In June 2023, all the Nalanda course participants from Ven. Geshe Dorji Damdul were invited to meet with one of our environmental heroes, the Dalai Lama, in Dharamsala, India.

More than 500 students from around the globe came for this incredible event, and some of our Global Tree Initiative (GTI) community members were also there. Shortly afterward, the idea came to plant some trees to offset some of the carbon footprints that everyone incurred traveling to that event.

One course participant, Piya Bakshi, took the lead and planted four trees, which we previously did a story on.

Hans Timpner, who was also one course participants, tells us that “It was very fortunate to have some very energetic and committed Tibetan students that had heard about the planting project of the Tibetan Children Village (TCV) in Ladakh, inspired by the Dalai Lama during his last visit to Ladakh. The Dalai Lama wanted to see more green in the area, as the Dalai Lama’s commitment to the environment is well known.

Our group was able to contact the principal of the TCV school and he kindly put together a project plan with an estimated cost. Have a look at the map layout of the project, and the project plan can be seen here. Our group decided to set up a fundraising, cleared all the obstacles that appeared, and finally agreed to channel the money straight to the TCV!

Now, they were finally able to start promoting this worthwhile project of planting willow trees and sea rose bushes at the TCV in Ladakh, and in that way do our little part in fulfilling the Dalai Lama’s wishes and stimulating the children, being part of something that they will remember for the rest of their lives!

A very big THANK YOU to Tsering la, Pema la, Donlha, Tenzin, Mrinalini, Kyipa la, Dawa Kalsang, and of course Tenzin Rapten for all their efforts in making this happen. Of course, there are many more that helped so thanks to all of you, and thanks to the first donors that are contributing already to this worthwhile project.”

The GTI will share more updates soon as this project develops. Please note that anyone can make a financial donation and sponsor trees to be planted. The sponsoring of trees is not solely limited to the Dharamsala course participants but to everyone interested in supporting this project!

To learn more about the Tibetan Children’s Village projects, check out their website.

See more details below concerning the planting project: