By Tenzin Choephel
Phayul Correspondent
Kathmandu, 30 July: Ex-Darjeeling students today launched a unique scholarship program aimed at supporting Tibetan students.
In an effort to encourage Tibetan students to pursue further studies, the Association of Ex-Darjeeling students, Kathmandu has started giving scholarships to ten Tibetan students.
The primary aim behind this scholarship program is to promote the idea of Tibetans helping Tibetans without having the need to rely on foreign aids.
The first batch of beneficiary of this unique Tibetan self-help program has ten Tibetan students from Central School for Tibetans (CST), Darjeeling in India.
The program was publicly launched here today at Chojor Tibetan Community Hall, Boudha and is surely a trend setting example for other Tibetans by the ex-students’ group.
President of the Association, Mr. Wangdi Gyalpo, unveiled the scholarship program. He also announced launching of a new website of the association in the coming week and strongly insisted “it is time for Tibetans to support our own community rather than keep depending on foreign aids.”
According to him, some of the key features of the website are that Tibetan students in need of educational support to pursue further studies can apply for scholarship online. At the same time, any Tibetan willing to help can also make their donations online. However, Mr Wangdi notes that the most important feature of the website is that the whole account of the sponsorship program would be transparent online and anyone can see it.
Ngawang Dolma, one of the first batch students of CST Darjeeling, now in her fifties and currently living in France appreciated the work of the young students and urge other Tibetans to support the initiative. She gave an appealing example of giving up some weekend entertainment budget for helping others like many people do in the west.
The association also unveiled their future plans including raising awareness of Tibetan cause among younger generation, career counseling, improving water facility at CST Darjeeling and others.
Initially supporting ten Tibetan students in their studies appears to be just the start of their work. The association is further considering providing scholarships to college students if they can raise enough funds.
