Jul 31, 2012

Tibet: Festival To Help Hundreds Of Displaced People


The third annual Tibet Festival of Vancouver will benefit the Resettlement Project which will support the resettlement of 1,000 displaced Tibetans to Canada.

Below is an article published by the Tibet Post International:

An aannual Tibet festival of Vancouver will focus on hundreds of displaced Tibetans from India and the upcoming event will be used as a new 'Tibetan Canadian resettlement project,' according to festival organiser.

The Tibetan Cultural Society of BC and Tsengdok Monastery announced on Friday, July 27 that proceeds from the third annual Tibet Festival of Vancouver will benefit the Tibetan Canadian Resettlement Project, an unprecedented humanitarian initiative by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Canadian government.

Currently living in the dire conditions of northern India's refugee camps, 1,000 displaced Tibetans will be supported by this project in their resettlement to Canada, where they are provided with the opportunity to be educated, employed and to begin a new life.

"These Tibetans have been uprooted from everything they have known in life-they've left their homes, livelihood, and often their families. As Canadians, it's our duty to help those in need. In celebrating this beautiful and ancient culture, we are also preparing to help integrate those migrants who are selected to resettle in the Greater Vancouver region," said festival organizer April Liu.

Bringing the sounds, colours, and flavours of the Himalayas to Canada, the festival promises an exciting day of live music by Jamyang Yeshi, traditional cuisine, a lively marketplace, art workshops, sand mandala, and more. The cost of the event is free but a $5 donation is suggested in support of the Tibetan Canadian Resettlement Project.

Tibetans have lived in the Vancouver region since 1971 and have since flourished as contributing members to the community. The cities of Vancouver, Surrey and recently Burnaby have designated March 10 as Tibet Day in recognition of the contributions of the Tibetan communities to their host cities.

The Tibetan Cultural Society of British Columbia (TCSBC) was incorporated in 1981 by Tibetans living in the Greater Vancouver region as a non-sectarian and charitable organization under the B.C. Societies Act. The main aim of the society is to help promote and preserve Tibetan culture and heritage in our jurisdiction. For more information, please visit: www.tcsofbc.org

Schedule timing of the festival
When: August 18, 2012
Where: Van Dusen Garden's Floral Hall, Vancouver
Time: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.