Tessa Owens / Oser Lhamo

“I feel very fortunate to receive support from the Gaden Phodrang Foundation of the Dalai Lama in support of my studies. My motivation to learn more about the climate crisis and its solutions runs deep: it stems from my love for my Ama-la, for all Tibetan people, for the endangered culture of my heritage that has always been a great source of my identity and strength. I pray that as life becomes harder for communities across the Himalayas, I can one day provide hope for these people, as someone who is unwavering in her dedication to our collective well-being, and to the preservation of our natural world for the benefit of all beings on earth. As His Holiness the Dalai Lama reminds us in his book Our Only Home: A Climate Appeal to the World that “we need a revolution of compassion… saving the world from the climate crisis is our collective responsibility.”