Dharamshala: The Department of Education, Central Tibetan Administration organised a 4-day Theatre and Storytelling Workshop for Pre-primary Teachers from 22 – 25 August 2022 at Sera Jey Yiga Choeling Guest House, Bylakuppe. A total number of 32 pre-primary teachers with 12 from the schools in Bylakuppe, 9 from Mundgod, 4 each from Gurupura and Kollegal, and 3 from Sera Je and Mey Schools participated in the workshop.

Tenzin Dorjee, Head of Academic Section, DoE speaking on the opening program.

On the first day, at the opening program, Tenzin Dorjee, Head of Academic Section welcomed the chief guest, resource persons, and participants to the workshop, and gave a brief introduction about the workshop followed by the opening speech by the chief guest, Chime Dorjee, Settlement Officer of Dekyi Larso Tibetan Settlement. The chief guest thanked the participants for coming to the workshop, advised them to understand the nature of the workshop, and requested them to make the best possible use of the sessions and actively engage in the workshop. Teachers being one of the noblest professions are requested to be responsible in their profession and nurture the children through love, care, and compassion.

The resource persons for the workshop were Sujata Noronha and Shreya Sinha alias Alia from Bookworm, Goa. They took sessions on why stories matter, sharing childhood memories of stories and activities, language and types of stories, prop making and storytelling, theatre games and work, etc. On the final day, all the participant teachers were given hands-on experiences of storytelling at STS Kailashpura. Karma Dolker, Librarian of TCV School Bylakuppe and Tenzin Dhaze of Help Tibet Trust, Bylakuppe helped in displaying story books and in translating the sessions in Tibetan for the teachers throughout the workshop.

A farewell lunch was organised for the resource persons and the participants on the fourth and the final day. Tenzin Dorjee thanked the resource persons and the participants for the effective engagement during the workshop and urged all the participants to implement what they learned during the workshop in their classes when they return to their respective schools. The participants gave positive feedback and a high rating for the training methodology, content, administrative support, and overall facilitation of the workshop. Tsering Yangkyi of Academic Section, DoE assisted Tenzin Dorjee in organising the workshop. The workshop was funded by USAID.

Participants during activities at the workshop.

Group photo of Chief guest along with the participants, trainers and facilitators.

Participants during activities at the workshop.

Participants during activities at the workshop.