2008 update on the programme

A visit in the spring of 2008 to both centres in India and Nepal proved to be very poignant. It was an opportunity for us to check on the staff there, to see what supplies were needed, and to spend time with any children present. The highlight, though, was the incredible opportunity for us to meet with the Dalai Lama. Here’s an excerpt from the blog we kept at the time:
“What an amazing day, and one that Ama-la, Rinchen and the director of the Centre had been trying to arrange for days and which involved numerous changes of plan and flight tickets. After 2 alarm calls from friends, we got up early and off to the Dalai Lama’s Palace where were checked by security and kept waiting in assorted rooms, until finally being ushered with all the new arrivals into a hall where His Holiness came out to greet everyone and to give a supportive talk to his fellow Tibetans. He mentioned the importance of education; that Tibetans inside Tibet are facing very challenging conditions as there are some very tough officials in charge; that he is not seeking independence but autonomy; and the economic benefits of being part of China but retaining their culture and faith. He also thanked them profusely for having stayed inside Tibet until that point and keeping Tibetan culture alive and living, and that when they return to take what they have learned in India to teach to their fellow Tibetans, especially the philosophy of Buddhism. After that, everyone received a personal blessing, and we were introduced by the Centre director who explained who we were and what we do. His Holiness was very grateful, shook our hands firmly saying an equally firm ‘Thank you’ to both of us in turn. We had taken some of the recent artwork to show him, some of which he was quite startled at (the first appearance in the children’s art of Chinese tanks) but appreciated it…and kept it (much to my dismay as I’d wanted to bring it back to the UK to use in future exhibitions. Oh well, I guess you don’t argue with His Holiness!). I also handed over a pot of my mum’s homemade strawberry jam- ‘Homemade?’ he said, then chuckled and took the jam appreciatively.

The next few hours were a bit of a blur as we raced back to the Centre for final farewells with Ama-la and Rinchen, and with the director, had a last dish of momos at Gakyi’s (returning Dickyi’s iron which had borrowed to smarten our outfits for the morning), then stuffed the last few bits and pieces in our bags, just finishing as Tender arrived with our taxi. We were snowed under with the farewell kata that Tibetans are so fond of wrapping round you when you leave- even Nakahara turned up to give farewell kata and hugs. And off we set, for our 10 hour taxi ride to Delhi- good time for a snooze…zzzzzzzzzz ”