Bhutanese Community in Iowa (BCI)
Bhutanese Community in Iowa (BCI)
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  • Home
    • Bhutanese Refugees
  • About Us
  • Faith- Groups
    • APBHI
    • KSI
    • BABSI
    • Ray of Hope Inc.
  • Programs
    • Projects >
      • BLCEP
      • Adult ESL
      • Citizenship Classes
    • Services >
      • Green Card Filing
      • Income Tax Preparation
      • Citizenship Applications (N-400)
      • Job Applications & Resume Writing
      • Translation & Interpretations
      • Benefit Applications
  • Publications
    • The BCI Update >
      • BCI Update Special Edition
      • Vol 11, August 2018
      • Vol 10, July 2018
      • Vol 9, June 2018
      • Vol 8, May 2018
      • Vol 7, April 2018
      • Vol 6, October 2017
      • Vol 5, August 2017
      • Vol 4, July 2017
      • Vol 3, June 2017
      • Vol 2, April 2017
      • Vol 1, March 2017
    • The Bhutan Observer >
      • TBO Blog
      • December 2018
      • November 2018
      • October 2018
      • September 2018
      • August 2018
      • July 2018
      • June 2018
      • May 2018
      • April 2018
      • March 2018
      • February 2018
      • January 2018
      • December 2017
      • November 2017
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The BCI Update
​Dedicated to the Bhutanese in Iowa​
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Vol. 9, June 2018

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. 

Community Reflections on Bci activities

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 INTERACTION 

Elders 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
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​The BCI with technical support of the DASK organized a one-day junior Karate grading program for some 27 participants amongst the Nepali Speaking Bhutanese Community in Iowa on Saturday, June 9, 2018 between 10 am to 4 pm. The program was chaired by BCI Chief Executive Director Hem Bhandari and Hemant Lama of the DASK Team was the Chief guest on the occasion. There were a dozen other special guests amid hundreds of public who have gathered to witness the event. There was a salutary display of the art followed by the chairperson announcing the program open. There was a session on junior seminar and training given by Tilak  Gurung the home-based Karate instructor and TR Rai from the DASK senior team. There was an extensive practice and positions performed by the participants. As this went on the DASK experts conducted the grading according to the standard evaluation format. Some of the salient features included good forms, sportive attitude, technical performance, athletics, discipline and respect. 
This was followed by some dance items and speeches by Dilip Bishwo on behalf of the BCI and Hemant Lama as the President of DASK reiterated his support to the BCI to effectively run the program. He expressed his satisfaction on the outcome of the BCI initiative. The DASK President awarded certificates to 6 seniors after which he awarded yellow belt and a medal each to all qualifying children who were between the age group 5 years to 14 years.  
The sensei or the Karate Gurus are themselves the members of the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese Community invited from out of state namely Hemant Lama from Vermont, TR Rai from Pennsylvania. Purna Tamang from Pennsylvania, TN Nepal from Pennsylvania and Raj Magar from North Dakota.  Tilak Gurung was the master of ceremony of the day's program. The leaders of the BCI faith-based organizations graced the event as special guests.    

COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM SERVICES ​
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Ever since the foundation of the organization, the BCI has laid great importance on providing services to our community. The services which are offered free of cost have been very useful because they concern the immediate daily needs of our people. Among the services include benefit application like food assistance, medical assistance, green card, SSI, naturalization application and Job Application, Resume writing, translation and interpretation. The members of the community make an appointment for service which is provided by respective volunteers. In 2018 alone, there have been some 50 people who have taken the benefit of the services. ​
While the services account for the immediate need of the members, the BCI also provides projects twice in a week manner. They are ES, Computer Literacy and Elderly Program, Karate Class and Dance class and more.   


​VOICES OF VICTIMS: A SPECIMEN OF RACIST REPRESSION IN BHUTAN
​

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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. 
 ​

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.
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The BCI update 

Published by: The Bhutanese Community in Iowa (BCI) | 4121 SE 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50320 | bci@bhutaniowa.org
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PO Box 36381 | 4121 SE 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50320
Email: bci@bhutaniowa.org