Interview the-dharma-house (TDH) with Jigmey DENWA, president of the ABSL "Tibetan Cultural Centre of Belgium".
Editor's note: The Tibetan Cultural Center of Belgium teaches Tibetan culture and history to Tibetan children growing up in Belgium, but also the Tibetan language, singing, dancing and some Buddhist teachings such as compassion.
Want to know more about the TCC? Participate in their events? Check out their Facebook page
Do you want to help the TCC? Donate on the-dharma-store.com.
TDH: Who are you? and what is your role within the association?:
My name is Jigmey Denwa. I am president of Tibetan Cultural Centre. I am involved with everything to do with organising activities, communication and paper work.
TDH: How was born the association?
Tibetan Cultural Center started in 2008 out of a strong wish to promote and protect our language and culture. We first started giving class in a restaurant, during the break. Then in a Buddhist Centre and we finally found a school in Brussels. Later another school opened in Ostende followed by Antwerpen, Leuven, Ghent and Brugges.
TDH: 3. What has been achieved by the association so far?
To this day we are running 6 schools in this 6 cities. There are 304 students, 45 teachers and in every school 6 different levels, starting from preschool to grade 6. These children learn to read and write their own language which is important because many parents cannot transmit this knowledge. They also learn Tibetan dances and songs as well as musical instruments if they wish. They are also told about the human values and given an introduction to Dharma.
Besides the school, we also organize one week Summer Camp every year.
TDH: What are the needs of the association? What are the different ways that people can participate to the association?
Until now we have covered all the expenses by selling food and organizing events. But the demand is very high now and keeps growing, we have more and more children so really need to rent many more classrooms.
We would also like to give the teachers a decent compensation for their time and effort. And it would be of great benefit if we could extend the Summer Camp both in number of children admitted and in time.
We would also need some material for learning and adapted books to study.
People can help in 2 ways:
- By choosing our association when they buy in the Dharma Store
- By making a donation through the website of the Dharma Store
TDH: Explain one project/dream that you are willing to realise for which you need funding?
A short term project is to print adapted text books that we have already designed. This requires about 8.000,00 euros.
It is also very urgent to gather some amount to give the teachers a decent compensation if we want them to commit in the long term. We have made an estimation of 12.000,00 euros per year.
Of course our dream is to have one day a building where we could not only impart the classes but also hold meetings and where the whole Tibetan community and all friends could gather for Tibetan special days and celebrations.
But we are here talking about a lot of money.
TDH: One of our precious teachers, Akong Rinpoche, often said that "only the impossible is worth doing".
Thank you very much, Jigmey.
Want to know more about the TCC? Participate in their events? Check out their Facebook page
Do you want to help the TCC? Donate on the-dharma-store.com.