I first encountered Tibetan people during a year spent in India in my mid 20’s, having travelled north into the foothills of the Himalayas. It was there I learnt of the Tibetan cause, had my first contact with Tibetan Buddhism, and saw His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the first time.
The impact on me was profound and lifelong. Over 40 years have elapsed, and in that time I’ve been involved in organising campaigning, awareness raising and fundraising events for Tibetan causes, helped to run a sponsorship scheme for a Tibetan refugee settlement in India, and have become a student of Tibetan Buddhism. Just over ten years ago, I had the rare opportunity to go to Tibet, an unforgettable experience – stunning and heartbreaking in equal measure.
It made my commitment to the Tibetan cause even deeper, both for the sake of the Tibetan people who have suffered so very much, but also as a way of expressing my gratitude for the way the rest of the world has benefited from the spread of Tibetan culture and religion, following the exile of The Dalai Lama in India and those many thousands of Tibetans who followed him.
The Dalai Lama’s influence on the world stage is incalculable. His consistent message of compassion, non-violence, the oneness of humanity, and the importance of interfaith dialogue and respect has had an extraordinary reach and has bought enormous benefit. It’s a message which is both timeless and also so very appropriate for the challenges facing humanity at this particularly crucial time.
Alongside the joyful celebrations of his recent 90th birthday though, there is inevitably a growing sense of uncertainty about what the future might hold. This situation only serves to underline the significance of the dedicated and longstanding work of Tibet Relief Fund (TRF) in helping to support, enhance opportunities, and build resilience on the ground in the Tibetan refugee communities in Nepal and India.
Having raised funds for TRF over many years through a wide range of events with my local Tibet Support Group, I’m glad now to have the chance to be a Trustee and try to support the valuable contribution made consistently by TRF in a different way.
A supporter and sponsor for over 15 years, Rowena joined us as a Trustee in 2024, bringing a breadth of experience, knowledge and insight to TRF.
