His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama was born into a peasant family in Tibet. At the age of two, he was recognized as the reincarnation of his predecessor, and in 1950, at age 16, he stepped into his role as Tibet’s head of state. Nine years later, the Dalai Lama was forced into exile when the Chinese government occupied Tibet, and ever since he has campaigned tirelessly for the preservation of Tibetan culture and its rich heritage. In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work, and over three decades later, he continues to strive for peace in his homeland and the world.