Tibetan Entrepreneurship Development (TED), an initiative of SARD under the Department of Finance, provided an opportunity to two Tibetan students from Upper TCV school to attend the Global Scholars Program (GSP) at African Leadership Academy (ALA) in South Africa from 25 July – 12 August 2015. Funded by Omidyar Network in the US, a leading investment firm supporting entrepreneurship globally, the grade 12 Tibetan students will learn and discover their true potential, passions, interests and the value of diversity in a community.
GSP is an intensive, 19-day program for a select group of students from various countries across the globe. Built around African Leadership Academy’s unique Entrepreneurial Leadership and African studies curriculum, GSP prepares young leaders to create widespread change throughout the world. The program mainly focuses on leadership and entrepreneurship. Last year the program was attended by Tenzin Choetso and Tenzin Nordon. Choetso won the prize for “Best Community Solution” in her camp and Nordon provided self-assured and powerful leadership in her group.
“ALA is a program designed for the ALA student and student around the world to experience on leadership and entrepreneurship. As a part of our Student Entrepreneurship Program (TED), two of our student’s participation in program will help to develop and practice the leadership skills and entrepreneurship qualities in our community.” said Finance Kalon Tsering Dhundup.
“I am very excited about the program. I think this will be a great learning curve in my life.” said student Tenzin Rabga from Tibetan children’s village (TCV) in Dharamsala. During the program, both Tenzin Rabga and Thinley Wangmo will actively practice leadership by working with social ventures and engage in discussions with prominent entrepreneurs.
TED aims to mobilise and amplify Tibetan entrepreneurial spirit by fostering, nurturing, accelerating value-add connections and celebrating entrepreneurship. TED aims to affect the profound transformation of the Tibetan community in-exile with its role as a mobilizer of the Tibetan entrepreneurial spirit to partake in global opportunities and contribute to the community’s economic well-being.
Global scholars program is a part of TED student entrepreneurship program and TED have recently started the first student’s entrepreneurship club in collaboration with Upper TCV School. It also aims to create more clubs in other schools in the coming years.