Intercultural Cooperation

ImageIn order to foster harmony between Tibetans, local Indians and other communities, the Tibetan Welfare Office (TWO) organizes kids inter-cultural shows, festivals and community work with them. The Tibetan Welfare Office also organizes Joint Community meetings where all communities discuss solutions for improving the relationships between the communities.

The Tibetan Welfare Office urges all visitors from other Tibetan settlements and the residents in Dharamsala to show joy and respect for all, regardless of their culture, and to enter into their ceremonies and patronize their businesses.

The Tibetan Welfare Office organizes Tibetan festivals and communal pujas which are done for the benefit of all and for world peace. On important days, the Welfare Office often contacts the different institutions in Dharamsala to celebrate these occasions jointly.

Adding to this, Tibetan Welfare Office encourages exchange programme with the international organization. TWO has founded the Tibetan Jewish Youth Exchange (TJYE) programme which was later become an independent non governmental organization, and it is still running in the Tibetan community under the banner of Longsho Tibetan Youth Movement. TJYE is to explore the Tibetan youths about the parallel situations of the past Jewish community, learning to keep alive their identity. Simultaneously, Tibetan Welfare Office is working with the Canada World Youth in an exchange programme since year 2001. In this programme, the Canadian students stay with the Tibetan families for three months, and they have been working voluntarily at the work placements in various units of the Tibetan community. 

Tibetan Welfare Officer is also authorized to conduct legal business, of a permanent or temporary nature, as a circuit Tibetan Local Justice Commissioner. The Tibetan Welfare Office plays an important mediation role in the community. Whenever disputes or conflicts cannot be resolved at the individual level, they are brought to our attention.  An officer tries to mediate between the two parties to bring them to an amiable agreement. 

Inter-community conflicts are also not uncommon where Tibetan and local Indians live close to each other.  Most of these conflicts arise due to misunderstandings, disrespect for other's rights and encroachment on other's property.

One of the main objectives of the Tibetan Welfare Office is to maintain social, religious and political harmony in the community by containing small issues or conflicts so that they do not flare up into large issues.