Representative Dr Namgyal Choedup, Chinese Liaison Officer Tsultrim Gyatso, and Tibet Advocacy Section staff Tenzin Kunkhen with the organisers and the participants during the two-day Youth advocacy training and workshop.
Toronto: The two-day workshop focused on empowering Canadian Tibetan youth and V-TAG members to improve their advocacy skills and tools has concluded, marking a significant step forward in amplifying the voices of Tibetan youth on the global stage in their Tibetan advocacy work. The workshop was held at the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Center, where approximately 40 Tibetan youth advocates from a variety of backgrounds participated enthusiastically.
Representative Dr Namgyal Choedup and Chinese Liaison Officer Tsultrim Gyatso from the Office of Tibet in Washington, along with Tenzin Kunkhen, a staff at the Tibet Advocacy Section, DIIR, presided over the training cum workshop.
Dr Tashi Rabgay, Research Professor of International Affairs at the Elliott School, opened the workshop with an inspiring and insightful talk on the subject. In her talk, Professor Rabgay highlights the power of Tibetan discourse and how how we discuss it on international platforms determines what we believe to be true and how we view the Tibetan cause. In addition, Dr Rabgay discussed the creation of the framework for Tibet and how Tibetans should not be considered a minority, since Tibetans dominate every region in Tibetan areas of all three provinces, as compared to China’s migrants. The participants listened attentively to the presentation and asked questions to clarify any doubts they had at the end of the talk.
Followed by a presentation from Phuntsok Wangmo, who works as the Constituency Assistant in the office of Honourable Arif Varina. As part of the presentation, she provides participants with an overview of the Canadian Parliament, the significance and role of the Parliamentary Friends of Tibet, as well as avenues for lobbying in the Canadian Parliament.
Gaphel Khongtsa, Director of International Policy, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, provided insight into lobbying and his personal experience while living in Ottawa as a Tibetan-Canadian. In his advice to the Tibetan youth, he explained that business interests can be aligned with advocacy interests, and how issues should be discussed during a lobby meeting with members of Parliament.
In the afternoon session, Sherap Therchin, Executive Director of the Canada Tibet Committee, discussed lobbying in the Canadian government in greater detail. Following the session, the participants were divided into four groups for hands-on training sessions, where they refined their advocacy skills through practical exercises and role-plays in preparation for tomorrow’s lobby day in Ottawa.
The workshop came to a close, with participants feeling empowered and renewing their commitment to advocating for the Tibetan cause. The Tibetan youth have emphasised the importance of similar workshops and training to equip them with the skills and experience necessary to amplify their voices and demonstrate their dedication to Tibet advocacy.
Throughout the training, V-TAG Canada has shown its dedication to ensuring its success through hard work and dedication. The successful conclusion of the two-day workshop demonstrates the Tibetan youth’s resilience and determination.
On 10 June 2024, V-TAG Canada, in close collaboration with Tibetan NGOs such as the Regional Tibet Youth Congress, Students for a Free Tibet, and others, took part in a lobby at Ottawa, meeting honourable Members of Parliament who have been great supporters of the Tibetan cause in the Canadian Parliament. Members of V-TAG Canada met with Alexis Brunnelle-Duceppe, a member of the Bloc Quebecois party, and Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative Member of Parliament for Edmonton Manning, to express their appreciation for Tibet’s support, to brief them on urgent issues concerning Tibet today, and to request additional assistance.
The Canadian Tibet Committee and Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre facilitated the visit to Parliament Hill and meetings with Members of Parliament. In the evening, the Canadian Parliamentary Friends of Tibet organized a Tibetan on the Hill event, where Honourable Members of Parliament, office staff, Tibet supporters, members of the Canadian Tibet Committee, Tibetan community members, and Tibetan youth engaged in a discussion. Members of Parliament ensure continued support for Tibetans, and Tibetans extend thanks to Tibetan supporters. Tibetan interns at Parliament Hill organized the event.
-Filed by Tibet Advocacy Section, DIIR
Group picture of the Organisers and the participants during the two-day Youth advocacy training and workshop.
V-TAG-members-met-with-Honorable-MP-Ziad-Aboultaif-and-briefed-him-on-current-situation-inside-Tibet-and-appealed-for-continued-support-for-Tibetan-cause-in-Canadian-Parliament.
Dr. Tashi Rabgay, Research Professor of International Affairs at the Elliott School, speaks during the training on the importance of Tibet Discourse.
Speakers Gaphel Khongtsa (Left), Director of International Policy, and Phuntsok Wangmo, Constituency Assistant in Honourable Arif Varina’s office (Left), speaks on Lobbying in Canadian Government.
Tibet Lobbyists, including V-TAG, NGOs – Youth Congress, SFT and others – pose for group picture enroute to Ottawa for Tibet Lobby Day.
V-TAG members from the left, Namgyal Chonyi, Jigme Lhamo, Namdol (V-TAG Coordinator), Kunkhen (DIIR staff) and Tenzin Yingsel, met with Honorable MP Alexis Brunelle Duceppe, during Tibet Lobby Day on the Parliament Hill, Ottawa.
Group picture of Tibet on the Hill event at the Parliament Hill in Ottawa with Honorable Member of Parliament James Maloney, MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, MP Jagmeet Singh, DIIR Staff, Canadian Tibet Committee board members, V-TAG Canada, Ottawa Tibetan Association and Tibet Lobbyists.
