ENVISION’s Building Bridges Project is an exposure and exchange programme designed to bring together young people from Tibetan and Indian communities: to foster a better understanding of cultures, learning and sharing. Both our School Mentoring and Exchange Program under the aegis of the Building Bridges project aims to expand comfort zones and broaden horizons of young Tibetan students as well as nurture friendships between Indian and Tibetans.
Toward achieving this goal, the first school Exchange Program of the year was organized on 11th July between Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) Selaqui School hosted by Delhi Public School (DPS) Dehradun, the next exchange where TCV Selaqui will host DPS Dehradun is scheduled for 26 August.
On 11th July, the day started with TCV students along with their school counsellor Ms. Dawa Kyipa being welcomed by DPS School Director Vatsala Singh. The students – 60 from TCV and 65 from DPS – were allotted a buddy (two for some) for the ice-breaking activity ‘buddy game’ and were given some time to know each other, interact and share concerns as a student in particular and on general social and cultural practices/habits of respective communities.
Apart from the buddy game activity, students participated enthusiastically in the campus and class tours and also a fun science experiment session in the school laboratory. In between students shared their snacks (DPS brought for their buddies) and indulged in a friendly basketball match – both boys and girls team.
The day’s program successfully ended with a cultural programme presented by the Dance and Music club of DPS students.
“This exchange program was an eye opener for me as I came to know about Tibetan culture through the lens of the Tibetan students”, said Cl. XII student Parvi Rawat of DPS.
While Tenzin Tsering Gonsar from TCV Selaqui echoed his fellow Indian friends and said such school exchange programs are helpful and should be extended to teachers of the two schools as well.
Throughout the day, exchanges between students were encouraged, team activities and a mutual sharing of ideas, culture, respect and understanding were promoted. Students in both the schools have expressed being educated and enriched by this experience.