The aim of the GuChuSum Movement is to create inter- national awareness about political prisoners and the human rights violations in Tibet and to provide support for ex-political prisoners.
Human Rights:
Supports
political prisoners in Tibet and ex-political prisoners in exile
Collaborates
with other NGOs
Organizes
talks and meetings with ex-political prisoners
Maintains
an extensive database on political prisoners and
their treatment in Tibet
Organizing
campaigns
for the release of political prisoners
Education:
Providing
a one-year computer and language course to our students along
with residential accommodation at GuChuSum
Publishes
an annual magazine 'Tibetan Envoy' (Phonya) and 'Tibetan
Envoy Newsletter' quarterly in both Tibetan and English languages
Support:
Helps
obtain healthcare for former political prisoners
Generates
income for their activities by making prayer flags for Tibet Collection
WHAT IS "GU-CHU-SUM"?
The Gu-Chu-Sum (9-10-3) Movement of Tibet was established in 1991 in
Dharamsala, India, by ex-political prisoners of the Tibetan freedom
movement. It was first organized by monks, nuns and lay people with a
heartfelt wish to help Tibetans remaining in prisons in Tibet, and to
provide support to ex-political prisoners who had journeyed to India to
escape Chinese-occupied Tibet.
Gu-Chu-Sum was named according to the months and dates of three
significant demonstrations led by monks from the three main monasteries in Lhasa.
‘Gu’ is for September 27, 1987, ‘Chu’ is for October 1, 1987
and ‘Sum’ is for March 5, 1988. Many of those who were imprisoned and
tortured either died or were disabled. Currently, more than 1,200
prisoners of conscience are suffering torture, cold and starvation in
Chinese prisons in Tibet.
To begin to raise funds and help rehabilitate recent arrivals from
Tibet, a tailoring workshop was established by Gu-Chu-Sum in 1991.
Tibet Collection was one of their first customers, buying garment
accessories and prayer flags. Gu-Chu-Sum tailors also attended
tailoring training programs being run by Tibet Collection at the time.
Today, Gu-Chu-Sum runs a significant garment production center in
Dharamsala. A restaurant was also established in Dharamsala to provide
training in food preparation and service as well as employment
opportunities to members.
Gu-Chu-Sum routinely publishes new issues of Tibetan Envoy, a journal
focusing on the current human rights situation in Tibet. Gu-Chu-Sum
organizes many public events for both the Tibetan exile community in
India and native Indians to promote awareness and action on behalf of
political prisoners in Tibet. Recently, they were one of the leading
organizations involved in demonstrations against the passage of the
Olympic torch through New Delhi.
Today, Gu-Chu-Sum effectively helps to provide housing, employment,
medical care, education, job training and economic assistance to
ex-political prisoners. Their goal is to meet immediate needs
while fostering ultimate self-sufficiency and self-reliance. Click Here to visit GuChuSum's Official Site
