California: The 2025 Youth Leadership and Capacity Building Workshop was successfully conducted from October 10 to October 12 in California at the Gyuto Foundation. The Office of Tibet, in collaboration with Tibet Fund, Gyuto Foundation, and Tibetan Association of Northern California, organised the three-day workshop, bringing together approximately 35 young Tibetan high school seniors, college students, and young professionals. The workshop combined meditative practices, career development, advocacy initiatives, and community engagement through a structured program featuring distinguished speakers and interactive group sessions.
On the opening day, Tsultrim Gyatso, Youth Coordinator at the Office of Tibet, welcomed participants. Representative Dr Namgyal Choedup then edified them on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s vision and outlined the Central Tibetan Administration’s strategic approach to securing Tibet’s future, emphasising the critical role of diaspora youth in this mission. In the sessions on Secular Ethics and Leadership Excellence, Instructor Tsondue Samphel from Emory University introduced participants to managing emotions through secular ethical frameworks, emphasising the integration of contemplative practice with practical leadership skills. Former political prisoner Namkyi provided a powerful account of life under Chinese occupation, offering participants direct insight into the human cost of political oppression and discrimination against Tibetans in prison. She highlighted the CCP’s “great lock system” that controls every aspect of mobility through high-tech surveillance.
The second day focused on role models and practical pathways for young Tibetans navigating professional success while maintaining cultural identity and Tibetan values. Judge Tsering Cornell, Clark County, Washington’s first Asian American judge, shared her journey through various professional fields and the American legal system. Judge Cornell provided inspiration and practical guidance for aspiring legal professionals, highlighting how Tibetan values—particularly the cultivation of compassion—nurtured greater professional ethics in her career. A panel discussion on Young Tibetan Professionals and Tibetan Values was moderated by Sonam Tso, Senior Actions Campaigner at Greenpeace USA, and joined by Tenzin Kunsel, Software Engineer and Creative Artist; Shaokyi Amdo, Product and Research Communications at OpenAI; and Shenpen, former Supply Chain Management at Tesla and Meta. This diverse panel demonstrated the breadth of professional fields where Tibetans are making significant contributions while maintaining deep connections to their heritage and values.
The final day transitioned from knowledge acquisition to practical engagement, focusing on community service, advocacy strategies, and concrete ways to contribute to the Tibetan cause. Konchok Tashi, President of the Tibetan Association of Northern California, and Tenzin Donyo, Principal of the local Tibetan language school, discussed community-building initiatives and emphasised the critical role of youth in giving back and serving the community. Tenzin Choesang, National Coordinator of Voluntary Tibet Advocacy Group (V-TAG), outlined grassroots advocacy strategies and presented opportunities for participants to engage in coordinated action. Ginger Duan, founder of Chinese Youth Stand for Tibet, presented innovative cross-cultural bridge-building through digital platforms, demonstrating the power of Chinese-language advocacy for the Tibet cause.
Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in morning meditation and participated in focused group discussions on various topics led by expert speakers. In the final session, participants read the appeals by His Holiness from his book, after which Dr Namgyal Choedup delivered a powerful address on being a “Voice for the Voiceless,” emphasising the moral imperative for diaspora Tibetans to advocate for those inside Tibet who cannot speak freely.
-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Washington, DC
