Dharamshala, India —On the occasion of World Refugee Day, the Tibet Museum commemorated the strength and courage of Tibetan refugees who were forced to flee their homes due to the forced Chinese occupation of Tibet.
Since 2001, June 20 has been celebrated as World Refugee Day to commemorate the resilience of refugees around the world. The theme of World Refugee Day 2022 is “Whoever, Whatever, Whenever. Everyone has a right to seek safety”. According to the United Nations, every minute 20 people leave everything behind to flee war, persecution, or terror.
The Tibet Museum, Department of Information and International Relations, of Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) observed the World Refugee Day, at Mewoen Tsuglag Petoen School in Khanyara, Dharamshala, H.P India, on June 20, 2022.
They organised an outreach programme at Mewoen Petoen School, which was a mixture of screenings and an exhibition. The 29-panel exhibition entitled "Tibet's Journey in Exile" was presented to the students, it gives an overview of the journey and life of Tibetan refugees, the Tibetan government-in-exile, important events, and highlights of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
An animation movie ‘In search of Jewel’ was screened for the students, which depicted the reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The students were shown the documentary movie 'Longing for Tibet’ which was also screened at the Auditorium of The Tibet Museum located in Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala.
Tenzin Topdhen, director of the Tibet Museum, held interactive sessions with students from classes IV to X, covering a wide range of topics such as the importance of celebrating World Refugee Day and its significance in the Tibetan context. The Tibet Museum reported that it saw enthusiastic participation from the school administration and students. About 200 students actively participated in the programme to better understand the plight and resilience of Tibetans.
