Exemplary outreach Support Program
for the Bhutanese families in
Atlanta
By Mahadev Desai
A momentous and praiseworthy humanitarian project-‘Holiday
Reception and Free Bazaar for the refugees from Bhutan’ was held
at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Clarkston, Georgia, on Sunday
December14, 2008. Led by SEWA INTERNATIONAL, the event was
supported by 31 leading Georgia community organizations.
These refugees arrived in Georgia in the last one year under the
U.S. resettlement program. Bhutan is a monarchy, located at the
Eastern end of the Himalayas separated from Nepal by the Indian
State of Sikkim. Many Nepalese had migrated to Bhutan in the
1800s and settled down in Southern Bhutan. These Bhutanese were
citizens of the country. However, in the past 2 decades, their
citizenship was revoked, properties confiscated and they were
expelled from Bhutan because they were predominantly Hindus from
Nepal. About 140,000 of them have lived in UN refugee camps for
the past fifteen to twenty years. The US has offered to settle
60,000 of these refugees over a five year period and Atlanta is
one of the resettlement centers.
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(From L to R) P.
Ravi Sarma, Hiten Patel and Sri Konda of the organizing
committee |
Presently, there are about 800 Bhutanese in metro Atlanta,
living mainly in Dekalb and Gwinnett counties. Mr. Ralph Parker,
a volunteer and a liaison who has been working with refugees in
Atlanta for over ten years teamed up with Atlanta’s well known
community and social activist and current President of the Hindu
Temple of Atlanta, Dr. Ravi Sarma to help the refugees.
According to Sarma, federal aid from the U.S. government can
only support the refugees for a limited time. Parker concurs and
adds, “A family of five gets refugee cash assistance of $378, of
which, the relief agency takes away $300 for rent leaving just
$78 a month for utilities. They also receive food stamps but
they can not be used for other essential items like soap and
household supplies.” Sarma spoke with Srikanth Konda and Swadesh
Katoch of SEWA International. SEWA not only took leadership
position in this effort but also set up a national program to
help these families in the various parts of the country, thus
creating an awareness in the Indian community about the plight
of these families. Sarma and Swadesh also spoke with other
Atlanta based organizations. Sneha Mehta of VHP of America
became one of the active volunteers in this effort and she is
now VHP’s national coordinator for this program.
On Sunday, December 14, nearly 650 Bhutanese, from 160 families
gathered at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Clarkston. At noon,
sumptuous lunch was served to the Bhutanese guests and the
volunteers, courtesy of the VHP, HTA, Shakti Mandir, BAPS
Swaminarayan Mandir, Telugu Association of Metro Atlanta, and
the Satya Sai group of Atlanta. After lunch, the families were
escorted to the free bazaar to receive various gifts which
included brand new comforters, bed sheets, blankets, pressure
cookers, irons and new and good quality used TVs, VCRs, DVD
players, kitchen utensils, clothing, footwear, and toys. Total
cost of all these items is estimated to be about $15,000. About
100 dedicated and committed volunteers served food, helped with
registration, transportation of the families and their large
bags full of gifts, and tidying up the facility. They, with the
help of Bhutanese volunteers, ensured a smooth and orderly
operation.
An employment clinic was also held and helped many look into
starter jobs.
A cultural program was provided by the Bhutanese families, with
help from the Awaaz music group. Tulsi, a Bhutanese Master of
Ceremony conducted the program which consisted of songs, dances,
and comic skit in Nepalese and Hindi. Nepali dancer Bindu
Sapkota enthralled the audience with her two scintillating
dances while Deepak Gajmeer and Pratap Monjer showcased their
artistry on guitar. Srikanth Konda, Swadesh Katoch, Ravi Sarma,
Narayan Katel and Ralph Parker were recognized for their efforts
by the Bhutanese families.
Sarma was very happy that the bazaar, organized under the
leadership of Seshu Sarma and which took more than six weeks of
hard work, surpassed every one’s expectations because of the
outpouring of generosity and support from the community.
With so many people and organizations involved in this effort,
it will be difficult to name any one as being pivotal. That
said, the help of Mr. Hiten Patel of BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir,
Dr.Pulipaka Rao, Mrs.Jaya Rao, their daughter Sita Madhavi and
the Macon area Indian community, the Atlanta area Satya Sai
group, Vibha, HSS and Sewa volunteers, is recognized.
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Free Bazaar |
The volunteer team feels that there is need for a sustained
effort rather than just an initial burst of enthusiasm. The most
pressing task is to help these families find jobs. Other
important areas that need to be addressed are emergency backup
funds, driving lessons, day to day needs, and last but not the
least, moral support for these vulnerable people. Job training
in employment related areas is also vital. The group is planning
activities that will include tutoring for school children and
English language classes for both adults and children. Providing
support systems for these families through professional
counseling to cope with dislocation related stress is a high
priority item.
Parker observed, “The collective hope for this group of people
is that they will feel as comfortable and as integrated in the
American fabric of life as the groups before them. You don’t do
this for a reward. You do it because it is important to reach
out to other people in need. The reality is that you get more
back out than you give.”
Anyone wishing to help in any way is requested to contact the
following:
swadeshkatoch@yahoo.com or
pravisarma@hotmail.com
All cash contributions are tax deductible and will be
acknowledged. Please make checks to: SEWA International and mail
to: 5846 Rue Villa Lane, Tucker, Ga 30084
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