On 27th February 2026, the Tibetan Settlement Office Dehradun organized a grand official closing ceremony of Granny Sponsorship by the Ama Youdon Foundation, Netherlands (AYF) held at Dekyling Tibetan Settlement supported by People’s Representative Office, (Chigya) Dekyiling. The function was attended by eight guests from Netherlands, including Dr. William Yang, President of the foundation, Tsultem Rinchen Dorjee, founding member, Ganny Boer, secretary, Eline Rinchen Dorjee, accountant, and other four members associated with the foundation. Around one hundred elderly Tibetans above eighty plus of age were invited as guest in honor to mark the year of compassion, gratitude and dignity along with current nine elderly beneficiaries of the granny sponsorship.

The ceremony began with the inauguration of newly constructed Water Reservoir Project funded by the foundation at Norling Park, Dekyling, followed by welcome and introductory speech by Dr. Tsewang Phuntsok, Tibetan Settlement Officer, Dehradun. He introduced not only the guests but also the contributions and services rendered by the AYF for the last eighteen years. He further underscored that two members from the foundation come to visit the grannies, who do not have family, on yearly basis and identifying the immediate and urgent needs is a true practice of compassion and establishing sense of love and affection in addition to financial assistance. He appreciated and thanked the AYF and its members. Dr. Tsewang Phuntsok also read out the Appreciation Message letter received from the Executive Secretary, Department of Home, CTRC, Central Tibetan Administration, Mr. Palden Dhondup on the occasion and handed over it to the President.

Dr. William Yang added more details on how the AYF came into existence and its final official closure. Mr. Tsultem Rinchen Dorjee also shared his experience and advised the public to be more compassionate as His Holiness always reiterates in love, compassion and warm-heartedness.

The AYF has been supporting elderly Tibetans in Dehradun through the Granny Sponsorship Program since July 2009 and funded two water reservoir projects in 2019 and 2025-2026 at Dekyiling.

To symbolize a token of gratitude, Dr. Tsewang Phuntsok presented Tibetan Thankas to the members of AYF.

The People’s Representative Mr. Sonam Lhawang and Mr. Tenzin Choekyab expressed the vote of thanks in Tibetan and English respectively.

After the program, all guests and public were served a simple lunch