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Vol. 9, June 2018
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FROM THE BCI OFFICE DESK.......
All the riches in the world cannot make a happy man. Compared to what was there hundreds of years ago, we have such luxury and comforts today like there had never been before. But we do not fare better in terms of happiness and well-being. What is it lacking in us? It is evident that whatever one is doing, the underlying idea is sustained happiness and joy in our lives.Where does our happiness lie? The Bhutanese Community in Iowa likes to walk with you to that reality where we all can attain blissfulness and joy by the way of performing activities that will gear us to that end.
Realizing this aspect of life, the BCI envisages the practice of certain traits like the yoga and involvement in self realization which is usually the most overlooked feature in our life. Yoga does not mean performing bone bending postures but to elevate oneself spiritually. The BCI is doing all its projects and services with the sole purpose of contributing in a small way towards the welfare of all the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese in Iowa. It might be absurd but we all seek happiness in all our endeavors. We cannot detach this feeling from what we do but take it inclusively every time. So, the BCI works with you to share happiness and joy. Please come and take the benefit of our projects and services as always.
Realizing this aspect of life, the BCI envisages the practice of certain traits like the yoga and involvement in self realization which is usually the most overlooked feature in our life. Yoga does not mean performing bone bending postures but to elevate oneself spiritually. The BCI is doing all its projects and services with the sole purpose of contributing in a small way towards the welfare of all the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese in Iowa. It might be absurd but we all seek happiness in all our endeavors. We cannot detach this feeling from what we do but take it inclusively every time. So, the BCI works with you to share happiness and joy. Please come and take the benefit of our projects and services as always.
Community Reflections on Bci activities
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The Karate has helped me both physically and mentally. It has helped me to concentrate better. I thank the BCI for introducing martial arts in the community which is good for all generations. - Student Elson Bania
I learned sportive skills, discipline and team spirit through the Karate Training. I request my friends to join this program and be benefitted from it. - Student Yojana Rai It was great the BCI helped me and my family fill up our Medicaid application. I appreciate the help and support I got from our community organization. - Basanti Khatiwoda and Ranjita Subba Thanks to BCI for helping me get a job. I ask my friends and relatives to take advantage of support through the platform of Bhutanese living in Iowa. - Hari Tiwari I am not an educated woman. However, I took courage to join the ESL class and learn the English language. I am trying hard and my mission is to pass the Citizenship Test. I thank the BCI for all they are doing. - Phul Maya Budathoki I am thankful to BCI for giving us the Citizenship class which has been helpful to someone like me. I hope to learn more in the coming days so that I can help myself. - Phul Maya Magar It is hard for our family members to find time for us because of the busy American life. In this situation the BCI is a pleasure to have us connected to our community and know more. - Dilli Adhikari BCI is doing a great job giving us the opportunity to refresh and relax our minds through this elderly program. We enjoy day out. - Singh Tamang |
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Upcoming Event...World Refugee Day
As a joint venture of the Des Moines and central Iowa based non-profits, the World Refugee Day is being organized in Des Moines on Saturday, June 23, 2018. This celebration is an initiative to recognize the situation of refugees in Iowa and the world and provide support for these people in need of humanitarian or other kind of help. The flier issued by the Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa invites all to this free program where there will be food and drink, cultural performances, soccer tournament, educational booths, kids activities and much more. The BCI, like last year, has decided to be represented in the World Refugee Day 2018. The BCI's participation will include dance performance and a friendly soccer match. ELDERS ENJOY INTERACTIONElders enjoy a time out with their peer groups. The BCI recognizing the need for the elders to be in a company of their friends to interact and share their experiences, has been organizing this elderly program 2017. We intend to break away their isolation with the four walls of their houses so that they can visit places of interest, make fun, play games and interact with each other. The BCI has only been able to help about 15 elders on a monthly basis but has decided to enhance the activity. However, this requires additional transportation facility. |
News Update..BCI Undertakes Karate Grading
COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM SERVICES
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VOICES OF VICTIMS: A SPECIMEN OF RACIST REPRESSION IN BHUTAN
My name is Singh Bahadur Tamang. I am a 72 years old man hailing from Danabari village in Gaylegphug. We were 11 of us living as prosperous farmers in our family since many generations. Initially, we had a good life with good harvest and rearing of cattle. We used to grow tons of paddy, maize and millet which were more than abundant. The government had implemented a canal project which gave us a good agricultural benefit.
They also started a scheme for electricity and drinking water, but which never materialized. We never had electricity and clean drinking water. We had to depend upon the river water.
As time passed by life became very difficult to live in Bhutan. The government asked for the certificate of origin even to people who had never seen a place outside Bhutan. People were categorized from Form 1 to Form 7. Form 1 denoted genuine Bhutanese while Form 7 were treated as non-Bhutanese. Those in between did not qualify as Bhutanese as they were termed returned migrants, Bhutanese man married to non-Bhutanese or Bhutanese woman married to non-Bhutanese man. First they seized our guns and then took away all our documents including the receipts of forced labor paid to the government.
We were in F1 but the situation was so terrifying and the so called security forces started torturing common people alleging them of sending their sons to political party. There was also a people's uprising demanding justice. From each village nearby people started fleeing the country. The army and police harassment reached such a peak, we had no option but to leave the country.
We left our village to arrive at the refugee camp in Timai in eastern Nepal where we lived for 17 years. We were given the option of third country resettlement by the US Government and we came here in July 2009. Our family live in different houses in Des Moines. I live with my daughter in an apartment in Meadowchase Lane here. I realize that it has been good that we are resettled here because we have been given all facilities like health and food assistance and even citizenship.
They also started a scheme for electricity and drinking water, but which never materialized. We never had electricity and clean drinking water. We had to depend upon the river water.
As time passed by life became very difficult to live in Bhutan. The government asked for the certificate of origin even to people who had never seen a place outside Bhutan. People were categorized from Form 1 to Form 7. Form 1 denoted genuine Bhutanese while Form 7 were treated as non-Bhutanese. Those in between did not qualify as Bhutanese as they were termed returned migrants, Bhutanese man married to non-Bhutanese or Bhutanese woman married to non-Bhutanese man. First they seized our guns and then took away all our documents including the receipts of forced labor paid to the government.
We were in F1 but the situation was so terrifying and the so called security forces started torturing common people alleging them of sending their sons to political party. There was also a people's uprising demanding justice. From each village nearby people started fleeing the country. The army and police harassment reached such a peak, we had no option but to leave the country.
We left our village to arrive at the refugee camp in Timai in eastern Nepal where we lived for 17 years. We were given the option of third country resettlement by the US Government and we came here in July 2009. Our family live in different houses in Des Moines. I live with my daughter in an apartment in Meadowchase Lane here. I realize that it has been good that we are resettled here because we have been given all facilities like health and food assistance and even citizenship.
invitation to those in need
The BCI extends hearty invitation to all the members of our community to take the free benefit of the projects and services being offered here upon appointment. Some of them include ESL and Citizenship class, Karate classes, Computer Literacy Program, Elderly Program and benefit applications, application for citizenship, green card, translation and interpretation services.
The BCI update
Published by: The Bhutanese Community in Iowa (BCI) | 4121 SE 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50320 | bci@bhutaniowa.org
