Film pushes project's vision to help Tibet

by Brandon Call

Daily Lobo

Albuquerque residents can experience Tibet without leaving the city limits this weekend.

"Tamdin's Journey: A Tibetan Village Project," a documentary based on the life of Tibet escapee Tamdin Wangdu, will screen at Flying Star at 723 Silver Ave. S.W. at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Wangdu, a Tibetan native, returned to his birthplace after 15 years in exile to make a difference in this community. New Zealand filmmaker Chris Kugelman and co-producer Sunny Klaber captured Wangdu's story on film.

"There are a lot of good documentaries out there on Tibet and volunteering," Wangdu said. "(Kugelman and Klaber) thought it would be more compelling and unique to focus on the individual person and the personal story behind the volunteering. They decided to make it a personal journey."

As a young boy, Wangdu escaped the repression of a developing Tibet.

"I was born and raised in the most remote area of central Tibet," Wangdu said. "There was no running water, no electricity. I didn't have the opportunity to go to school. As a child, there was no opportunity."

In 1993, Wangdu became an American citizen.

He pursued his education at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo. But despite his educational opportunities, Wangdu's past caught up with him.

In 2001, he received news that his father passed away at age 57 after suffering from acute stomach pain for four days. The news of his father's death reminded Wangdu of the experiences of his past.

"It made me remember how much help Tibetans need," Wangdu said. "There were no health care workers in or near my village. His death probably could have been prevented with something as simple as someone knowing CPR."

In response, Wangdu, with his wife, Tseyang, formed the Tibetan Village Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing health care in his village and surrounding areas.

"My father's death inspired me," Wangdu said. "In a lot of ways, (the project is) in honor and remembrance of him. The organization started out as simply sending money to Tibet and helping out financially."

As time passed, the organization expanded its vision. In 2003, Wangdu returned to Tibet with a film crew and volunteers, visiting relatives that he had not seen in over a decade.

"It was a homecoming for me," Wangdu said. "Going back to the village was emotional. The film captures my reunion with family. It also focuses on our work as volunteers to help out the

community."

Every year since 2003, Wangdu sponsors a trip to Tibet. And every summer, volunteers get the opportunity to make a difference in Tibet through the Conscious Journeys

program.

"There is so much need in the world," Wangdu said. "I feel that it has to start somewhere. You feel connected and know that you can make a difference. To be able to help out and see firsthand the appreciation, it's very emotional."

Wangdu's group assisted in building a school that hosts 95 students. Since then, the organization assisted 10 other Tibetan schools by awarding stipends and donating blankets, clothes, food, textbooks and other school supplies. The donations and stipends benefit about 1,200

students.

In addition, the group rebuilt and renovated four bridges in Tibet to provide students safe passage

to school.

"We all want to make a difference and learn as much as we can in college," Wangdu said. "You can read the textbooks about developing countries, but a majority of students haven't been to a developing country. I can't tell you enough how important it is to gain a global perspective and volunteer."

"Tamdin's Journey:

A Tibetan Village Project"

4 p.m. Sunday

Flying Star

723 Silver Ave. S.W.