By Rigzin Dolkar
At a recent gala dinner in Toronto attended by senior representatives of all three levels of government, the corporate sector, community leaders and the media, a Tibetan woman was amongst six immigrants to Canada to receive the 2010 New Pioneer Awards. Presented annually by Skills for Change, an organization that provides learning opportunities for newcomers to Toronto, the awards showcase outstanding personal achievements and significant contributions made to the community.
Arriving in Canada from India in 2006 with her husband and young son, Tsering held every immigrant’s dream of a better life for her and her family. Her passion and tireless quest for this better life accompanied by a strong civic pride and desire to give back to the country that had given her so much were, however, extraordinary.
She began her new life cooking and cleaning at food shelters, volunteering at teaching adults English and taking courses. Soon she was hired by the University of Toronto as part-time instructor of Tibetan and then moved on to become Community Development Officer at University Settlement where her focus is on improving the health and safety of residents in the neighborhood. Within a short time she had introduced programs such as the Safe Community initiative which won the 2009 Mayor’s Community Safety Award and the Healthy Living initiative which brought locally produced fresh food to the neighborhood at reasonable prices.
Tsering has also become a role model for fellow employees. As Chair of the United Way Employee Campaign at the University Settlement in 2008 and 2009 she increased participation from 25% to 96% resulting in her receiving United Way’s Employee Award and her organization being nominated for the Spirit Award. United Way is a North American organization that primarily raises funds to alleviate poverty.
Tsering is active in her Tibetan community and volunteers with the Tibetan Women’s Association of Canada.
She has a Masters of Education from India and has completed a non-graduate degree program in education from the University of Massachusetts. Prior to immigrating she was Program Director of Youth Opportunity Trust Asia in Delhi, an NGO funded by Tibet Relief Fund UK. She has also worked as a teacher in the Tibetan Children’s Village, Patlikuhl, and Program Manager, Planning Council, Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamsala. Tsering Dolma is a proud product of the Tibetan Children’s Village in Dharamsala where she was placed at a very young age after both her parents passed away
