Schafhausen Tibetan Community Confer Gratitude Award on Kasur Ama Jetsun Pema

Schaffhausen: On Sunday 26th May 2019, Tibetan Community of Schaffhausen organized the Gratitude Award (Kadrin Jedren) presentation event in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. The Award was presented to Kasur Ama Jetsun Pema, sister of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for her lifelong dedication for the cause of Tibet and Tibetan children. Fondly known to the Tibetan community as `Ama` (mother in Tibetan), she is often referred to as the `Mother of Tibet` for her extraordinary work.

Mr. Chimey Rinzin, the representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Tibet Bureau Geneva; Europe Chitue Mr. Samdho Jampa; President of Tibetan Community in Switzerland Mr. Tsamda Norbu; and some other dignitaries, Board members and Community members of Schaffhausen attended the Award ceremony.

Mr. Gyadhotsang Yonden Rinchen of Schaffhausen Tibetan community in his inaugural address explained the importance of the Award. He said that this Gratitude Award is presented to Kasur Jetsun Pema to express the Tibetan people's deep appreciation and gratitude for her lifelong and tireless service in the Tibetan community.

Representative Mr. Chhimey Rigzen gave a brief history of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and he remarked about the commitment of Kasur Jetsun Pema to serve the Tibetan people in general and the children in particular. Chitue Samdho Jampa spoke on the policies of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and explained the importance of Tibetan values and virtues, and the good motivation to help all the sentient beings.

Mr. Tsamda Norbu presented a brief report of the Tibetan community in Switzerland and expressed his gratitude to Kasur Ama Jetsun Pema for her lifetime service for the welfare of thousands of Tibetan children.

Kasur Ama Jetsun Pema in her address thanked the organizer for the Award and said, "We Tibetans must never forget the kindness of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we should all follow his path in spreading peace and harmony in this world. It is also important to abide by the law the country in which we are residing and try to be a role model as a good and compassionate human being."

President of Schaffhausen Tibetan Community Mr. Gyadotsang Yonden Rinchen concluded the event and a vote of thanks.

Jetsun Pema was born in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, on July 7, 1940. She is the living sister of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

She came to India in 1950 and studied first at St.Joseph`s Convent in Kalimpong and later at Loreto Convent in Darjeeling from where she completed her Senior Cambridge in 1960. In 1961, she went to Switzerland and then to England to do further studies. She returned to India in April 1964- In June 1964, she was directed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to take over the responsibility of running the Tibetan Children`s Village in Dharamsala. Since then, she has been the moving force and mother of thousands of destitute and orphan Tibetan children. The children call her Ama la (respected Mother). With her dynamic leadership and untiring dedication, coupled with her sense of urgency and clarity of purpose, the Tibetan Children`s Village has become one of the most successfully flourishing Tibetan institutions in exile. She became the President of the Tibetan Children's Village in June 1964, and held that position until her retirement in August 2006- She held this position for more than 42 years, dedicating her life to educating Tibetan children in exile. The story of the Tibetan Children`s Village is very much a part of Jetsun Pema`s Life.

In 1970, at the first General Body Meeting of the Tibetan Youth Congress, Jetsun Pema was elected as its Vice-President, and at the 1984 first General Body Meeting of the Tibetan Women`s Association, she was elected as an Adviser. In 1980, she was sent by the Dalai Lama to visit Tibet as the leader of the third Fact Finding Delegation and for three months traveled extensively all over the country. Jetsun Pema is also the Governing body member of the Tibet House in New Delhi and trust of His Holiness the Dalai Lama Charitable.

In May 1990, the Dalai Lama convened a special Congress of the Tibetan People- in- Exile in Dharamsala to elect the Kalons (Ministers) of Central Tibetan Administration. This was a first in the history of Tibet. Jesun Pema was one of the three Ministers elected and became the first Tibetan Woman Minister. In 1991, she was again elected by the Assembly of Tibetan People`s Deputies (Tibetan Parliament) as one of the Ministers and was allocated the portfolio of Minister-in-Charge of the Department of Education. In July 1993, she resigned from the Kashag (Cabinet) and took charge as the President of the Tibetan Children`s Villages. In 1995, the Assembly of Tibetan People`s Deputies awarded her the title, “Mother of Tibet “in recognition of her dedication and service to Tibetan children.