U.S. Tibetan Student Alliance
In 1996, we led eight US students, ages 16-23, in a two-month program, during which they studied the Tibetan situation, culture and offered needed community service. The program culminated in a fortunate private group interview with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Upon request, we would offer this program again in the future.
Upon request, we would offer this program again in the future.
Our GLOBAL Student CULTURAL Exchange program meet
HIS HOLINESS the Dalai Lama
Student service learning groups such as Youth International and Landmark College come to Dharamshala, India each year to volunteer in support of Tibetan refugees. From 1997-2003, our educators worked with their groups to place them in relevant service learning situations, working on environmental, social, language and welfare issues. We would also provide community orientation such as Basic Tibetan & Hindi language, & Cultural activities during their stay.
Tibetan-US Pen Pal Project: Begun in Spring 1999, three foreign teachers visited the Tibetan Children's Village's oldest boys' hostel to interview them and initiate a pen-pal project linking them with US students. From 1997-2001, 40 students had US pen pals at the San Francisco Waldorf School and the Mendocino Community High School. Today, since all students have long since graduated, this program is no longer active.
The benefits of such grassroots, intercultural dialogue on subjects such as Tibetan freedom, life in exile and life in the USA are priceless. The following is an excerpt from an interview by Ravi Lau, one of the project's coordinators and founders.
Tibetan-US Pen Pal Project: Begun in Spring 1999, three foreign teachers visited the Tibetan Children's Village's oldest boys' hostel to interview them and initiate a pen-pal project linking them with US students. From 1997-2001, 40 students had US pen pals at the San Francisco Waldorf School and the Mendocino Community High School. Today, since all students have long since graduated, this program is no longer active.
The benefits of such grassroots, intercultural dialogue on subjects such as Tibetan freedom, life in exile and life in the USA are priceless. The following is an excerpt from an interview by Ravi Lau, one of the project's coordinators and founders.
- "American youth can learn something from us here in TCV. We are all from different areas and experiences, but here we are all like one family. If we have problems, we can solve them. We have something we believe: most important is that you should believe in your friends. Whatever you do, do for others, and if you can't help them, at least don't harm them."
- "Friends of mine who lived in the West said, [that there], 'Money is God. Job is Religion.' and that conversations can easily be superficial, and many relationships are based on money. This is why USA helps Kosovo or Kuwait, and not Tibet, because Tibet has nothing material to give. They wish to help, but aren't gaining anything commercial. Also, they are afraid to disrupt trade relations with the Chinese market, which has a lot of power in India. But I think the commercial economy can collapse at any time."
