Students for a Free Tibet facts for kids
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| Founded | 1994 |
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| Type | Non-profit |
| Headquarters | 602 East 14th Street, 2nd Floor New York, NY, USA |
| Fields | Human rights in Tibet, Tibetan independence |
Students For a Free Tibet (SFT) is a group of students and activists from all over the world. They work together with the people of Tibet to help them gain human rights and freedom. The group uses education, speaking up for what is right (called advocacy), and peaceful actions to try and achieve independence for Tibet.
SFT believes Tibet should be able to govern itself. They say this is because of Tibet's history. They also oppose the Chinese government's actions that affect the human rights, culture, environment, language, and religion of the Tibetan people.
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How Students for a Free Tibet Started
Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) began in 1994. It was started by Tibetans, supporters, and students in New York City. Their goal was to use the energy of young people to push for human rights and independence in Tibet.
At first, SFT worked to teach other students and young people about Tibet. They did this on school campuses and at events like the 1994 Lollapalooza music tour. SFT became more well-known and gained more members when the Tibetan Freedom Concerts started. These concerts helped many young people get involved in the movement for Tibetan independence.
SFT Around the World
Today, SFT is a large international group. It has more than 650 local groups, called chapters. These chapters are found at universities, colleges, high schools, and in communities in over 100 countries. SFT's main office is still in New York City.
There are also other offices and organizing centers. SFT Canada has an office in Toronto, Ontario. SFT India has an office in Dharamsala, India. SFT UK has an office in London.
What Students for a Free Tibet Does
SFT's campaigns focus on three main areas: political issues, economic issues, and human rights.
Working for Change
SFT's political campaigns work to support Tibetan independence. They do this by talking to Chinese officials and government leaders in other countries. SFT is known for its big protests when Chinese leaders visit other nations.
SFT's human rights campaigns aim to make life better for Tibetans in Tibet. They ask for more freedoms and rights. They also work to free people who are held in prison for their beliefs or actions against the government. SFT's website says that when they say "Free Tibet," they mean "Free the nation of Tibet from Chinese control."
SFT also has an economic campaign. Their long-term goal is to make it too expensive for the Chinese government to control Tibet. One campaign, done with other groups, asked people not to buy products "made in China". However, some people in the American media said this would be very hard to do. One writer from The Christian Science Monitor thought that solutions would come from working with China, not turning away from it.
Helping Young Leaders
Students for a Free Tibet also has a "Leadership Training" program. This program helps young people become leaders for the Tibetan independence movement. Part of this is the yearly "Free Tibet! Action Camp." At this camp, many young people gather for a week to learn how to be activists.
Famous Actions and Protests
Students for a Free Tibet is well known for its big protests in famous places. These include Mount Everest, the Great Wall of China, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Olympic Torch Protests
In March and April 2008, SFT helped organize protests and disrupt the Olympic torch relay. Many Chinese people did not like these actions. However, the protests did help bring international attention to the difficult situation in Tibet. This included problems with religion, culture, and politics.
Working with the World Bank
In 2000, SFT and other groups working for Tibetan independence raised concerns with the World Bank. They were worried about a loan the World Bank gave in 1999 for a project in China. This project aimed to help poor areas in central and western China by building irrigation, improving land, and making basic roads.
The groups argued that this project would encourage more Chinese people to move into Qinghai, an area with many Tibetans. They said this could "suffocate the Tibetan way of life there." Because of these concerns, the World Bank president suggested delaying the project to study its environmental impact more deeply. China then decided to fund the project itself. Chinese officials were not happy, saying that because of political opposition, the World Bank lost a chance to help some of the poorest people in the world.
Learn More
- List of organizations of Tibetans in exile
- Tibetan independence movement
- Amnesty International
- Central Tibetan Administration
- International Tibet Network
See also
In Spanish: Students for a Free Tibet para niños
