Dharamsala, Jan 2 – The five day Tibetan Youth Leadership Training organized by Tibetan Youth Congress which began on 26th December concluded in Delhi on Dec 31 at the Tibetan Youth Hostel. This was the 10th annual training TYC organized to prepare the youths for future leadership roles to continue its struggle. There were 48 students from schools, colleges and monastic universities in India and Nepal participating in the training.
In his speech during the opening ceremony, Chief Guest Kalon Tempa Tsering who is also the representative of His Holines the Dalai Lama in the Indian capital, urged the participants to prepare from now on to take the responsibilities to serve the Tibetan people.
Tsewang Rigzin, President of Tibetan Youth Congress said in his opening remarks that “the future of the Tibetan struggle is in the hands of the younger generation and TYC considers this training a very important platform and urged the participants to utilize all the resources provided during the training”.
The five day intense training was packed with various issues including, “Status of Tibetan Government in Exile and Future Policy on Tibet,” “Rangzen the Road Ahead,” “Modern China: Challenges and Drawbacks,” “Current Human Rights situation inside Tibet” and a panel discussion on the “importance of 2011 Kalon Tripa and Assembly Elections.” The speakers included Kalon Tempa Tsering, Alka Acharya from Jawaharlal Nehru University, among others. An early morning dose on “Introduction on Tibetan Buddhism” was held daily before the training started to enlighten the minds of upcoming leaders of Tibet.
Group discussion among the participants themselves was given a high priority so that the participants can discuss and share their views on various topics even after the allotted time for each topic. In one of the discussion on “Tibet after Independence”, participants strongly stressed the need for an educated generation in an Independent Tibet to run the country and to have diplomatic relations with the outside world. Participants also strongly debated on the separation of religion and politics in the future.
In the closing ceremony, the participants pledged to take more responsibilities in the coming years and focus more on Tibetan language and raise awareness about Tibet. They also pledged to speak Tibetan language to all Tibetans they come across anywhere.
This annual training is aimed at educating the Tibetan youths of both gender and including monks and nuns on the issue of Tibet in general and to empower them with the tools to lead the struggle by increasing their knowledge and raising their confidence.
Tibetan Youth Congress is a worldwide organization of Tibetans united in the common struggle to regain Tibet’s Independence and is the largest non-governmental organization of Tibetans in exile.
