On 12 August 2026 the Founder and Executive Director of ACCORD, Dr Vasu Gounden, hosted Mr Dhundup Gyalpo at ACCORD House. Mr Gyalpo is the new Representative of the Office of Tibet in South Africa. Mr Gyalpo was accompanied by Ms Laura Ackerman from the Tibet Society in KwaZulu-Natal.
The office was opened in 1997 after the South African government approved its establishment following a request from the Dalai Lama in 1996. Several of the past Representatives have visited ACCORD over the years.
The Office aims to represent the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan community in Africa, educate people about Tibet and Tibetan culture, advocate for the Tibetan people’s political and human-rights concerns, and promote the Dalai Lama’s messages of compassion, non-violence, peace and religious harmony.
This is Mr Gyalpo’s first posting on the Continent. Therefore the meeting also provided an opportunity for discussion on the socio-political environment on the Continent, as well as on the work of ACCORD.
