Tibet.net
The Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) celebrated the successful conclusion of the Europe Regional V-TAG (Volunteers for Tibet Advocacy Group) Strategic Meeting and Advocacy Training on November 5th, 2023, at Retreathaus Berghof in Frankfurt, Germany. The three-day event featured the active participation of prominent Tibetan figures and dedicated V-TAG members from nine different European countries.
The event brought together a distinguished gathering of individuals, including Chithue Ven. Thubten Wangchen and Chithue Thupten Gyatso from Europe, Representative Sonam Tsering Frasi from the Office of Tibet in London, and Representative Rigzin Choedon Genkhang from the Office of Tibet in Brussels. Coordinator Thupten Tsering of the Bureau du Tibet in Paris, along with DIIR Additional Secretary Tenzin Lekshay, added to the weight of the event. Moreover, eight representatives from Tibetan Associations representing seven different countries, alongside 45 V-TAG members from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, England, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Switzerland, lent their expertise and commitment to the proceedings.
The second day of the training featured an introduction to V-TAG and the rationale behind its formation by DIIR Additional Secretary Tenzin Lekshay. Following this, Tenzin Palmo, a staff member at the Tibet Advocacy Section of DIIR, presented the International Tibet Youth Forum Action Plan, which was met with an active and engaging Q&A session.
In a move to ensure effective campaign efforts in the coming months and years, participants were organized into country-specific groups. These groups were tasked with developing detailed Action Plans that outlined specific measures to further the cause. Later in the day, these groups successfully presented their regional Action Plans, highlighting their commitment to the objectives laid out in the Action Plan initially presented at the 2023 International Youth Forum in Dharamshala.
On the final day of the meeting, V-TAG members Tenzin Paldon from Poland and Tara Lhamo from London presented a summarized version of the Action Plan for Europe. This collaborative effort drew on drafts submitted by all nine participating European countries, reflecting their dedication to a shared mission.
The event concluded with inspiring closing remarks delivered by Chithue Ven. Thubten Wangchen and Chithue Thupten Gyatso from Europe, Representative Sonam Tsering Frasi of the Office of Tibet in London, and Representative Rigzin Choedon Genkhang from the Office of Tibet in Brussels. During the closing session, Additional Secretary Tenzin Lekshey expressed his deep appreciation for the invaluable contributions made by the younger generation to the Tibetan movement.
Edited and collated by Team TRC