View former executives here.
Current executives
Tashi Dolma – President
Samten Chodon – Vice President
A graduate with a Bachelors in Commerce from Mysore University, Samten Chodon completed her schooling from Nirmala Convent, Mysore. Samten has had hands-on working experience in the Tibetan community in exile for the last 16 years. Samten is an undisputed and talented accountant and has carved her niche and charted her success in this field. She began her career in this field in 1993 as the assistant accountant and then as the auditor under the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) office of the Auditor general and then as the accountant, assistant manager and finally as the manager of Lugsam Co-operative society workshop for 12 years.
Samten’s tyrst with Tibetan Women’s Association began in 1990 and was an active regional TWA member. She was elected as the executive member of RTWA Bylakuppee for the years 2003 -2006 and was later elected to be the president of RTWA Bylakuppee for the years 2006-2009. Samten was the chief accountant of the ‘March to Tibet’ organized by Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement (TPUM) during the months March -July, 2008.
In April 2009, during the 9th general body meeting of TWA, Samten was elected to be the vice president of Central Tibetan Women’s Association for a period of three years (2009-2012) and re-elected as vice president during 10th general body meeting of TWA (2012-2015). Samten admits that there is nothing more gratifying than working for the cause of Tibetan women in particular and the Tibetan cause in general.
Nyima Lhamo – General Secretary
Nyima studied at TCV School Pathlikhul and later completed her 12th grade from Upper TCV School. She later pursued Bachelors in Law and Bachelors in Legislative Law (LLB) from SDM law college, Mangalore University. She applied at TWA for the position of ‘Program Coordinator’ and has for the last four months excelling in her job. Nyima’s job requires her to research and analyse on the scores of leadership and empowerment trainings given by TWA and to establish TWA’s ‘empowerment training project’ as a repudiated and credible project that seeks to empower the young Tibetan women, female population of the Tibetan monastic community and strive towards the creation of a gender equal Tibetan society in exile through a series of gender sensitization trainings.
In April 2012, during the 10th general body meeting of TWA, Nyima was elected to be the general secretary of Central Tibetan Women’s Association for a period of three years (2012-2015).According to Nyima “I believe that it really does not matter where you work but what really matters is the ultimate goal.” Nyima firmly believes that “as Tibetans we shoulder a common goal and working at TWA helps me move towards the common goal. I feel I am doing my bit for my land and people by working at TWA. Each day at TWA helps me to grow as person. ”
Tsering Dolma – Joint Secretary
Pema Choedon – Research and Media Officer (Tibetan)
Born in Tibet and later escaped to exile in 1998. Finished her secondary education in Tibet from a Chinese medium school. Completed her schooling from TCV, Suja, Himachal Pradesh and she then pursued Bachelor in Buddhist philosophy from Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies (C.I.H.T.S), Varanasi. While she was a student at C.I.H.T.S, she also served as a president of Regional Tibetan Women Association of Varanasi.She is currently pursuing her M.A in English from IGNOU.
In April 2012, during the 10th general body meeting of TWA, Pema was elected to be the executive member of Central Tibetan Women’s Association for a period of three years (2012-2015) and she believes in will put all her energy into her work. Prior to TWA; she has worked as freelance editor & translator in Dharamsala.
Tsering Wangmo – International P.R.O-cum-Grant, Capacity Building & Stitches of Tibet Manager
Born in Pokhara, Nepal in 1983, Wangmo undertook her primary schooling until class 7 in her home town, and then moved to Kathmandu where she completed her secondary schooling. She gained her Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities, majoring in English, from Nepal’s Tribhuvan University. Further studies included Professional Care in Air Hostessing in New Delhi. In New Delhi she spent one year as a Customer Care Executive where she honed her English language skills, before becoming a home based Research Associate for a US disability program.
In April 2012, during the 10th general body meeting of TWA, Wangmo was elected to be the executive member of Central Tibetan Women’s Association for a period of three years (2012-2015).Wangmo was attracted to TWA by their focus on helping women to fulfil their ambitions and become more empowered, recognising this as important for the overall Tibetan cause. If describing herself in 5 words she would choose: hard-working, calm, sincere, friendly and open to others’ suggestions and comments. Wangmo is excited to help TWA’s work grow: “as a manager of Stitches of Tibet I can bring many changes, and as I grow older in this organisation I will learn more about it and the people involved, and what improvements I can bring”.
Tenzin Dickey – National P.R.O
Studied at Upper T.C.V and completed her 12th grade from T.C.V Gopalpur. She later pursued Secretarial Course at the TCV Vocational Training Center (VTC) Dehradun and did a further six month secretarial training at T.C.V Head Office, Dharamsala. She then joined Tibetan Women’s Association worked as a Sponsorship Officer and the Admin Asstt.
In April 2012, during the 10th general body meeting of TWA, Dickey was elected to be the executive member of Central Tibetan Women’s Association for a period of three years (2012-2015).
Dickey confesses that ” within these few months I gained lots of experience and I consider myself as a fortunate one to have got an opportunity to serve in such a wonderful Organization. “Dickey further elaborates that ” T.W.A is such a platform that one can gain lot of knowledge and at same time one can lead the rest of the Tibetans into a new positive direction of the Tibetan struggle. ”
Current staff
Tenzin Woebum – Officer, Women’s Environment and Development Desk
Tenzin Woebum is currently heading the newly launched ‘ Women’s Environment and Development Desk ‘ (WEDD) of Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA). Woebum also feels that it would be a great initiation of TWA to engage in proactive measures to combat the climate crisis and collaborate with other environmental NGOs so that the issue of Tibet, the Third Pole becomes a global concern requiring immediate attention. She expressed that she is privileged to be spearheading this new initiative of TWA. Regarding her academic background, Woebum has completed her Post-graduation degree in mass communication from Punjab University, Chandigarh and graduation from Delhi University. She did her schooling from Tibetan Homes School, Mussoorie. According to Woebum, “Working in TWA has been a great learning experience and I am proud to be a part of this organization.”
Tenzin Chokzay – Accountant and coordinator for FOTWA
Tenzin Chokzay attended the Tibetan SOS Children’s Village in Bylakuppe and graduated in 2001. She decided to study at the Teresian College in Mysore and received a Bachelor’s of Commerce in 2004. In April of 2006 she started working for the Tibetan Women’s Association as a volunteer because as a Tibetan woman, she wanted to learn more about the Tibetan cause. By May of 2006, she was offered the position as an Accountant and has continued to learn about the Tibetan cause since starting at TWA. Tenzin Chokzay states, “Working at TWA has allowed me to work with many people, gain fantastic work experience, and learn more about the Tibetan movement. TWA is a great platform for all the executives and staff to learn and grow.”
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