“I have never paid much attention in understanding my government or its policies, now I know my government and I know what I can do for my country…
“As someone who is part of this family, I can say I understand my family now. This workshop is an eye opener…
“I always believed the government is disorganized, inefficient and corrupt, after the visits to all the offices and the lectures, now I am in a position to explain to others that our exiled government is efficient, organized and is guided by the principles of truth, non-violence and genuine democracy…
“In my school, I never gave any importance to the Tibetan Language, now I know how important it is our language to preserve our identity. I fully endorse the new education policy and I promise to give more importance to our language…
“I have problem communicating with others, now I have made lots of new friends…
“I always lacked the courage to stand up and speak, I got up many times in this workshop and in future, I am not going to let-go opportunities to express myself…
“I always thought the Tibetan Government in exile is very rich, now I know we depend on foreign contribution and we all should request our friends and family in the west to pay the kya-trel and contribute more…
“We know His Holiness is a great leader, now we know why he is a great leader…
“Testimony of Singing Nuns Rigzin Chonyi and Lhundrup Sangmo is very inspiring. Similar talks should be held in all the schools and colleges…
“I have been thinking as to what could be the solution to raise the level of political awareness in the Tibetan community. This workshop is the right medicine for this malaise…
“I have been to Dharamsala several times but never once visited the departments. I have always considered it out of bounds. It is not so…
“Our youth are considered future political leaders, but there is a vacuum in political education in school. This workshop fills that gap…
“This workshop changed my plans for future…
“I learnt more in 9 days than the last six-seven years…
“Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times…”
These were some of the common observations made by class XI students who participated at the workshop organized by International Campaign for Tibet, Europe (ICT) and Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre (TPPRC) at Dharamsala from 25 December 2006 to 2 January 2007. 79 students and 17 teachers from 19 schools across Nepal and India participated at this annual workshop.
The students had the occasion to listen to and interact with, Tsogtso Karma Choephel, Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche, Tsogshon Dolma Gyari, Kalon Thubten Lungrik, Kalon Tempa Tsering, Tsog-sur Pema Jungney, Kasur Tenzin Geychey Teythong, Geshe Lhagdor, Ngawang Choephel Dragmargyapon, leaders of TYC, TWA, Gu-Chu-Sum including Lhadon Tethong of SFT. The participants also interacted with heads of Nechung, Namgyal Monastery, Men-Tsee-Khang, Saraha Institute, Norbulingka, Sherab Gatsel Lobling besides visiting all the governmental and non-governmental institution in and around Dharamsala.
