「母亲节特刊」 “藏人的阿妈啦”吉尊白玛与西藏儿童村的故事

「Mother’s Day’s Special」 Amala Jetsun Pema, the “Mother of Tibet” and Tibetan Children’s Villages. 她在故乡遭受侵略、国破家亡，大量藏人儿童包括孤儿流亡印度的艰苦环境下，逐渐建立起了一套完善的教育体系，致力于在离散社群中培育年轻一代，传承藏语与藏文化，强调藏人的民族身份认同。

May 11, 2025

Expressing Gratitude To Ama Jetsun Pema This Mother's Day - Central Tibetan Administration

“我经历过很多挑战。……那时，从藏区抵达印度的孩子数量不断增加，但由于酷热和各种疾病，许多年幼的孩子甚至婴儿相继死去。一方面，我要为他们寻找资助人，另一方面，还要亲自照料这些孩子，同时眼睁睁看着那些美好的生命凋零。在我和你差不多大的时候，这是我不得不经受的一项非常艰巨的挑战。”

——阿妈啦吉尊白玛

吉尊白玛于1940年7月7日出生在西藏拉萨，是第十四世达赖喇嘛尊者最小的妹妹。她被人亲切地称为“阿妈啦”（意为“慈母”），一生致力于流亡藏人儿童的福祉，因此被誉为“藏人孩子的阿妈”。

Born on July 7, 1940, in Lhasa, Tibet, Jetsun Pema is the youngest sister of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Affectionately known as “Amala”, she has dedicated her life to the welfare of Tibetan refugee children, earning her the title “Mother of Tibet.”

Venezia. Jetsun Pema, “La Madre del Tibet”. Una vita per l'istruzione e la libertà - 24 Ore News

她在故乡遭受侵略、国破家亡，大量藏人儿童包括孤儿流亡印度的艰苦环境下，逐渐建立起了一套完善的教育体系，致力于在离散社群中培育年轻一代，传承藏语与藏文化，强调藏人的民族身份认同。与当今中共在藏区推动的殖民式学校制度形成鲜明对比——中共将大量藏人儿童送入全汉语教育体系，实施同化政策——“藏人儿童村（TCV）”无疑为延续藏民族的未来作出了不可磨灭的贡献。

She built a comprehensive education system under the harsh conditions of exile, after Tibet was invaded and many children, including orphans, fled their homeland. Her work provided the younger generation with education in the Tibetan language and culture, reinforcing their national identity. In contrast to the Chinese government’s colonial schools in Tibet today, which force Tibetan children into Mandarin-based assimilation, the Tibetan Children’s Villages have made an enduring contribution to preserving the future of the Tibetan people.

“I have been through many challenges. ……At that time, although we were receiving a huge number of newcomers from Tibet, many young children and babies were passing away due to heat and various diseases. So, in one way, I had to search for sponsors, and in another, I had to look after the kids while witnessing those beautiful lives passing away. That was a very difficult challenge I had to endure when I was around your age.”

——Amala Jetsun Pema

早年生涯与求学经历 Early Life and Education

1950年，吉尊白玛于10岁时被送往印度接受教育，先后就读于噶伦堡的圣若瑟修道院学校（St. Joseph’s Convent）与大吉岭的洛雷托修道院学校（Loreto Convent）。之后，她前往瑞士和英国留学。1964年，她回到印度，承担起成为她日后为之奉献了一生的事业——“藏人儿童村”（Tibetan Children’s Villages，简称TCV）。当时的TCV不过是一个简陋的托儿所，勉力照顾着日益增加的逃亡印度的藏人儿童。

Jetsun Pema was sent to India for her education at the age of ten. She studied at St. Joseph’s Convent in Kalimpong and later at Loreto Convent in Darjeeling. Her studies continued in Switzerland and England, but in 1964, she returned to India to take charge of what would become her life’s calling—Tibetan Children's Villages (TCV). At the time, TCV was a small nursery struggling to care for the growing number of Tibetan refugee children.

藏人儿童村：流亡中建立的全人教育体系 Tibetan Children’s Villages (TCV)——A holistic education system established in exile

在她的长姐、藏人儿童村的创办者次仁卓玛辞世后，年仅二十余岁的吉尊白玛接任TCV领导。当时，她面对的是一场深重的人道危机：成千上万藏人儿童涌入印度，其中不乏一些孤儿，有些父母在政治动荡中被害，有些与亲人失散。儿童村成立初期条件极其艰苦——孩子们蜷缩在拥挤的宿舍中，饥饿与疾病并存，教育体系几乎是一片空白。吉尊白玛将这些孩子视为己出，全身心投入于他们的抚育与成长。她全部心力倾注于这些无依的孩童：奔走募款、筹建校舍、培训教师、搭建组织架构，从一无所有开始，一砖一瓦地建立起了流亡藏人社区的教育体系。

After the passing of her elder sister, Tsering Dolma, the founder of Tibetan Children’s Villages, Jetsun Pema—then in her early twenties—assumed leadership of TCV. She stepped into a deep humanitarian crisis: thousands of Tibetan children had fled to India, many orphaned or separated from their families due to political turmoil. In the early days, conditions were extremely harsh—children crowded into cramped dormitories, facing hunger, illness, and a complete lack of formal education. Jetsun Pema devoted herself entirely to their care—raising funds, building schools, training teachers, and creating a structure from scratch. Brick by brick, she laid the foundation for the Tibetan exile community’s education system.

年轻的吉尊白玛和TCV 的藏人儿童 Young Jestun Pema with Tibetan Children in TCV

她一路走来，在无数的艰难险阻里奋进。曾在班加罗尔偶遇阿妈啦的一位TCV校友在Youtube上分享了一段感人至深的回忆，当被问及人生中最艰难的经历时，阿妈啦回答道：

“我经历过很多挑战。在我二十出头的时候，负责为新来的儿童寻找资助人。每一个从藏区境内逃来的孩子，我都要为他们撰写资助申请书，完善他们的资料和成长背景介绍。一方面，我要为他们寻找资助人，另一方面，还要亲自照料这些孩子。

那时，从藏区抵达印度的孩子数量不断增加，但由于酷热和各种疾病，许多年幼的孩子甚至婴儿相继死去。有时眼睁睁看着那些美好的生命凋零。在我和你差不多大的时候，这是我不得不经受的一项非常艰巨的挑战。”

Her journey was never easy. A former TCV student who met Amala at Bangalore shared one deeply moving recollection on YouTube. When asked about her most difficult experience, Amala responded:

“I have been through many challenges. In my early 20s, I was head of the sponsor desk. I had to write numerous applications and develop stories for each newcomer from Tibet.

At that time, although we were receiving a huge number of newcomers from Tibet, many young children and babies were passing away due to heat and various diseases. So, in one way, I had to search for sponsors, and in another, I had to look after the kids while witnessing those beautiful lives passing away. That was a very difficult challenge I had to endure when I was around your age.”

面对经费不足的现实难题，吉尊白玛积极与国际人权组织、慈善基金会合作，例如UNESCO、世界儿童奖、德国TCV援助团等。这使得藏人儿童村 TCV 在几十年间能够持续发展，规模不断扩大。

Facing financial constraints, Jetsun Pema collaborated with international human rights organizations, and charitable foundations such as UNESCO, the World’s Children’s Prize, and the German TCV support group. These partnerships enabled TCV to grow steadily and sustainably over the decades.

在42年间，吉尊白玛将TCV从一个小小的托儿所，扩展成涵盖多个儿童村、寄宿学校、日校、职业培训中心、青年宿舍及老人之家的庞大系统，遍布印度各地。直至她于2006年退休时，TCV已培育了超过15,000名藏人儿童与青年，为流散中的藏人社群提供了教育、文化传承与归属感的精神家园。

Over 42 years, she expanded TCV to include multiple children’s villages, residential schools, day schools, vocational training centers, youth hostels, and homes for the elderly across India. By the time of her retirement in 2006, TCV had raised over 15,000 children and youths, providing them with education, cultural preservation, and a sense of community in diaspora.

吉尊白玛特别强调藏语教学与文化教育的并重，使孩子在学习现代知识的同时，不忘本族语言与历史。

Jetsun Pema placed great emphasis on balancing modern education with Tibetan language and cultural instruction, ensuring children learned academic subjects without losing touch with their heritage.

TCV的小学阶段以藏语授课，确保儿童从小掌握母语。中学和高中阶段则采用印度课程体系，一些科目以英语授课，学生将学习数学、科学、人文学科等。

TCV’s primary education is conducted in Tibetan to preserve mother tongue fluency, while middle and high schools follow the Indian curriculum, with subjects like math, science, and humanities taught in English.

TCV的孩子们在学藏文 Children learning Tibetan in TCV

TCV的校训“先人后己”（Others Before Self）和佛教的慈悲理念被融入课程中，培养学生的道德观念和社会责任感。TCV还常常开展藏文写作、历史讲座、传统舞蹈与节庆活动，强化学生对民族身份的认同感。此外，TCV还设有夏令营等项目，旨在加强学生对藏文化的认同，培养他们在世界舞台上成为藏人事业的倡导者。

The school motto, “Others Before Self,” along with Buddhist values of compassion, is integrated into the curriculum to foster moral responsibility. TCV also offers Tibetan writing, history lectures, traditional dance, festivals, and summer camps to strengthen students’ identity and prepare them to advocate for the Tibetan cause on the world stage.

科学课上的高年级TCV学生 Senior TCV students in science class

约70%的TCV学生高中毕业后进入印度及海外的大学继续深造，显示出其教育体系的稳定性与质量，也为藏人社区培养了大量具备现代专业能力和民族文化意识的年轻一代。

About 70% of TCV graduates pursue higher education in India and abroad, demonstrating the strength and stability of its education system, and contributing to the Tibetan community a new generation equipped with both modern professional skills and cultural identity.

TCV学生的毕业典礼 Graduation ceremony of TCV students

政治与外交贡献 Political and Diplomatic Contributions

吉尊白玛的贡献不止于教育领域。1980年，作为藏人流亡政府和中共谈判的一部分，她率领第三次西藏实况调查代表团返回境内藏地，了解藏人在中共统治下的实际情况。当她站在大昭寺前面对人群高呼：“勿忘母语，保持团结”时，热泪盈眶，动容不已。这一幕至今仍深深铭刻在藏人的集体记忆中。

Jetsun Pema’s contributions extended beyond education. In 1980, she led the third Fact-Finding Delegation to visit Tibet, assessing the situation of Tibetans under Chinese rule, as a part of dialogue between CCP and the Tibetan government in exile. When she stood before the crowd at the Jokhang Temple and called out, “Never forget the Tibetan language—stay united,” the audience was moved to tears. The scene remains etched in the collective memory of Tibetans to this day.

1980年吉尊白玛率领第三次西藏实况调查代表团返回西藏 Jetsun Pema led the Third Fact-Finding Delegation visit to Tibet in 1980

1990年，她当选为藏人行政中央首位女性噶伦（部长），担任教育部长一职。

In 1990, she became the first woman elected as a Kalon（minister） in the Central Tibetan Administration, serving as the Minister of Education.

1995 年，藏人流亡议会授予她 "图博之母"称号，以表彰她对流亡藏人儿童的贡献。

In 1995, the Tibetan Parliament in Exile bestowed upon her the title "Mother of Tibet" in recognition of her contribution to Tibetan children in exile.

荣誉与国际认可 Recognition and Awards

她数十年如一日的奉献赢得了国际认可。1999年，吉尊白玛获得联合国教科文组织奖章；2006年，荣获世界儿童荣誉奖；2018年，又获印度政府颁发的“女性力量奖”（Nari Shakti Puraskar）。这些奖项不仅是对她个人的表彰，更是对她所托举的整个流亡藏人教育事业的肯定。

Jetsun Pema’s tireless efforts have been recognized globally. She has received numerous awards, including the UNESCO Medal in 1999, the World’s Children’s Honorary Award in 2006, and India’s Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2018. These accolades reflect her unwavering dedication to the welfare of Tibetan children and the preservation of Tibetan culture.

文化影响与传承 Amala’s Cultural Impact and Legacy

西藏儿童村和吉尊白玛的名字，早已深深铭刻在数代藏人心中。在Youtube上一段她接受采访的视频下方，一位TCV校友留言道：“世上的任何奖项，都不足以表达您无尽的牺牲与奉献。您真正是我们藏人孩子心中母亲的化身。”

另一位在上世纪80、90年代成长于TCV、现居加拿大的藏人写道：“即使我（在学校）并非最受宠爱的那个孩子，但在寒假回到亲生父母身边后，我仍深深思念TCV——那是我真正的家。”

The legacy of TCV and Jetsun Pema is deeply etched in the hearts of its former students. In the comments section of one of her interview videos on YouTube, one alumnus wrote, “No awards will be enough for your relentless sacrifices. You are truly the epitome of a mother for Tibetan children.”

Another student who grew up in Upper TCV in the 1980s and 90s, now living in Canada, reflected on how the environment shaped his identity, even if he wasn’t one of the “favorite” children, “When I saw my real parents during winter vacation, I still yearned to return to TCV. It was my home.”

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吉尊白玛的影响甚至延伸到大众文化领域。1997年电影《西藏七年》中，她亲自饰演了自己母亲尊者之母德吉才仁，为角色添加了真实感。同年，她出版了自传《西藏：我的故事》，讲述了个人经历与藏人的不懈斗争。她的生活和事业继续激励着一代又一代藏人，象征着坚韧、慈悲和对她的民族坚定的承诺。

1997年电影《西藏七年》中她亲自饰演了自己母亲 In the 1997 film “Seven Years in Tibet,” she portrayed her own mother

Jetsun Pema’s influence extends into popular culture. In the 1997 film “Seven Years in Tibet,” she portrayed her own mother, Gyalyum Chenmo, bringing authenticity to the role. Her autobiography, “Tibet: My Story” published in 1997, offers a personal account of her life and the Tibetan struggle. Her life and work continue to inspire generations, symbolizing resilience, compassion, and unwavering commitment to her people.

在这个母亲节，我们向吉尊白玛致以崇高的敬意，并祝愿她健康长寿。她的一生展现了母性的勇气——不仅体现在对弱小者的关爱上，更体现在以教育、慈悲与坚定不移的奉献精神，建设流亡中的民族。她不仅是西藏儿童村的“母亲”，更是一个民族未来的母亲。

On this Mother’s Day, we honor Jetsun Pema, and wish her health and longevity. Her life embodies maternal courage—not only in nurturing the vulnerable but in building a nation in exile through education, compassion, and unwavering commitment. She is not simply the mother of the Tibetan Children’s Villages. She is the mother of a people’s future.