Arrived in Dharamsala
The majority of SFT’s trainer and staff crew for Free Tibet! Action Camp VIII arrived in Dharamsala, India Friday night. For those of us coming from North America, it was a long, tiring trek that would require an abacus or a slide ruler to tally exactly how long we’d traveled and what time it was where we started our travels from. Our arrival in Dharamsala was greeted by the crew from SFT India and we quickly retreated to the famed McLlo restaurant for a late dinner.
Relaxing with friends at McLlo after too many hours of travel.
On Saturday we took our first look at the location for SFT’s first Action Camp in India. The SFT India crew had already spent a couple days preparing the grounds for the camp – clearing out the camp site, building needed facilities, and generally setting the table for what promises to be a landmark event in the movement for Tibetan independence. Activists and organizers from India, North America, and Europe are coming together in the center of the Tibetan exile community to provide training specifically crafted to shape turn young activists into the leaders who will be the future of the movement. SFT was founded around the belief that student activism is an unstoppable force for global change and justice – this Action Camp aims to add fuel to the fire of passionate Tibetan and Indian youth activism for Tibet.
The view from our campsite is fantastic!
We had an early taste of the potential this camp has to truly influence the next generation of organizers for Tibet on Saturday night. Lhadon and Tendor gave a talk to about 300 fifteen to eighteen year-old students at the famed Tibetan Children’s Village school (TCV). The students listened with unbroken attention as Tendor and Lhadon spoke about activism and how youth leadership is critical for the future of Tibet. The talk went for about fifty minutes and there was to be ten minutes for questions at the end – but that simply wasn’t enough. The TCV students asked serious, thoughtful questions – one after another – for an hour straight. Once the questioning officially wrapped up, students continued to come and talk to Lhadon, Tendor, and the rest of the staff and trainers in attendance for another forty-five minutes! When we finally left we were sure that the TCVers would go back to their rooms around campus and numerous discussions about the role they can play in the fight for Tibet would break out. Little did they know that we would spent the rest of the night marveling at how engaged the TCV students were at the talk, how sharp their questions were, and how excited we all were knowing that many of them would likely join us full-time in the struggle for Tibetan freedom once their schooling was done.
Tendor speaking to TCV students.
Today’s Sunday and we’re about to move all of our staff and trainers from McLeod Ganj down to the camp site. Students arrive in two days and we still have a lot of work to do. We’ll be posting updates as frequently as possible, so please stay tuned!
In solidarity,
Matt
14 Responsesto “Arrived in Dharamsala”
Leave a Reply
on 
on 
on 
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Hi guys
really really wish I could be with you.
Looks like things are off to a fantastic start, so I hope it all goes well, which I’m sure it will. I’ll be checking for updates everyday.
Whoever reads this first, say hi to everyone for me
take care
Ben
haha, lhadon looks funny in that picture. i miss you guys and am sure the camp will be mindblowing.
Thanks for the vivid description, Philo. Keep up the blogging for those of us on the other side of the planet.
My best to the rest of the team – have an amazing week.
i m very very happy that you all came to our school . thank you very much
[...] On Saturday night, my colleagues Lhadon Tethong and Tenzin Dorjee gave a talk at the Tibetan Childrens’ Village school in Dharamsala, India. A majority of the TCV students are recent arrivals from Tibet who endured similar, if not identical, journeys as the victims of last week’s attacks. The victims of this attack may well have been any one of the bright-eyed, intelligent students that attended our talk. [...]
Best wishes from VancouverBC!
good to know that the tcvians were able to listen to lhadon and tendor speak. last time i went to tcv, i was astonished at their semshoo and thrilled to know that they would be the ones leading us soon. have fun ya’ll in india and good luck for the camp. free tibet
PS i should be the one attending this camp. :(
Hey SFT Action camp attendees,
I want to send you my greetings from New York. Have fun and empower yourself.
love
techung
It sure looks beautiful there. I hope you all have a blast!
hEy…frds,
It is 3:25PM here and you all must be fast asleep after a tiring camp day! Some may be dreaming of raising a tibetan flag in Bakhor,Lhasa.**smile**
I m happy to know that the camp is doing great! You all take care~
We will make sure chinese govt. have a hard time in toronto…
Wesh you all the best….. Hope it will work out soon specailly with 2008 games.
With warm regard and best wishes to all the members and readers….
Free Tibet…..
Wish you all the best….. Hope it will work out soon, specailly with 2008 games.
With warm regard and best wishes to all the members and readers….
Free Tibet…..
Last week’s repulsive attack on pilgrims is a perfect paradigm of brutality, a tendency towards inhumane and cruelty. It clearly justifies Chinese abusive treatment on Tibetans. I was incredibly moved by the spectacle. Your work is genuine and deserving of support, so keep your spirits up and wish you guys continued success. It makes all the difference. Personally speaking, I would love to remain involved with you. I wish I had the chance to see you in action more often. Have a great time!
Hyi guys
what really you guys are doing is moving heart and soul. Please keep it up.
Bodh Gyalo
Hyi
what really you guys are doing is moving heart and soul. Please keep it up. Bodh Gyalo
The San Jose Unified School District Wins Honors For Its Board of Education Driven Public Engagement Model…
The San Jose Unified School District has enacted a unique plan to build relationships with the local community in order to overcome an old negative image….