Rinchen Khando Choegyal

Rinchen Khando Choegyal, Director of the Tibetan Nuns Project, is a founding member of the Tibetan Women's Association, under whose auspices the Tibetan Nuns Project was established, and served as its President from its founding in 1984 until her election to the Tibetan Cabinet in 1994. She has also served as the Minister of Education in the Tibetan Government-In-Exile, a post in which she was responsible for overseeing the education for all Tibetan children living in exile in India and Nepal.

Born in Kandze, in eastern Tibet, Rinchen Khando escaped her homeland in 1959. Mrs. Choegyal received her B.A. degree at Loreto College in Darjeeling, India. She is married to Tendzin Choegyal, younger brother of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and is the mother of two children. Mrs. Choegyal currently resides in Dharamsala, India. One of the most articulate spokespersons for the Tibetan cause, she travels extensively educating the international community on the plight of Tibetan refugees and the importance of preserving the Tibetan culture through education. Her tireless service to the community was recognized in 1997 with her receipt of the Women of Courage Award from the Women's Commission on Refugee Women and Children.