Speech #1020207211

Many initially experienced severe culture shock in the United States and believed a brief orientation program before visiting the United States would be useful. According to the Tibet Fund. such a program is now being implemented. Finally. the students suggested allowing greater flexibility in the length study in the United States because some refugee community needs could be addressed through brief technical training. while other necessary disciplines. like medical. business. public health degrees. could require more than two years of study. An improved system to assist in school selection and placement was recommended. Initial schoolstudent matches did not seem appropriate to many students. The students all felt they had inadequate exposure to computers prior to going to the United States and believed some preparatory computer training in India would be very valuable. To address many of these concerns and to assist in planning for future students. the USIA scholars have founded an alumni association that advises the program administrators and serves as a support group for new and old students. The delegation believes that the selection board and the CTA should target and encourage students with talents and interests most useful to the refugee community to apply for the program. Technical needs of the refugee community mentioned earlier in the report should most certainly be targeted. The delegation also recommends that. in order to broaden the representation and experience in the program. women be more openly encouraged to apply for the scholarship program. We also believe that the Tibet Fund. with the help of ICT. should establish a board of university presidents. prominent educators and Members of Congress to coordinate. improve and ensure placement opportunities at colleges and universities in the United States. Overall funding should be expanded. and efforts should be made to identify schools that are willing to ensure annual Tibetan "slots" and matching funds for students to encourage continuity and stability in the program. The delegation also recommendd that Tibetan refugees continue to participate in the USIA International Visitors program. The Refugee Resettlement Project In 1990. Congress allocated 1.000 immigrant visas for Tibetan refugees. This program was a prominent issue during the delegations visit to India. The application period had just closed. and the selection lottery for some categories of refugees (e.g. new arrivals. the extremely poor. government servants) had been initiated. Most Tibetans were ardent supporters of this initiative and believed the program was highly beneficial to the selected individuals and the refugee population as a whole. However. many Tibetans stressed concerns about a "braindrain" that could occur in the exile community if too many welltrained Tibetans won a slot. Other Tibetan refugees expressed concern that the US resettlement program worked in conflict with the CTAs goals to protect and preserve the Tibetan culture by maintaining a cohesive refugee community. Regardless. we found the program was wellliked and appreciated. Many Tibetan critics of the program were also quick to point out that they too had applied for the lottery. The program should provide many refugees with positive opportunities not available in Tibet. India or Nepal and could ultimately provide leaders for a free and democratic Tibet. Certainly. the new refugee communities and those involved with the resettlement project must work to sustain and preserve the Tibetan culture and identity for these communities.