When I first came to Bhusokhang (Tibetan Children's Village) in 1975, it was a very different place from today. I liked working there right from the very beginning. Though the facilities were minimal, there was so much fun and camaraderie amongst the staff, many of whom were almost as young as some of the students. There was so much dedication and sacrifice on the part of the staff that it was like living in another time of our history.

The Tibetan Children's Village (TCV) was born out of the tragic history of Tibet when thousands of Tibetans were forced to flee their beloved homeland after the Chinese invasion. It was in 1960 that Ms. Tsering Dolma, the elder sister of H.H. The Dalai Lama, founded Bhusokhang to care for the orphaned and destitute children in exile. After her untimely death, the responsibility was shouldered by her younger sister, Ms. Jetsun Pema and is carried on with great success to this day.

I will never forget a certain embarrassing incident that occurred on my first day on the job at TCV. In those days, during lunchtime, the teachers had to go to eat at the storeroom which also served as a kind of faculty dining room. After a quick lunch, I carelessly placed my bowl in the sink and prepared myself for a nice afternoon chart with some friends. Just as I was leaving the storeroom, a high-pitched lady's voice screamed from behind me: "Gyen la! Listen! You have to wash your bowl after eating. We don't employ any servants here!" The scornful scream brought me to a standstill. My face flushed with embarrassment as some lady teachers stood by watching and chuckling. I felt like a terrified student who was being reprimanded by his teacher for carelessness. The squeaking lady was tiny frail body that bent as she walked. Her well-oiled, skinny face was deeply furrowed with lines and her sunken eyes made her look very serious indeed. Being a self-appointed custodian of the old values, Ama Kaden was often seen lecturing female staff members on everything from the way they should dress to how they should fix their hair. She kept all the cooks on their toes and the kitchen was run very efficiently. Children loved her for she would give them special treats when they behaved well and helped her in the kitchen. The children even sang rhymes in her honor.

My arrival at TCV coincided with an important change in its history. The organisation was on the threshold of starting a new chapter that was to change the later part of its history in many ways. With one stroke of the pen, the Director boldly gambled on the idea of reconstituting TCV as an autonomous institution. Such a decision would not only free the organisation from the demands of grant-in-aid regulation, but would also help pave the way for the Tibetans to take charge of their own education. Though fraught with risk, the decision soon paid off giving TCV visionary decision, TCV would not have become what it is today. The zeal and vibrant energy of this young institution was also able to effect many positive changes in other social organisations in and around Dharamsala. The quality of education improved significantly and by the early 1980s, TCV consistently topped the high school test results setting a new standard for all Tibetan schools in exile. TCV, however, did not rest on its laurels for she was destined to take up even more challenging roles thatn the mere topping of test results. By turning itself into a safe haven, TCV was able to open its arms even wider and take in thousands of children fleeing from the brutal Chinese oppression. This humane responsibility effectively reduced the Tibetan Government-in-Exile's growing burden of newly arrived refugees. No school in the world could have taken in such a mass exodus of children without actually falling apart itself, but TCV did it and continues to do so today. Such achievements do not come easily without so much sacrifice and determination on the part of the TCV president and the staff. The influx of new refugees quadrupled in the late 1980s and TCV felt the need to expand its facilities and to brace itself to face even more challenges in the future. TCV frantically appealed to many international aid organisations and private donors for help. A massive expansion plan was launched. New schools were opened and adult education programs and other vocational training centers were established.

Today, TCV has become a household name within the Tibetan community. It is the largest Tibetan nonprofit organisation in the world. The Tibetan Children's Village is very different from other schools in many ways. The uniqueness of this institution can best be appreciated when all aspects of its work can be pieced together to see the tapestry of human endeavor and commitment. It sometimes makes me think of TVV in a very special way. Dear readers, please tell me where in the world could one find a school where children live in family homes, cook their own meals and share so many things? Where in the world could one find a school that publishes many of its own textbooks and also has a teacher training section? Where in the world could one find a school that takes into is care newborn babies to the destitute and elderly? TCV has many more unique qualities that endear it not only to the Tibetans but also to its international supporters. Three important factors have been instrumental to its success: its visionary leadership, the dedication of its staff, and the strong support it has received from its sponsors and friends throughout the world. As TCV celebrates its 40th anniversary let me take this opportunity to salute all the people connected with this great organisation and, in particular, those staff members from the early days who toiled so tirelessly during the most difficult times of its history...