QUEEN Elizabeth High School students preparing for a trip to a Tibetan monastery in India welcomed a special guest to the school last week.

Tibetan rights campaigner Urgyen Badheytsang delivered a talk on Tibetan issues in the school’s library.

QEHS is the only school in the world with a direct link to the Tashi Lhunpo monastery, making the experience unique.

The annual trip was set up by teacher Andy Brook, who has campaigned for a free Tibet for many years.

Andy said: “From the age of 22 I’ve not stopped campaigning for Tibetan rights.

“I travelled to India and I met some Tibetan refugees. I didn’t know much about Tibet and I felt totally ignorant.

“This project started several years ago with a pen pal project, and then about seven years ago we got permission to start going on trips.”

Nineteen sixth formers will visit the monastery, which is in a protected area for those who have fled Tibet.

Fund-raising to help cover the costs of the trip has raised more than £5,000 – more than twice the amount of previous years.

A raffle and tombola raised over £1,300, thanks in no small part to the 75 local businesses who donated prizes.

Many students attended the talk by Urgyen Badhytsang, who is the campaigns director for Students for a Free Tibet.

Although born in Nepal and now living in Canada, Urgyen’s family are from Tibet and were forced out during the Chinese invasion.

He said: “Your support means a great deal.

“It really shows that people all over the world care.”

Donations can be made to help fund the cost of a group trip to a Tibetan monastery in India and the cost of repairs to parts of the monastery and monastic school on the group's Justgiving page.