and for all, but despite “nine” Talks between China and the envoys of the TGIE from 1988-2010, a resolution is hardly in sight. The Middle Way Approach was the brainchild of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, but before making it the de facto strategy of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), He sought the suggestions of the members of the Tibetan Peoples’ Deputies, the Kashag (the Cabinet), eminent scholars, and other experienced people. The Middle Way Approach is not an ill-thought quick-fix solution to the Tibet issue; rather it is the will of the majority of Tibetans in Exile and within Tibet, and consolidated by the indefatigable support of HH the 14th Dalai Lama.

Mr. Thubten Samphel spoke to the gathered audience of students and staff in the conference room at Tibet Charity. He has a bachelors and masters degree from Delhi University, and a M.Sc. from Columbia University, USA. He spoke of the 17-Point Agreement that Ngabo Ngawang Jigme was forced to sign under duress. When China failed to live up to its end of the Agreement, HH the Dalai Lama in 1959 reneged on the Agreement. From 1959–’79, the Dalai Lama sought for the complete independence of Tibet. Mr. Thubten Samphel spoke of the dialogue that took between Gyalo Dhundup, elder brother of HH, and Deng Xiaoping, the then-leader of the Chinese Communist Party. Deng Xiaoping agreed to discuss anything except the issue of “independence of Tibet.” The Middle-Way Approach in no way seeks the independence of Tibet, and hence it adheres to the one criterion that Deng Xiaoping laid down for discussions on Tibet’s future status.

Mr. Thubten Samphel said that the Dalai Lama issued a statement in the European parliament at Strasburg on 15 June 1988 which outlined the nature of

autonomy he desired for Tibet. He said the Dalai Lama thinks the only way forward is a “mutually beneficial” approach for both China and Tibet. Genuine Autonomy for Tibet means self-determination but doesn’t include foreign policy and defense. He said Hu Yaobang, the then-General Secretary of the CCP from 1982-’87, tried to bring about liberalization both in Tibet and China; he was later ousted for his liberal tendencies. He said 1989 was a watershed year for China: the former-USSR disintegrated, the Berlin Wall fell, and the Tiananmen Square tragedy precipitated. Thereafter, China changed the tone of its dealings with the CTA from being open to being outright hostile. He spoke for half-an-hour, and solicited questions from his audience. The Middle Way Approach has many Tibetan adherents who have complete confidence in the Dalai Lama; on the other hand, many reject the Middle Way Approach and back nothing less then the unsullied, complete Independence of Tibet. We thank Mr. Thubten Samphel for graciously accepting to speak at Tibet Charity and for taking out some time from his very busy schedule.

On April 3rd, the Upper-Intermediate English students performed the first “Saturday Students’ Activity” of this year. The students sang two songs, solved a crossword puzzle and asked many riddles; their teacher, Jannice Tanner, who is from Toronto, Canada, led them in their singing and other activities. They started the program by singing “Imagine” by John Lennon. The whole class stood in front of the audience of about 50 students and staff in the conference room. With the help of the projector in the conference room, the lyrics of the song were projected on the white screen behind the standing performers, and the audience was encouraged to sing along. After we all finished singing, the audience was asked to finish a crossword puzzle, and the clues were “body parts.” The first clue was: “We use this to think.” Many students shouted “the brain.” The

crossword puzzle was solved without much difficulty.

Next, the Upper-Intermediate students asked the audience numerous riddles. Some were quite easily solved, while others proved very difficult, and the answers had to be finally revealed by the performers for the benefit of the audience. Here are some riddles that were asked: One of the easiest was: “What has four legs and cannot walk?” Somebody shouted “chair,” another shouted “table,” both of which of-course are correct answers. Another was: “What are the two things you don’t eat before breakfast?” The answer is: lunch and dinner, which a few got right. One of trickiest was: “Why did the girl throw the butter out of the window?” The answer is: “because she wanted to see the butter fly;” there being a play on the word “butterfly.”

At the end of the program, they sang “We shall overcome” which became very popular during the American Civil Rights Movement. Once again the lyrics were projected on the screen, and we all sang along with the performers. After that the Director of Tibet Charity Mr. Tsering Thundup la said a few words of encouragement for the students present. Only 50 students or thereabout were present since it is not mandatory for students to attend the extra-curricular activities on Saturdays. The Director spoke about the importance of public speaking and said that the Saturday Students’ Activity is a great opportunity for students to gain confidence in speaking in front of large groups. On Saturday 17th April, our second “Saturday Talk” is scheduled, and the topic is “The Middle Way Approach of HH the Dalailama.”

At Tibet Charity, we have wanted to do something special on Saturdays for our students for sometime. Beginning this year, we will have a special program on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturdays. One Saturday a month, an influential and knowledgeable member of the Tibetan community will give a “talk” at 10 a.m. On Saturday March 20, the first such talk took place. Mr. Tsering Wangchuk, the additional-Secretary of the Kashag, spoke passionately for 2 hours; the topic was “An Introduction to the Tibetan Government in Exile.”

He was born on March 10, 1949 in Tibet. He came to India in 1983. Over 50 students and staff attended the talk. He spoke highly of the Tibetan Govt. in Exile (TGIE) throughout his fact-laden speech. He defended the TGIE against China’s criticism of the TGIE by explaining that the reasons China blames the TGIE are not fact-based but are rather Chinese propaganda. He said that China often blames the TGIE for

bringing back Tibet’s harsh old feudal system that was discriminating and non-egalitarian. Nothing could be further from the truth, he said. The TGIE is the one that takes care of everything for the Tibetans-in-exile, he defended.

He made references to Tibet’s old system of government before China forcibly occupied Tibet. He described the three parts of the TGIE: the Executive (Kashag), the Legislature (the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile), and the Judiciary (the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission). He enumerated the different Departments under the TGIE. They are: 1. The Department of Religion and Culture. 2. The Department of Home. 3. The Department of Finance. 4. The Department of Education. 5. The Department of Security. 6. The Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR). 7. The Department of Health. He pointed out that during official functions, the Judge occupies the most important position, followed by the Speaker, and then by the Prime Minister (the Kalon Tripa). He said that this shows that the Judiciary occupies a more important position than the Legislature, and likewise the Legislature the Executive.

He said there are three autonomous offices under the TGIE that are integral to the proper functioning of the TGIE.

They are the Election Commision, the Public Service Commision, and the Office of the Auditor General. He explained in detail what each of these three important offices does. The Election Commision is responsible for overseeing the election of the 46 members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, the Speaker and the Deputy-Speaker of the Parliament, the Chief Executive, and Local Assemblies with their Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons. The Public Service Commission is chiefly responsible for the recruitment and appointment of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) officials and the general staff, among other vital duties. The Office of the General Audit is responsible for auditing the accounts of all the different CTA Departments and their subsidiaries. He talked about a number of other things but we wont be able to include in this brief summary.

29th March 2010

On March 15, 2010, Tibet Charity celebrated the Opening Ceremony of the new academic year. The Opening Ceremony started at 10 a.m. on this beautiful morning, and about 190 students, 4 volunteer teachers from the West, the director of Tibet Charity, and the other staff members were present.

Ms. Rinzin Wangmo, English teacher and education coordinator, began the day with her welcome speech. In her welcome speech, she thanked the four volunteer teachers present, and said that “it would not be possible to accomplish our goal of providing a quality education to our students without our kind and generous volunteers.” The volunteers then introduced themselves to the students, and said a few words about themselves. They looked delighted to be here, and were eagerly looking forward to start teaching.

Next, the Director of Tibet Charity, Mr. Tsering Thundup, presented white ceremonial Tibetan scarves (“Khatas) to the volunteer teachers as a gesture of appreciation. He then gave his customary speech to the assembled students. He introduced the various activities of Tibet Charity to the volunteers and the students. He then advised the students to make the best use of their time at Tibet Charity, and encouraged them to study hard.

Mrs. Tsering Lhamo, head of the Tibet Charity Health Care Section, was the next person to speak. In her speech, she began by talking about what the Tibet Charity Health Care Section does. She also gave some health tips to the students putting special emphasis on healthy eating habits.

After the formal Opening Ceremony, tea and snacks were served to all those present. Thereafter the students were allotted their classes and various rules, and regulations governing TCEC were explained to them. Classes started in full swing from the 16th with 8 different English classes and 3 different computer classes.

This year, a new class called “Open Class” was started, where students could discuss any topics they choose related to their English classes. Conversation classes (4-5 p.m.) were also started to provide more opportunity to the students to practice spoken English.

We offer our best wishes to all the students and volunteers for a very successful and prosperous 2010 session.



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- 25th March 2010