Office of Tibet Brussels Organises Belgium Young Minds Meet for the Third Time to Discuss Tibet
Brussels, 7 March 2026: The Office of Tibet in Brussels organised the third Belgium Young Minds Meet, bringing together 19 enthusiastic Tibetan youths, aimed to provide a platform for young members of the community to meet, share their views and discuss future advocacy efforts.
Following the introduction of the programme, Representative Rigzin Genkhang began by emphasising the connection to identity and heritage, reminding participants that each young Tibetan carried the legacy of Tibet’s culture, language and history, providing a comprehensive overview of Tibet.
In her remarks, she emphasised the important role that young Tibetans can play in advancing the Tibetan cause with the education, skills and modern tools that are at their disposal. She further noted that holding dual identities as Belgian and Tibetan should not be viewed as a contradiction, but rather as a strength. In conclusion, Representative Genkhang reminded the youths to recognise and express gratitude for the profound benevolence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama who, even at 90, continues to tirelessly advocate for the freedom and dignity of his people.
The gathering also featured an experience-sharing session by three participants — Tenzin Sonam, Tenzin Dekyi, and Tserin Dolma — who attended the Youth Empowerment Program held in Italy in January. They shared their enthusiasm about the workshop and expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to deepen their understanding of autonomy and the possibilities for Tibet. They also highlighted the meaningful connections they formed with other Tibetan youths from across Europe who share a strong commitment to the Tibetan cause.
Participants later took part in an interactive brainstorming session aimed to develop activities that they can undertake in the coming months to increase public awareness and building broader support for Tibet. Several initiatives were time-bound, with participants committing to implementing them before the next gathering.
The afternoon session featured a powerful documentary, ‘A liberation that never was: 70 years of occupation & repression in Tibet’ produced by TTV depicting China’s invasion of Tibet and the hardships faced by the Tibetan people since then. The film offered participants a deeper understanding of the harsh realities inside Tibet today.
The programme also included a cultural segment, during which local Tibetan artist Norbu Tsering from Antwerp performed a traditional Dranyen song, Snow Lion of Peace, offering the youth a glimpse into Tibet’s rich musical heritage.
Tibetan Liaison Officer Dhondup Gyalpo also addressed the gathering, reflecting on the responsibilities of Tibetan youth during this challenging time for Tibet. He praised the participants for their active engagement and encouraged them to continue contributing to the Tibetan cause.
During the meeting, the EU Advocacy Officer Tenzin Phuntsok introduced participants to two important documents of the Tibetan exile community — the Green Book and the Blue Book. Many participants pledged to personally take responsibility for maintaining their Green Book contributions, rather than leaving the responsibility to family members, as is often the norm. They also committed to introducing the Blue Book to non-Tibetan friends as a way to help build broader international support for Tibet.
The event concluded on a positive note, with participants expressing renewed commitment to strengthening advocacy efforts for Tibet. The Office of Tibet hosted the attendees with a modest Tibetan lunch, adding a cultural touch to the successful gathering and leaving participants looking forward to the next meeting.
After the official programme, participants engaged in preparing banners, placards and flyers for the upcoming commemoration of the 10 March Tibetan National Uprising Day.
-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Brussels
