In 1959, the People’s Republic of China occupied Tibet. March 10th marks the anniversary of the uprising of the Tibetan people in response to the occupation. It was at this time the Dalai Lama, spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet, was forced into exile in India.

The best hope for all Tibetans continues to be His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama. The deep respect that all Tibetans have for him unites us. His wisdom and statesmanship have guided the Tibetan movement along a peaceful path that has not only won His Holiness the Nobel Prize for Peace but also the admiration of the world

Tibetan refugee schools in exile have played and continue to play a significant role in helping to transmit our culture to the children. Tibetan schools in exile operate within the broad framework of its host countries in Nepal and especially in India.

TCEF’s initial connection to Jamyang Ling Model School (JLMS) in Zanskar, Ladakh, was many years ago through one of the TCEF service trips led by Project Manager Valerie Hellermann. 

In 2023, another TCEF team, led by Jennifer Prugh, Roy Andes, and Karma Tensum, visited this school, spoke with the leadership, and identified real needs, including the need for bigger/better classrooms. 

TCEF is able to fulfill its mission with the help of several partner organizations in India. We spent much of its initial resources to help establish Kyitsel-ling Tibetan Children’s Education Center at Clement Town, North India. More information on Kyitsel-ling is now available at www.kyitseling.org. The foundation stone for Kyitsel-ling was laid by HH The Dalai Lama on 21 November 1997.

Tantar Lundup and Tsering Youdon are locals from the Zanskar region of Ladakh. Both were fortunate to receive a good education. This couple founded the Rainbow school with the support of Pierre Odier of APECIH, Switzerland.

 The Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society, Dharamsala is a registered society working under the Tibetan Department of Education (DOE) in Exile. TCEF’s association with Sambhota goes back to 2012 when Karma met Dr.Lobsang Sangay, Sikyong or the head of the Tibetan Government in Exile.

Often, with TCEF,  where we help is guided and shaped by amazing partners that we cross paths with. The roots of the Nepal sponsorships can be firmly traced to past connections in Clement Town,  India.