1. Summit Background 2010 marks 51 years of exile for Tibetans outside Tibet. The early pioneers built an impressive refugee infrastructure in the Indian subcontinent particularly in India, Nepal and Bhutan. Under the dynamic leadership of His Holiness of the Dalai Lama, we have established both a well functioning democratic institution in exile as well as numerous social and cultural institutions that sustain the Tibetan movement and promote our unique cultural heritage.
However, today we find ourselves at a very critical juncture. There is a dire need for Tibetans to come together and put our diverse skills and expertise in action towards strengthening our community. A growing number of Tibetan professionals and entrepreneurs have acquired many years of expertise in a variety of fields, which if properly harnessed, will go a long way in realising the goals of the Tibetan communities in exile. The time to engage has never been as critical and timely as now.
A Global Tibetan Professionals Network (GTPN) was initiated by ENVISION in 2008 with support from Bureau Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New Delhi. This network was envisioned as a platform for sharing and networking and as a medium to facilitate Tibetan professional’s engagement with their communities. There are currently several GTPN chapters operating in India and North America. The chapters are working together on a clearer articulation of the network’s programmes and coordination.
It is within this context that the first ever Global Tibetan Professionals Summit is being convened by ENVISION.
2. Summit Objective
3. Programme Activities
a) Understanding the current realities
Day one of the summit will focus on understanding the current realities and gaps in order to enable the participants to have informed discussion and to properly examine the root cause and conditions of the challenging issues facing the community today. To assist in the process, the Secretary of the Department of Education and the Chief Planning Officer from the Office of Planning Commission, Tibetan Government in exile will give a brief overview of the current situation on education and the overall human resource development. They will highlight on the situations of the challenges and the nature of existing gaps. This will be followed by an interactive session with the participants.
b) Thematic Meetings
The Summit has put together the following thematic meetings:
1) Education of Tibetans in Exile a) Strengthening basic education projects & programmes b) Developing vocational skill development programmes c) Instituting higher and specialized learning system 2) Public Health Care a) Public health education and awareness programmes b) Primary & emergency health services development programmes c) Public health infrastructural development & innovations 3) Economic Development a) Promotion and creation of private Tibetan entrepreneurs b) Mechanisms for development of financial services c) Promotion of Tibetans handicrafts productions & marketing
4) International Relations a) Developing mass media & multi medias b) Lobbying mechanisms & techniques c) Innovations in advocacy of Tibetan issues and agenda
Participants will be asked to choose and sign up for one of the above four thematic meetings. A meeting group no larger than 15 people will be formed. The thematic meetings will include a short presentation from the concerned CTA Departments followed by interactions. Participants will identify challenges and examine the causes and conditions of the issues presented within the thematic groups.
c) GTPN Overview and the Way Forward
This session will be an open discussion forum to share the current status of the Global Tibetan Professionals Network (GTPN) and the challenges faced followed by interaction among the participants regarding future prospects and plan for GTPN. Summit organizers will seek input from participants on a circulated proposal drafted by members from the North America Tibetan Professionals Conference held in Garrison, New York in October 2009.
d) Working towards a Common Vision/Action Planning
The second day of the summit will start with a special audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. After the audience, selected Summit participants will share their ideas and lead everyone on vision building exercises. Thereafter, the participants will break out in smaller sessions and work towards articulating a common vision.
The third and the final day of the Summit will be dedicated to action planning. Based on the visioning and discussions held in the last two days, participants will break in small groups to come up with a “SMART” action plan. ENVISION will also table two proposals as working ideas through the group facilitators. The action plan from groups will be shared and discussed further to adopt a draft action plan. It is the Summit organiser’s hope that the professionals gathered will be able to coalesce around at least 2-3 specific ideas and also build strong commitment from the participants.
The outcome of the Summit in particular the adopted plan of action will be presented to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in exile.
4. About the Organiser
Empowering the Vision Project (ENVISION) is a non-profit and non-governmental organisation established in December 2007 in New Delhi, India with the aim to build confidence, provide exposure, career guidance and training opportunities for young Tibetans in exile through self-reliance, dynamism, resourcefulness and professionalism. ENVISION grew out of a youth project initiated by Tibet Relief Fund (TRF), UK in 2003. TRF is the core funder of ENVISION.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2010
9.00 am onwards: Registration at Hotel Dhauladhar, Lower Dharamsala 12.00 pm: Room Check-in 6.00 pm: Welcome Reception at Gangkyi Staff Mess
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2010
Inaugural Session
9:30 – 11:00 am Plenary Session
• Welcome by Kalon Tempa Tsering (Co-initiator, GTPN) Minister and Representative of HH the Dalai Lama in New Delhi, India • Inaugural Address by Hon. Katri, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, Prime Minister of Tibetan Government-In-Exile • Keynote Address by Dr. YS Rajan, Eminent Indian Scientist and co-author, India Vision 2020 • Briefing on the Agenda of the Conference by Youdon Aukatsang, Director, ENVISION
11:00 – 11:30 am Tea Break
The Current Reality This session will enable participants to get an overview of the current reality of the state of the Tibetan community in exile as well as an opportunity to have hands-on interaction with various government departments in the key areas of education, economic development, public health care, and international relations.
11:30 – 1.00 pm Plenary Session 1: State of Education in Exile by Ven. Karma Gelek Yuthok, Secretary, Department of Education, TGIE 2: 50 years of Human Capability Developments: Status and Trends in Tibetan Population in Exile Dr. Kunchok Tsundue, Chief Planning Officer, TGIE Moderated by Kalon Tempa Tsering 1:00 – 2.00 pm Lunch 2:00 – 4:00 pm Thematic Meetings* 4:00 – 4:30 pm Tea/Coffee Break 4:30 – 6.30 pm GTPN- The Way Forward**
An Open Discussion Forum moderated by ENVISION
7:00 pm Dinner hosted by Kashag
* Participants will choose one of the following four areas for their theme meetings: Education, Public Health Care, Economic Development, and International Relations. ** An Open Discussion Forum on Global Tibetan Professionals Network (GTPN) to share the current status and discuss future prospects for GTPN.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2010
09:00 - 11:00 am: Special Audience with HH the Dalai Lama
12.00-1.00 pm: Lunch
Working Towards A Common Vision
During this session, several key Summit participants will first share their ideas and experiences as a lead up to the vision building exercises. Thereafter, the participants will break out in smaller sessions and work towards articulating a common vision.
1:00- 2.00 pm: Plenary Presentation Tenzin Namgyal Tethong, Distinguished Fellow, Tibetan Studies Initiative, Stanford University Lobsang Sangay, Senior Fellow, East Asian Legal Studies Program, Harvard Law School Dr. Tsewang Ngodup, Faculty Physician, Hennepin Medical Center, Minneapolis Moderated by Nima Dorjee, Director, EngIT Consulting Inc.
02:00 - 03:30 pm Brainstorming and Breakout session on Vision Statement 03.30 – 4.00 pm Tea/Coffee Break 04:00 – 05:30 pm Sharing and Adoption of a common vision 07.00 pm Dinner hosted by ENVISION at TIPA WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2010
From Visioning to Action
The final day of the Summit will be dedicated to action planning. This will be preceded by brief presentations by key participants. Based on the discussions held over the past two days and the Vision statement of the Summit, participants will break into small groups to come up with “SMART” action plans. Key action plans will be adopted and presented to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in exile. 09.30-10.30 am: Plenary Presentation Dr. Tsetan Sadutshang, Chief Medical Officer, Delek Hospital, Dharamsala Dr. Losang Rabgey, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Machik Sonam Donkar, India Treasury Manager, Dell India Pvt.Ltd. Moderated by Dr. B. Tsering, Educationist
10.30 -11.00 am: Tea/Coffee Break 11.30 - 1.00 pm: Breakout Session on Action Planning 01.00 - 2.00 pm: Lunch 02.00 - 4.00 pm: Sharing and Adoption of Action Plan moderated by ENVISION 04.00 - 4.30 pm: Tea/Coffee break 04.30 - 5.30 pm: Wrapping up with final comments and feedback from Participants moderated by ENVISION 6.30 pm: Interactive Dinner with Senior Students of Upper TCV
ENTRY TO ALL THE SESSIONS IS STRICTLY FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS ONLY
Note: CTA staff members are most welcome to participate in this summit and we have sought special permission from Kashag as explained in their official circular letter below:
Note: Please do not click on (joint this event) link at bottom
