Every cent was spent for your donation to TCV Suja

The last 4,000over rupees were spent in buying more books for their library.

A BUSY AUGUST FOR VARADA EFFORT THIS YEAR IN DHARAMSALA.....our effort to help the youth spiritually

Report for TCV Life Skills Workshop held on Sunday 28 August 2011 at

Tibetan Children’s Village in Upper Dharamsala, India

Executive Summary

Seven workshops on life skills* lasting two to two-and-a-half hours each were conducted for

more than 160 final year students aged 18 and above in the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV)

at Upper Dharamsala, India on Sunday 28 August 2011. Through quizzes, role plays and small

group discussions, students learnt and practiced assertive decision-making skills and ways to

say “No” to negative peer pressure such as smoking and drugs, and persistent persons. They

identified personal strengths and support systems, and committed personal affirmation

statements. Reinforcement through Tibetan translation, personal factsheet and classroom

posters were provided.

96% of the students found the workshop useful or very useful and 88% would recommend it

to fellow students. Some feedback included: “it will be better if it is given to Class XI also”,

“both practically and theory”, “it was not just a teaching but also making us feel what you

meant” and “it will really help during our life time”.

The workshops were made possible by the support of the TCV Principal, Headmaster and

Deputy Headmaster; friends who printed the worksheets, factsheets, posters and personal

affirmation cards; designers; translators and the Varada Effort, a group of Dharma-inspired

followers in Singapore helping the needy. The nine facilitators who conducted the workshop

included social workers, trainers, teachers and experienced volunteers from Singapore and a

Tibetan youth leader.

*Life skills are psychosocial and interpersonal skills involving values clarification and critical

thinking that enable learners to acquire knowledge and to develop positive attitudes and

skills, so as to manage life challenges and future roles in life.