NED Grants in Tibet in 2015

According to the NED Annual Report for 2015, the following US Government funds were allocated by the US Congress and dispersed by the NED for programs in Tibet:

A Symposium for Tibetan Intellectuals and Artists

Filming for Tibet

$43,000

To provide a safe space for minorities to express their identity, discuss political and social issues, and build stronger networks to protect their ethnic identity. The organization will hold a meeting of Tibetan educators, writers and activists to discuss and share thoughts on human rights, democracy, and the rights guaranteed to minority nationalities under the Chinese constitution. Additionally, the organization will provide support to current and former political prisoners.

Amplifying Voices from Tibet

Tibet Society UK

$20,000

To amplify the voices of Tibetans in Tibet and to increase understanding of conditions in Tibet from the Tibetans’ point of view. The organization will translate articles written by popular bloggers in China from Mandarin and Tibetan into English, and disseminate them widely to highlight local perspectives on the effects of government policies in Tibet and encourage accountability.

Building the Professional Capacity of Journalists

Tibetan Journalist Public Charitable Trust

$8,000

To build the professional capacity of journalists working for Tibetan exile media. The program will conduct two four-day intensive skills trainings for 10 participants each, with a focus on the principles of journalistic ethics and responsibility. The participants will be young journalists working on the news desks of print, radio, and television outlets.  The program will also include a conference convening respected and well-known journalists from Indian and international media houses.

Demton Khang – The Tibet Museum

Social and Resource Development Fund

$25,000

To collect, preserve, and present material related to modern Tibetan history, commemorate Tibet’s rich civilization, protect Tibetan identity, and educate the public about Tibetan culture, language and religion. The grantee will maintain and operate its Dharamsala-based museum, Demton Khang, organize a touring exhibition, digitize its photo archive, conduct trainings on proper archiving techniques, publish an online newsletter, and maintain a website.

Demton Khang – The Tibet Museum

Social and Resource Development Fund

Supplement: $4,320

To collect, preserve, and present material related to modern Tibetan history, commemorate Tibet’s rich civilization, protect Tibetan identity, and counter Chinese propaganda on Tibet’s political and cultural history. The organization will maintain and operate a Dharamsala-based museum, display a touring exhibition, digitize its photo archive, organize trainings on proper archiving techniques, publish an online newsletter, and maintain a website.

Empowering a new Generation of Tibetan Activists and Leaders

Rights Action Lab Inc.

$25,000

To enhance digital security practices and leadership skills among Tibetan civic activists. The grantee will strengthen Tibetan activists’ skills in information-gathering, media advocacy, communications and technology, grassroots organizing, and team-building. It will continue to develop new technology, training, and educational tools to enhance online security practices of Tibetan activists. Additionally, it will organize Lhakar Academy, a leadership training program for Tibetan youth focusing on democracy, media strategy, nonviolent tactics, and the use of information communication technology.

Human Rights Documentation and Advocacy

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy

$60,000

To monitor, document and highlight political repression and human rights violations in Tibet. The program will monitor state-owned Chinese media and social media for information on Tibet and conduct research on the human rights situation and legal landscape in Tibet. The grantee will produce a variety of reports based on the findings, including a special report on government repression of a wide range of individual and community civic initiatives in Tibet.

International Advocacy for Human Rights in Tibet

Tibet Justice Center

$45,000

To strengthen coordinated and concerted engagement on Tibet at the United Nations through the UN Committee against Torture and the Universal Periodic Review mechanism. The Tibet Justice Center will work closely with a coalition of Tibetan NGOs and Tibet support groups to monitor, document and highlight human rights violations in Tibet, and to pressure the Chinese government to adhere to universal human rights norms.

Promoting Conflict Resolution and Democratic Processes

Tibetan Centre for Conflict Resolution

$22,700

To build a vibrant democratic environment by instilling democratic values and practices that are rooted in conflict resolution principles. The program will provide skills training to local assembly members in the non-violent management of conflict and introduce communication skills useful in conflict prevention. The staff will also attend advanced training programs to develop their capacity as conflict resolution trainers.

Promoting Democracy through Theater and Performing Arts

Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts

$10,000

To promote democratic values and norms, and engender a sense of community and solidarity among visitors and refugees from Tibet and Tibetans living in exile, through the medium of performing arts. The organization will perform two plays aimed at encouraging discussion about democracy, cultural identity, and language preservation among Tibetans who travel to India for pilgrimage.

Promoting Women’s Rights in the Tibetan Exile Community

Tibetan Women’s Association

$34,000

To promote the social, political, and economic empowerment of Tibetan women, and to raise awareness about Tibet’s political situation. The grantee will conduct an advanced women’s leadership training course and produce publications that highlight the issues faced by Tibetan women. It will also organize panel discussions and attend conferences to advocate for protection of Tibet’s environment.

Sino-Tibetan History Project

Conflict Resolution

$131,000

To conduct a rigorous analysis of competing interpretations of the historical relationship between China and Tibet. The project will bring together independent researchers and academics from various disciplines to examine evidence, from a variety of sources and in multiple languages, that has a bearing on the politically salient claim that Tibet has been a part of China since antiquity. The organization will commission a series of research papers, organize three expert meetings, and publish a paper synthesizing the findings.

Strengthening International Support for Human Rights in Tibet

International Tibet Network

$80,000

To improve strategic planning and coordination of worldwide campaigns for human rights in Tibet. The network will facilitate an international campaign for greater freedom in Tibet, produce advocacy materials for use by members, conduct capacity building trainings for members, and organize international meetings of Tibet support groups.

Strengthening International Support for Human Rights in Tibet

International Tibet Network

Supplement: $8,580

To enhance strategic planning and coordination of worldwide campaigns for human rights in Tibet. The organization will facilitate an international campaign for greater freedom in Tibet, produce advocacy materials for use by members, conduct capacity building trainings for members, and organize international meetings of Tibet support groups.

Strengthening the Tibetan Movement through Campaigning and Leadership Training

Students for a Free Tibet, Inc.

$30,000

To raise international awareness of rights-based issues in Tibet, and to strengthen Tibetan activists’ skills in media advocacy, communications and technology, grassroots organizing, and leadership. The grantee will conduct thematic campaigns at the grassroots, national, and international levels on language rights, political prisoners, forced resettlement of nomads, and the environment. The grantee will also work to bolster multilateral mechanisms that can bring pressure to bear for the peaceful resolution of the Tibet issue.

Support for Political Prisoners

Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet

$11,500

To increase organizational capacity, refine strategic direction, improve implementation of programs, and strengthen advocacy efforts. The organization will review and improve its overall structure, programs, and strategies by working closely with an outside consultant. To be more effective as an advocacy group, the organization will also meet with and learn from pro-democracy organizations founded by former political prisoners in two other countries.

Tibet Express Newspaper

Khawa Karpo Tibet Culture Centre

$35,000

To provide independent news and analysis about Tibet and promote discussion and debate on current social and political issues related to Tibet and Tibetans. The organization will publish a weekly Tibetan-language newspaper providing news, features and analysis, and maintain a trilingual website in Tibetan, Mandarin, and English.

Tibet Policy Institute

Social and Resource Development Fund

$20,500

To monitor, document and highlight the effects of development polices in Tibet. The organization will conduct research on political, economic, and social impacts of resource extraction and mass tourism in Tibet; produce a report based on its findings; and conduct strategic advocacy campaigns on the issue. In addition, the organization will conduct an advanced training for its researchers on policy analysis.

Tibet Times Newspaper

Tibetan Literacy Society

$40,000

To provide the Tibetan public with independent and accurate information on developments in Tibet and in the exile community and to promote open discussion among intellectuals and the general public on civic issues, including human rights and democracy. The organization will publish and distribute a Tibetan-language newspaper three times a month, and maintain a website that is updated daily.

Tibet Times Newspaper

Tibetan Literacy Society

Supplement: $15,000

To provide the Tibetan public with independent and accurate information on developments in Tibet and in the exile community, and to promote open discussion among intellectuals and the general public on civic issues, including human rights and democracy. The society will publish and distribute Bod-Kyi-Dus-Bab (Tibet Times), a Tibetan-language newspaper published three times a month, and maintain a website updated daily.

Tibetan Election Observation Mission

International Campaign for Tibet

$42,000

To raise awareness of and provide support and solidarity for the Tibetan democratization process. Serving as the secretariat for an international network of parliamentarians concerned about Tibet, the organization will coordinate a parliamentarian mission to observe the March 20, 2016, elections taking place throughout the Tibetan exile community.

Voice of Tibet: Independent Shortwave Tibetan Radio

The Foundation Voice of Tibet

$35,400

To encourage and sustain independent public opinion inside Tibet and to familiarize Tibetans with the ideals of democracy and human rights. The Voice of Tibet, an independent, Tibetan-language shortwave radio station, will broadcast regular news about Tibet, the Tibetan exile community, and the Tibetan government-in-exile to audiences in Tibet and in neighboring countries.