Student Projects, Part 2

 Continued from Student Project, Part 1:

Stephen’s research deals with the Tibetan language. He has identified through research that language is central to the Tibetan identity. In His Holiness’ Memorandum to the Chinese government it is stated that the preservation of Tibetan language is the top priority. The dichotomy between written and spoken Tibetan makes it one of the world’s unique languages, and also one of the most difficult to learn. One of the most popular language learning tools for Tibetan is the Monlam Universal Tibetan Pronuncations computer software. This program allows users to hear pronunciations of all of the consonants, vowels, prefixes, suffixes, and character modifications used in written and spoken Tibetan. It also has an extensive vocabulary list, readings, stories, and explanations of the development of the language, and differences between informal, and honorific speech. Unfortunately it is entirely in Tibetan, which makes navigation and the readings difficult for English speakers. Stephen’s objective is to help make this Tibetan language learning tool available for widespread use by learners in India, Nepal, Bhutan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and even Tibet, where a non-political program would perhaps be accepted by the Chinese government. He would like to translate it into English, retool the program for ease of use, and find the means to distribute it internationally.

Jennie is interested in human rights issues in Tibet. She has found that the Central Tibetan Administration can only sponsor eighty political prisoners, providing food, shelter, etc. each year for a maximum of three years, after which a new group is cycled in. She is interested in sponsorships, grants, and donations that are available to help political prisoners not under the aid of the CTA. Her other main focus, in conjunction with Renate, is the issue of lack of treatment for political prisoners suffering from trauma. She is interested in fostering international awareness of their suffering, and will be working with Dr. Akers and the Amethyst house in order to bring a trained specialist to Dharamsala to help train further counselors and treat the victims of torture. Jennie will be an intern with the State Department this Spring and will be working with them to write grants and proposals to create action and aid for those struggling here.

Drew is studying the political situation between Tibet and China. He has found that there are two camps within the community that have their own beliefs and opinions in regards to the Dalai Lama’s Middle-Way approach to Tibet-China situation. The first is comprised of those who support His Holiness’ approach of autonomy within the Chinese constitution and and who are willing to compromise with the Chinese government. The second, and according to his research, minority camp, is made up of those who believe that Tibet should have total independence from China. Drew has been asking his interviewees what they think the next big change is that needs to happen in order for talks with China to proceed. Their answer has been unanimous: China needs to be less stubborn, and make decisions based on a more democratic process. Drew has found that when there are still two sides (Middle-Way vs. Independence) it allows China to look only at the independence side and to use its existence as a way to justify their current policies towards Tibet. His focus now lies on discovering ways to reach educated Chinese with information on the Dalai Lamas policies, so that incorrect views displayed by the Chinese government can be remedied.

Liz has chosen the environment for her area of study. Throughout the research process she has been able to discern that there is a severe lack of environmental education going on within the Tibetan community. The students here at Sarah genuinely wish to help the environment, but haven’t been taught how. Liz’s research is aimed at giving the Sarah campus a more science based focus, and providing improvements to the waste system here. She has found that the garbage cans on campus are labeled according to whether or not they are for trash, plastic and glass, or aluminum. Each one is correctly labeled, but are done so in Tibetan using a script that many of the students are still learning. Part of her project is to add universal symbols - pictures - to the garbage cans so that their use can be clearly understood. She is also searching for scientific documentaries that can be donated to the college. Using the video editing studio at Sarah these videos can be dubbed in Tibetan and shown to the students, which she believes will help educate them and raise environmental awareness

Sarah is working with the monastic community here. Freedom of religion is one of the main reasons many Tibetans move into exile. As mentioned in the last update, Buddhist philosophy permeates almost every facet of Tibetan culture, and certainly has a profound effect on daily life. Thus, the preservation of religion is plays an important role in the preservation of the culture as a whole. She’s interviewed a number of monks on campus and has found that none of them have been supported by their families. She’s been researching the Department of religion and culture, which is set up to operate and maintain the monastic community. Like many of the students at Sarah, the monks under the umbrella of the monastic system also receive a stipend, but theirs is only about 200 rupees per year for a maximum of 15 years. Those not receiving the stipend supplement their income by have large prayer groups in temples. These group prayer sessions are often requested and paid for by sponsors. The money they make is redistributed amongst the monks, and can be used for a meal or two typically, but there is never any net gain. Sarah has identified another issue as well: a large number of the most proficient teachers are being lost to the western world, and there are only a fraction of masters (Geshes) left in Tibet. Her project will be seeking solutions to these problems in terms of international NGOs and financial support groups/sponsors.

These are brief descriptions of the projects that each student has designed. The work put into these projects far exceeds the justice I have done them in a paragraph or so. But the semester is only half over. Each student will moving toward having a real and positive impact on the Tibetan community here through their research and action, and we are all excited to see in which direction these