YES+ Stakeholders’ Conference 2026 held at ATWS Dharamshala – Administrative Training and Welfare Society

YES+ Stakeholders’ Conference 2026 held at ATWS Dharamshala

By ATWS Staff Editor,

ATWS Dharamshala, May 25, 2026: The Department of Home, CTA, launched a two-day YES+ Stakeholders’ Conference from 21 to 22 May 2026 at the Administrative Training and Welfare Society (ATWS) in Dharamshala. ATWS facilitated the event with venue and service facilities.

The conference was formally inaugurated on the morning of 21^st May by the Sikyong and incumbent Kalon of the Department of Home, Mr. Penpa Tsering la, as the Chief Guest, in the presence of Kashag Secretary Mr. Tsegyal la, Home Secretary Mr. Palden Dhondup la, other departmental secretaries, senior officials from the Department of Home, and forty-one participants representing diverse sections of the Tibetan community.

The conference aimed to build a shared vision for the Tibetan workforce and livelihood ecosystem by fostering collaboration among stakeholders, identifying key challenges and opportunities through data and youth perspectives, and developing strategic partnerships, action plans, and the YES+ Strategic Roadmap for long-term community-driven programming.

Mr. Palden Dhondup la, the Home Secretary, in his inaugural session, highlighted the growing challenge of unemployment among Tibetan youth and stated that the initiative was launched to bring together organisations and experts to explore practical and sustainable employment solutions. He emphasised that equipping young people with the right skills to contribute to various developmental sectors is essential for fostering self-reliant individuals dedicated to the welfare of the Tibetan community.

Underscoring the potential role of the YES+ programme in addressing unemployment and cultivating a strong sense of community service among youth, he described the conference as a historic initiative guided by a long-term vision to develop capable human resources committed to the common cause. He also recalled the years of dedicated efforts undertaken by many young people, including extensive baseline surveys conducted in line with the leadership’s vision.

Apart from the inaugural session, the opening ceremony also featured presentations on the introduction and future plans of the YES+ programme, Tibetan workforce data.

Following that, Chief Guest, Sikyong and incumbent Home Kalon Mr. Penpa Tsering la delivered the keynote address.

Delivering the keynote address, he stressed the need for concrete strategies to ensure the effective long-term implementation of the YES+ programme aimed at empowering Tibetan human resources until the Sino-Tibetan conflict is resolved. He encouraged NGOs to undertake initiatives beyond the administration’s operational capacity to ensure the optimal utilisation of programme resources.

He also underscored the importance of systematic data management and preparedness within the Tibetan community, urged greater youth engagement and self-confidence, and reaffirmed the Middle Way Approach as the most practical path toward resolving the Tibet-China issue through dialogue with China.

The two-day conference featured a series of sessions on insights, challenges, and solutions; ecosystem mapping; inclusive skilling and lifelong learning; entrepreneurship; leadership; collaboration; and action planning.