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The Central office of the
Tibetan Women’s Association in Dharamsala and all branch offices in
exile are involved in the following activities:
Religion
Religion is the basis of our
cultural and social identity. As a community we believe it is very
important to encourage institutions which enable women to devote
themselves to spiritual practices. A total of ten nunneries have
been established in exile, with TWA assisting with the management
and coordination of three. These nunneries function as comprehensive
learning and spiritual centers for the preservation of a unique
religious and cultural tradition.
In 1987, TWA launched the
Tibetan Nuns Project in conjunction with the Department of Religion
and Culture. The Tibetan Nuns Project assists many newly arrived
nuns with shelter, food and clothing as well as with providing
environments conducive to learning. Today the Tibetan Nuns Project
is a completely independent and self-sustaining program. The vision
and energy of the Tibetan Nuns Project has grown to accommodate over
500 nuns in exile. The TWA continues its strong relationship with
the Tibetan Nuns Project by serving as a governing member of the
program.
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In order to preserve and
promote the unique Tibetan cultural tradition, various branches of
TWA have been active in organizing and encouraging Tibetan cultural
events, including performances of folk and traditional dance, music
and theatre.
The International Year of
Tibetan Women was initiated from March 12, 1994 to March 12, 1995
and successfully highlighted the distinct cultural traditions of
Tibet. In April 1994 a National Hearing on Tibetan Women was
organized as a forum to address issues specific to Tibetan women
today. To mark the end of this special year a festival of Tibetan
culture was held in Bombay in January 1995.
Regional TWA branches are also
active in promoting the sustenance of Tibetan culture within local
schools. Students showing potential and capabilities in Tibetan
language and studies are often awarded prizes for their
efforts.
TWA recognizes the important
role that Tibetan women play in their families. In their roles as
mothers and nurturers Tibetan women continue to encourage the
cultural and linguistic traditions of Tibet.
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Under the guidance of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama, education has become a primary focus and
responsibility of Tibetans living in exile. The value of a literate
and informed society is vital when it comes to Tibet’s struggle for
freedom. Educational development is, therefore, a major concern of
the Tibetan Women’s Association and all of its regional branch
offices.
At present TWA provides
scholarships for many Tibetan primary school children to attend
secondary school. TWA also provides increasing number of
sponsorships for students to pursue higher tertiary studies. TWA
hopes this will encourage more students, particularly girls, to
realize their full academic potential.
At the regional level TWA
actively promotes community education in many Tibetan settlements.
This includes basic English and Tibetan language literacy, as well
as issues such as health care and the environment. TWA also provide
basic health training and awareness to Tibetan women.
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It is a priority of the
Tibetan Women’s Association that we work towards increasing the
social awareness of our people. We do not believe in discrimination.
We assist people regardless of race, sex, class, caste or
religion.
TWA provides family guidance
and counselling to those who seek our support. This program has
proven to be highly successful and is valued by the
community.
Other TWA social welfare
activities include environmental cleanup campaigns, lectures and
public information on health, diet and hygiene, assisting poorer
families, the needy, the elderly, the sick and the handicapped. Our
volunteers organize "broom-squads" during religious gatherings and
offer this service at many other local community events to ensure a
clean and safe environment.
TWA continues to promote and
sustain a healthy social environment for the many Tibetans living in
exile. We wish to nurture and support the community in any way that
we can to support this philosophy.
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The Tibetan Women’s
Association is actively involved in the public political arena
promoting both the political issue of Tibet and the empowerment of
women. TWA is becoming increasingly active in international meetings
on development, the environment, and gender and political issues.
TWA’s work encompasses lobbying governments and NGO’s, organizing
press releases, conferences, and petitions that support the Tibetan
cause, and raising general public awareness of the human rights
abuses in Tibet, particularly against women. Rallying for local and
international support is one of the key ways TWA raises its
political voice.
To highlight the involvement of
women in the political sphere and to increase focus on women’s
issues, TWA organized the International Year of Tibetan Women from
March 12, 1994 to March 12, 1995. During this year, Tibetan women
around the world organized demonstrations, festivals, video
screenings, lectures and public gatherings to discuss the many
issues of Tibet and its women. A festival of Tibetan culture was
staged in Bombay, India in January 1995 to commemorate the
year.
Whenever possible TWA
participates in international UN and NGO conferences worldwide. One
of TWA’s most comprehensive campaigns has been to attend the
UnitedNations Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing,
China in 1995. While the majority of exiled Tibetan women were
denied the right to participate, an extensive lobbying campaign was
launched that succeeded in gaining widespread international
attention for the plight of Tibetan women.
The anniversary of the March
12th uprising in 1959 by the women in Lhasa is observed
by all the branches of TWA. TWA also fully participates in the March
10th uprising gatherings and regards this day as one of
the most important days in the history of occupied Tibet.
TWA joins hands with women’s
organizations worldwide in support of solidarity, exchange of
information and a greater understanding of Tibetan women’s
issues.
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In recent years the Tibetan
community has come to know of the enormous environmental destruction
of Tibet. Vast areas of forest have been logged causing immeasurable
damage to local ecosystems. Tibet is reportedly being used as a
nuclear dumping ground, the effects of which will not be truly felt
for years to come. Tibet’s rivers are polluted with industrial waste
and vast mining of precious resources has created widespread
imbalance of local ecologies.
In order to bring to world
attention this continuing destruction of Tibet’s precious
environment, TWA alerts the local communities by focusing attention
on local environmental issues. By accepting and nourishing the local
ecosystems a better understanding of the global environment is
achieved.
TWA organizes regular cleanup
drives in their local areas. TWA is also involved in local
reforestation programs. Every year on World Environmental Day (June
5th), our Regional Working Committees have planted saplings in the
Tibetan settlements. His Holiness the Dalai Lama regularly blesses
large quantities of fruit tree seeds which are distributed amongst
the settlements. TWA has made special efforts to ensure that blessed
seeds are planted properly on His Holiness’ birthday (July 6th) and
maintained as they grow.
TWA representatives regularly
attend workshops organized by the Environmental Desk of the Central
Tibetan Administration. TWA has introduced environmental awareness
to the office. The use of non-biodegradable plastics is discouraged
and paper waste generated by the office is recycled.
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Activities