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Chief Guest Prof Samdhong Rinpoche
Photo: TWA

The 12th General Body Meeting of the Tibetan Women’s Association, one of the largest non-government organisations in the Tibetan community, was held from May 11 – 16 at Tibetan College for Higher Studies, Sarah, near Dharamshala. 190 Tibetan women from 37 different regions gathered to present each chapters’ work and financial reports and to discuss resolutions for the next three years.

TWA members received private audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Photo: TWA

The inauguration of the meeting was done in the presence of Chief Guest Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, former Prime Minister of Central Tibetan Administration and Special Guests like Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, Deputy Speaker of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile and Mrs Rinchen Khando, Director of the Tibetan Nun’s Project, Dolma Ling. The opening ceremony was also attended by other dignitaries including parliament members and heads of various organisations in the Tibetan exile diaspora.

Photo: TWA

The participants were granted an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on May 14, during which His Holiness spoke about women’s capability for the promotion of compassion in the world and went on to emphasise their responsibility to promote compassion. His Holiness said, “As mothers, you have a special responsibility to instill the sense of compassion and love in your children. I loved my mother very much because she was a very compassionate woman. Not one day did I ever see my mother with an angry face but my father was not as compassionate”.

New Executive members
Photo: TWA

The meeting was concluded with the election of new executives; Dolma Yangchen was re-elected President with 137 votes; Kalsang Youdon was elected Vice President – she was formerly Public Relations Officer. Others included Tsering Choezom (General Secretary), Dolma Tsering (Permanent Executive), Tenzin Dolma ( Outstanding Executive-Bylakuppe), Tashi Lhamo (Outstanding Executive-Delhi), DechenDolkar (Outstanding Executive-Italy) and Tashi Dolma (Outstanding Executive-Uttarakhand).