Jetsun Pema

Jetsun Pema was born in Lhasa, on July 7, 1940. She went to India in 1950 and studied first at St. Joseph's Convent in Kalimpong and later at Loreto Convent in Darjeeling from where she completed her Senior Cambridge in 1960. In 1961, she went to Switzerland and then to England to do further studies. She returned to India in April 1964.

At the behest of her elder brother, the 14th Dalai Lama, she became the President of the Tibetan Children's Villages,holding that position until her retirement in August 2006. She held this position for more than 42 years. Because of her efforts, today TCV projects includes five Children's Villages with attached schools, seven Residential Schools, seven Day Schools, ten Day Care Centers, four Vocational Training Centers, four Youth Hostels, four Homes for the Elderly, and an outreach program for over 2,000 children in exile.

In 1995, the Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies awarded her the title, "Mother of Tibet," in recognition of her dedication and service to Tibetan children. Jetsun Pema has traveled widely to speak about the Tibetans and her work at the Tibetan Children's Villages.

She was awarded the UNESCO medal in 1999.