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Since May 6th, 26 women from three towns in Dingri County have participated in “Pendeba” training, a training designed to educate locally elected village leaders on key health issues, the environment and sustainable development. On Saturday, May 8th, Doctor Cirendawa from the local village clinic gave an introductory speech on women’s health, focusing on disease prevention and treatment. The morning workshop consisted of small group discussions and a question and answer session. Participants engaged enthusiastically in discussions and shared their personal experiences, as the topics related closely to their everyday lives.
On May 9th, Mr. Cirenduobujie of the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve (QNNP) Dingri Branch discussed management and protection of the Preserve. Mr. Cirenduonongjie hopes that when Pendebas return to their villages that they will be proactive, take responsibility for protecting the environment, and cooperate with the local government to educate others on the importance of conservation. He emphasized that environmental protection is not only the responsibility of the government, but of everyone living in the QNNP area.
Prior to the start of the training, QNNP Dingri Branch Director, Mr. Phubu, invited a reporter from Tibet Television to film the morning activities and speak with trainees.
During the afternoon, Dingri County Hospital Director, Mr. Cirenouzhu, spoke with participants about how to prevent diseases such as high blood pressure, and about the importance of maintaining a healthy diet. Director Cirenouzhu is an old friend of the Pendeba program, as he has already trained more than 100 Pendebas in practical environmental skills and healthcare.
On May 10th, the Pendeba Society invited all participants to share their thoughts on the training. Organizers were pleased to hear the opinions of participants, particularly from those who had been more reserved throughout the training. Many expressed their hope that the Pendeba Society would continue organizing such events.