Current Affairs

- Auction of Tibet Photographs on 23 September 2005 (see below) - Photo Artmagazine for sale (see below) Past events - Opening new Tibetan Children's Village (TCV) in Chauntra, November 2004 - Successful commemoration meeting 40 years SHAT, November 2003 - Interactive schoolproject created an impressive TCV newspaper, 2003

Auction of Tibet photographs

Johan Hahn and Birgit Schuch, sponsors of SHAT, travelled through Tibet. They made their wonderful (framed) photographs available to SHAT for free, to be auctioned. The photographs can be seen in the Maitreya institute (www.maitreya.nl ) from July 4th till September 16th (Brouwersgracht 157, Amsterdam, tel. 020-6206272). Opening hours during summer season is from Tuesday to Saturday 12.00 - 17.00 pm. The auction will be held in the Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ (www.muziekgebouw.nl) on Friday 23 September at 20.15 pm (Piet Heinkade 1, Amsterdam). A good occasion to visit this splendid new building. The auction will be managed by the famous and professional auctioneer, Mr J.P. Glerum. You are cordially invited to visit the exposition in the Maitreya institute and to bid at the auction for one or more of these wonderful photographs. Proceeds go in full to the Tibetan children in TCV. If you intend to visit the auction, would you be so kind to e-mail us at shat-tibet@freeler.nl. This allows us to make proper arrangements for the evening in line with the expected number of visitors.

Photo Artmagazine for sale

This Photo Artmagazine was made available in cooperation with the artist Allard Faas, Either/or, Tibet Support Groep and Stichting Hulp aan Tibetanen (SHAT) The Tibetan children will benefit from the proceeds of the sales. Copies of this magazine which was presented in December 2004 can be ordered by transferring € 6.50 (incl. shipping cost) to postgiro 53.27.006 in the name of SHAT mentioning Artzine Tibet.

Opening new Tibetan Children's Village (TCV) in Chauntra, November 2004

It took nine years of applying for permits, building, delays en catching up with delays, but after a long time and much effort the new Tibetan Children’s Village in Chauntra is now ready. H.H. the Dalai Lama inaugurated the new village on 21 November 2004. It was a happy occasion with lots of singing and dancing. On a guided tour of the new facilities, we also visited the new library. SHAT supported the building and furnishing of the library with donations up to € 30.000. SHAT also offered 750 tulip bulbs on the occasion of the opening of the new village. A typical Dutch present for which thanks goes to the “Keukenhof” who provided the bulbs.

Successful commemoration meeting at the occasion of the 40est anniversary of the Foundation (November 2003). Some participants commented, “Very impressive and for me an absolute eye-opener with much added value.” “It was very precious to see the photos of the children’s school project; Dutch school children do everything individually but Tibetan children do everything together: shower, the laundry, their homework, eat, and sleep”. Photo: Valerie handing over a cheque to Jetsun Pema-la The meeting took place thanks to the support of NCDO (www.ncdo.nl). The topic was ‘Education in Tibet and in exile’, and it was attended by 170 visitors. During the meeting the children participated in parallel workshops and made praying flags, monks’ caps and butter tea. Not everyone appreciated the tea but the biscuits were eagerly enjoyed. The praying flags production was enormous and the yellow Gelukpa caps were fabulous. While the children were working Ms. Jetsun Pema and Mr. Jan Terlouw expressed their views. Unfortunately Ms. Kroon, from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not able to attend the meeting. The panel discussions were chaired by SHAT’s president. Reports on the oral presentations followed the discussions. After the break the day’s chairman, Jeroen Kramer, continued with a short conversation with one of the children. Patty said that the children’s favourite hobby in the TCV (Tibetan Children Village) is yak-racing. At least, this is what she thinks…. and then she handed over a copy of the school newspaper that had been prepared by the children from group 8 at the St. Dominicus School in Utrecht to Ms. Jetsun Pema. Her classmate Valerie, their teacher Ad Elbertse and the president of the parent’s council Ferry Zoutenbier presented a symbolic check of € 5.000 for the library of the new children’s village in Chauntra. This was the fantastic result of the Dominicus School project!Then there was a quiz, which was played under much hilarity and good brainwork. Team A’s children won with a slight margin and received a praying mill, while the loosing team received praying flags.The meeting closed in the same way it started: with a beautiful song from the well-known Tibetan singer Namgyal Lhamo (www.namgyal-lhamo.nl).Afterwards, besides enjoying chang en momo’s, the audience was treated to Wivine Vervaeke’s paintings (www.wivinevervaeke.nl). A photo album containing approximately 26 photographs of the event can be ordered at SHAT’s secretariat (tel.070-3871328 or email shat-tibet@freeler.nl) for € 12 (including postage).

Valerie offers a symbolic cheque of Euro 5.000,- to Mrs. Jetsun Pema

The event of the 40th commemoration meeting of SHAT was made possible with the financial support of NCDO (www.ncdo.nl)

Interactive school project was very successful School project 40th anniversary SHAT and Jetsun Pema visit to the schoolIn 2003, within the framework of SHAT’s 40th anniversary, an interactive school project was started between group 7 of the St. Dominicus School in Utrecht and a comparable group in the TCV Suja. Jetsun Pema-la visited the school on November 14th.The children exchanged questions and photographs, and based on this material they wrote stories about each others lives. The St. Dominicus School group made a newsletter about the children’s life in TCV Suja and vice versa. They acted as each others journalists.The result is beautiful. Jetsun Pema-la received the newsletter during the meeting held on November 15th. On this occasion the audience could admire the children’s photos. They were grouped by topic as follows: waking up, having breakfast, on the way to school, taking a bath, both the Tibetan and Dutch ways. A day earlier, November 14th, Jetsun Pema visited the school in Utrecht. After a very warm and affectionate welcome with songs and dance Jetsun Pema went to the classroom. Enthusiastically, the children posed their questions to Jetsun Pema, such as, What is your favourite food? (answer: potatoes), How old are you? Are you married? Do you travel a lot? Do you live differently than other Tibetans? Do you visit schools in Tibet? Why can't you visit Tibet freely? As the Dalai Lama’s sister, what are you allowed to do? The Youth Journal recorded this memorable visit and broadcasted it that same evening. FOTO invoegen: Jetsun Pema receiving flower bulbs in the classroom as a welcome token

Dutch Aid to Tibetans Stichting Hulp aan Tibetanen (SHAT) Jan Toebacklaan 13, 1412 JZ Naarden The Netherlands Tel + 31-(0)35-6970535 C.o.C. 41149073 te Den Haag E-mail: SHAT-Tibet@freeler.nl Postgiro 5327006