Tuesday, May 27, 2014
The
TGAP
forum
is
an
international
conference
and
policy
research
workshop
dedicated
to
the
advancement
of
scholarly
knowledge
and
public
understanding
of
governance
challenges
in
contemporary
Tibet.
As
part
of
the
broader
Tibetan
Governance
Initiative,
the
forum
acts
as
a
platform
to
address
existing
problems
in
the
Tibetan
plateau
such
as
language
and
cultural
deterioration,
high
illiteracy
and
low
enrollment
rates,
environmental
degradation
and
social
and
political
instability.
As
a
Tibetan-in-exile,
Jigme
has
a
strong
interest
in
Tibetan
social
justice,
and
after
attending
political
advocacy
events
in
Montreal
and
Washington,
he
was
compelled
to
learn
more
about
the
Tibetan
Governance
Initiative.
Unlike
the
typical
discourse
about
Tibet,
this
initiative
focuses
on
the
power
relationship
between
the
state
and
local
Tibetan
stakeholders.
“It
argues
that
human
rights
and
development
issues
are
only
symptoms
of
what
is
the
causative
factor
of
problems
in
Tibet
–
the
lack
of
local
Tibetan
involvement
in
regional
policymaking
and
implementation,”
he
says.
Jigme
put
his
passion
into
action
as
a
Research
Intern
for
the
forum
where
he
was
responsible
for
compiling
policy
recommendations
and
research
for
keynote
speakers.
“As
a
Tibetan-Canadian,
it
is
often
difficult
to
visit
Tibet
or
communicate
with
Tibetans
–
particularly
on
politically
sensitive
topics.
Therefore
being
able
to
speak
with
Tibetan
scholars,
community
leaders
and
experts
to
learn
about
their
experiences
and
views
was
truly
a
once
and
a
lifetime
opportunity
for
me.”
His
experiences
with
the
TGAP
forum
have
assisted
him
while
he
was
working
in
his
co-op
position
with
the
Ministry
of
Municipal
Affairs
and
Housing
(MMAH).
“From
my
experience
I
obtained
a
new
perspective
on
environmental,
resource
and
land-use
issues
being
faced
in
another
jurisdiction.
From
this
I
have
been
able
to
draw
useful
comparative
insights.”
After
working
for
two
co-op
terms
with
MMAH,
Jigme
is
still
enjoying
his
time
at
the
ministry
as
a
Policy
Advisor
and will
be
officially
graduating
this
June.
We
look
forward
to
hearing
more
about
his
involvement
with
Tibetan
advocacy
and
all
his
future
successes.
-
Written
by
Kayla
McKinnon