The Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) is a thriving, integrated educational community created originally for the destitute refugee Tibetan children living in exile in Dharamsala, India. TCV was established following His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s exile to India in 1959. Recognizing the dire conditions in which many orphaned Tibetan children were living, and that the future of Tibet was dependent upon the younger generations, the Dalai Lama proposed that a center for destitute children be established in Dharamsala. Here, children could at least be given basic care largely due to the support and funding of the Indian Government.

Throughout the following 45 years, however, the care and educational needs of the children changed drastically, therefore impacting the size and scope of the Tibetan Children’s Village. With the influx of new refugees, the depth of poverty, the need for educational support in remote areas of India, and the Dalai Lama’s desire to provide older students with opportunities for specialized study, TCV naturally evolved to meet the changing needs.

Today, the Upper TCV School in Dharamsala is a high standard school with both primary and secondary schools. It is entirely funded by Tibetan parents in exile. The Tibetan Children’s Village has also established branches throughout India with over 15,000 children under its care. TCV continues to work toward improving their children’s education, social and cultural awareness. With the leadership of Principal Mrs. Sonam Dolkar Samkhar, and direction of Project Facilitator, Yeshi Khando, TCV continues to work toward improving their children’s education, social and cultural awareness.