Support a Tibetan Refugee's Journey to Graduate Studies
Hi. I have seen some of the posts on this community, and realised my story is trivial compared to others', but nonetheless, I think a post is still worth a shot.
I'm Dekyong, a stateless Tibetan born to Tibetan refugees in India. My parents have worked for the Central Tibetan Administration(CTA) in India for over 5 decades combined. My family currently receives an annual pension of 186,360 Indian rupees (US $1,957) in recognition of my father's decades of service to the CTA. When my father passed away, my mother moved to the US. She currently lives in Queens, NY, and works as an in-home child care provider, while my younger brother attends a community college in the borough.
I am currently hoping to pursue graduate studies at SOAS in London. The total tuition fees are around £25,000 + maintenance fees. As of now, I have received a scholarship from the Dalai Lama Foundation and, along with the money my mother can afford to invest, which is around US$ 10,000, I still need to raise around £10,000. I am hoping to receive a scholarship from the university itself, but I am still awaiting the outcome.
I know my dream of studying in London, even though I'm aware my family could never afford it, seems outrageous; it is a dream inspired by my commitment to preserving Tibetan history, educating future generations of Tibetans in exile, and contributing to scholarship that challenges the long-standing dominance of colonial historiography.
Inside Tibet, under the Chinese Communist Party's rule, Tibetan history is increasingly presented through official narratives that describe Tibet as having been an integral part of China since ancient times. These narratives are used by the Chinese government to justify its control over Tibet and are contested by many historians and by the Tibetan exile community.
For Tibetans living in exile, preserving and studying our own history is therefore more than an academic pursuit. It is an essential means of safeguarding our identity, culture, and collective memory.
To pursue this goal, I have dedicated my undergraduate studies to history and historiography while actively participating in a range of voluntary programmes and internships that have strengthened both my academic skills and my commitment to the field. Throughout my studies, I have maintained an excellent academic record, which has enabled me to receive offers of admission from several prestigious universities in the United Kingdom, including the University of Oxford, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), the University of Edinburgh, the University of Manchester, and SOAS University of London, where I hope to pursue my master's degree.
Despite these opportunities, studying in the United Kingdom is financially out of reach for my family without external support. I am therefore seeking your support to help cover my tuition fees. Every contribution, no matter the amount, will bring me one step closer to achieving this opportunity.
Attached to this post are my CV, latest academic record, my father's pension letter, and a letter of acceptance from the School of Oriental and African Studies.
If you're unable to donate, please do share my post with those to whom my story could resonate. Deeply appreciated, thank you.
Link to my GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/7910c265b