Dharamshala: On the final day of its tenth General Body Meeting (GBM), April 16, the Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) elected its new executive members.
Tashi Dolma, former vice-president of TWA (2000-2003) was unanimously elected as president, while Samten Choedon was re-elected as vice president.
"I feel much honoured to be elected, and vow to do my best. We look forward to full cooperation from all of you - our regional executives and members," Dolma told the 140 grass-roots women leaders from 33 regional chapters who had gathered at the meeting.
Nyima Lhamo, TWA's former programme coordinator, was elected as the new general secretary.
After six days of debate on the meeting's 17-point agenda, TWA passed a list of resolutions touching upon political, social and educational issues and initiatives.
The delegates also passed a new regulation barring members of the exile Tibetan Parliament-in-exile from serving on TWA's executive board.
Others elected to the eleven-member executive committee included Tsering Dolma, Tenzin Dickey, Tsering Wangmo, Tenzin Bhuti, Tenzin Tselha, Tsering Choedon, Tsering Dolma, and Pema Choedon.
The GBM convenes every three years and is TWA's highest decision-making body. On the first day of the meeting, TWA announced that the 500,000 rupees raised in the third phase of its Suitable Development Project Inside Tibet will be conveyed through a reliable NGO based in Tibet to support female students from nomadic families to attend day school and to help young Tibetan women complete four-year BA degrees in Tibet and China.
Prior to the GBM, TWA organized a four-day Women Empowerment Training session, on topics including legal empowerment and human rights, women's health, communication skills, team building, grants and fundraising, and environment and climate change.
TWA is today the second largest Tibetan NGO in exile and the only women's NGO in Tibetan history, with a global network of 56 regional chapters spread over three continents.
