Jiuzhaigou Tibetan Cultural Institute

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Abstract

My home is Jiuzhaigou, a special and beautiful place with a permanent population of approximately 1000 Tibetans. This author has witnessed Jiuzhaigou’s exponential growth in tourism and has come to realize the need to protect and strengthen our local Tibetan culture in Jiuzhaigou. My goal is to create a business – Jiuzhaigou Tibetan Institute (JTI) which will utilize, strengthen and spread Tibetan culture. I plan to start by establishing a study abroad program where we will hire local lamas to teach courses. In addition to utilizing cultural resources in creative ways to help sustain the culture, JTI plans to donate a fixed amount of its profit to benefit local and regional causes through its non-profit arm. The non-profit arm aims to promote the rights of Tibetan citizens and to promote their culture, education and business. The non-profit arm will donate directly to other organizations and create services as needed. We also plan on having a unique donation scheme for JTI profits, where graduates, participants and employees of JTI will participate in choosing the causes for which the donations are directed. JTI hopes to offer its first program in the winter of 2009- 2010. In the winter, Jiuzhaigou’s economy is depressed due to the seasonal nature of Jiuzhaigou’s tourism. We can hire people who would normally be hired by the tourism industry and use them in creative and flexible ways, such as having them teach traditional skill sets like the creation of Tibetan butter. JTI’s goal is to transform interest in Tibetan culture into something that can sustain Tibetans both culturally and financially.