TCV children performing a group song on their 56th anniversary
Photo: Tibet.net
Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) celebrated the 56th anniversary of its founding on October 23. More than a thousand local Tibetans gathered at the school to witness the opening ceremony. The three-day celebration included an athletics meet, art exhibitions, debates and cultural shows with students from five TCV branches participating in the events for this year.
The chief guest at the opening ceremony was His Eminence the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Rinpoche. Speaking about the importance of Tibetan identity and culture in the Tibetan struggle, Rinpoche said: “Inevitably the most important duty of each Tibetan, in the face of the ever changing time and events, is to be mindful that one’s actions
Chief guest His Holiness the Karmapa Rinpoche
Photo: tibet.net
contribute to ensuring the survival of Tibetan identity and dignity, and not otherwise. Secondly, the school administrators, teachers and parents, as the guardians of Tibetan culture, must assert the traditional Tibetan knowledge and values to the young and new generations of Tibet.” His Eminence also advised young students to value the Tibetan tradition and cultural and remember the sacrifices made by the older generation to preserve the true essence of the Tibetan movement.
Other guests included the Minister of Department of Religion and Culture, Ven Karma Gelek Yuthok; the Speaker of the 16th Tibetan Parliament, Khenpo Sonam Tenphel; members of the Kashag (Cabinet ministers); officials of the Central Tibetan Administration; representatives of various NGOs (non-government organisations); TCV 20 Years Service Award Recipients; TCV Alumni class of 1991 Batch and long time TCV supporters and donors.
TCV students performing traditional dance
Photo:tibet.net
TCV is the largest residential school of the exiled Tibetan community in India. It was founded in 1960 as a nursery to care for the children who had been orphaned or separated from their families. There were 51 children at the time and Mrs Tsering Dolma Takla, the elder sister of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, volunteered to look after them. Later, in 1964, His Holiness’s younger sister Mrs Jetsun Pema took responsibility for the school. Over the years TCV has become an integrated educational community for Tibetan children in exile, as well as for hundreds of those escaping from Tibet each year. With seven branches established in India, extending from Ladakh in the North to Bylakuppe in the South, TCV has over 15,000 children in its care. It is a registered, nonprofit charitable organisation with headquarters based at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, North India.
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