Tibetan Refugee Children from India on Tour in the UK

London, UK  – The Tibet Foundation has
invited a group of eleven Tibetan refugee children, together with two teachers
from the Tibetan Homes Foundation for a 21-day Cultural Tour of the UK. Their
visit is a part of Tibet Foundation’s 20th Anniversary Celebrations in 2005,
aimed at increasing a greater awareness of Tibetan culture.

"This is an historic event as it will be the first time
that school children from the exiled Tibetan Refugee Community will tour the UK
and visit British schools. In addition to school visits, we are also arranging
public events for our supporters and British audience."The main
aims of this UK Tour are to highlight the importance of education for exiled
Tibetan children in general, and at the Tibetan Homes Foundation in particular;
to create an opportunity for Tibetan refugee children to interact and gain
insights into British education, culture and social values through visits to
schools and museums; and to "thank our
sponsors for their continuing support of our sponsorship program for Tibetan
children."

These young people, aged 13 – 15, have
never seen their homeland. However, their leader, the Dalai Lama, often calls
them "the future seeds of Tibet." The Tibetan Homes Foundation, founded by the
late Mrs. Rinchen Dolma Taring, is one of the best known educational
establishments in the exiled Tibetan Refugee Community and is home to 2398
refugee children. THF is dedicated to the care of orphans and destitute Tibetan
refugee children. At present, 2145 children are studying at THF and 253 students
are in colleges and universities across India. Many graduates from this school
serve the Tibetan Community as teachers, journalists, doctors and officials.

The children will present their final performance in
London on 11 February 2005 at the Conway Hall in the presence of Tibet
Foundation’s supporters, friends and admirers of Tibetan people.

About the Tibetan Homes Foundation

Tibet suffered a great tragedy in 1959 which
subsequently led to the Dalai Lama fleeing his homeland, and thousands of
Tibetans following him into exile in India and Nepal. Many Tibetan families
followed their leader to Mussoorie, where the late Indian Prime Minister
Jawaharlal Nehru had provided the Dalai Lama with a temporary residence in
exile. The condition of the Tibetan refugees at that particular time was
deplorable. The harsh journey from Tibet had led to the death of many Tibetan
families which in turn left a huge number of orphaned children.

The immediate concern of the Dalai Lama at
that time was the well-being of the hundreds of orphans, semi-orphans and
destitute Tibetan children, and their immediate future. The Dalai Lama stressed
the need to set up homes for these children where they would be provided with a
normal upbringing based on the model of the Pestalozzi Village in Trogen,
Switzerland. Thus the Tibetan Homes Foundation (THF) was established in November
1962 with seventy-five children and three homes purchased with a donation from
His Holiness.

Tibetan children continue to come from Tibet by crossing
the Himalayas through Nepal, to receive a proper education in India and making
their home at the Tibetan Homes Foundation. Kindly supported by western
sponsors, THF is home to 2398 Tibetan refugees. At present, 2145 children are
studying at THF and 253 students are currently undertaking undergraduate and
post-graduate courses in colleges and universities across India.

The Tibetan Homes Foundation, founded by the late Mrs.
Rinchen Dolma Taring, is one of the most well-known educational establishments
in the exiled Tibetan Refugee Community. Dedicated to working for the care of
orphans, semi-orphans and destitute Tibetan refugee children, the Homes
Foundation currently runs classes from Montessori Stage 1 up to grade XII. Many
graduates from the THF have served and continue to serve the exiled Tibetan
Community as teachers, journalists, doctors, nurses, governmental and
non-governmental officials.

If you would like further information about the
Foundation, contact:

Tibet Foundation
1 St. James’s Market
London SW1Y 4SB
United Kingdom
Telephone: 020 7930 6001
Fax: 020 7930 6002
Email:

office@tibet-foundation.org

Tour Dates:

North East

Mon 24 & Tue 25 Jan – Newcastle
The Sage Gateshead
Contact: 0191 443 4583 (Sarah Kekus)

Wed 26 & Thu 27 Jan – Northumberland
Queen’s Hall, Hexham
Contact: 01434 652 482 (Amanda Gould)

Scotland

Fri 28 Jan – Glasgow
Lilybank Special School
Contact: 01475 715 703 (Eileen Stewart)

South East/London

Sat 29 Jan @ 6.30pm – London (Public Event)
The Steiner Theatre
Contact: 020 7930 6001 (Tibet Foundation)

South West

Mon 31 Jan – Bridgewater
Sedgemoor Manor Junior School
Contact: 01278 424 725 (Rob Clarke)

Mon 31st Jan @ 8pm – Devon (Public Event)
The Plough Arts Centre
Contact: 01805 624624 (Box Office)

Wales

Thu 3 Feb – Llangollen
Telephone: 01978 860 669 (Peter Williams)

Fri 4 Feb – Llangollen (Public Event)

Royal International Pavilion
Contact: 01978 860 111 (box office)
Tibet Foundation 020 7930 6001

North West

Sun 6 Feb @ 6.30pm – Manchester (Public Event)
University of Manchester
Contact: 0161 225 9954 (Paul Dewhirst)
Tibet Foundation 020 7930 6001

Mon 7 Feb – Liverpool
Broadgreen High School
Contact: 01257 464 404 (Anne Candlin)

Tue 8 Feb – Liverpool
Liverpool Hope University College
Contact: 0151 291 3612 (Barry Grantham)

South East

Thu 10 Feb – East Sussex
Lewes New School
Contact: 01273 477074 / 01273 477990

Fri 11 Feb at 7pm – London (Public Event)
Tibet Foundation Losar Reception
Contact: 020 7930 6001 (Tibet Foundation)