How To Help
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This Resource Page has a lot of background information on the refugees both in Nepal as well as resettlement issues in the United States. Put together by the BRYCS.
Helping Bhutanese refugees settle in the US
by Doug Hall
Chichester, NH 03258
603-798-5028
How to get involved:
1. Find out what social service agency in your community is helping with resettlement of refugees generally. These are often religious or interfaith organizations.
Google “refugee resettlement” and your metropolitcan area, region, etc.
Contact your state’s refugee coordinator (a position in state government) and ask:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/partners/state_coordina.htm
2. Check out your local agency’s website. Some agencies have multiple programs, only one of which is related to refugees.
3. Give the agency a call and ask about how they make use of volunteers. (Note some agencies do not have a volunteer program, some do). Ask if they have had Bhutanese refugees assigned to them or expect to have them in the future.
4. Explain the extent to which your knowledge of the Nepali language and culture might be of special help to the Bhutanese. Even if the agency does not itself have an official volunteer program, they will probably tell you how you can help.
Start with one family
The agency responsible for settling refugees in central New Hampshire is Lutheran Social Services. When my wife and I contacted them, they explained that we would have to complete a 4 hour training course to become official volunteers in their program. The program focused on the need for confidentiality, how to help with food stamp applications, transportation, school enrollment issues, etc. The agency also did a background check on us. Once we completed the training we were assigned a family to assist.
We were quickly introduced to other Bhutanese families, some part of the extended family of our original family, some friends from the camps, etc. Once you establish a link into the community of newly arrived Bhutanese, it will expand very rapidly.
Things you can do to help a family
- Help enroll the kids in school and the free lunch program there
- Deal with the “no beef” issue with school lunch staff
- Help with adults’ employment searches (pick up applications, transport)
- Drive to medical appointments (vaccinations from day one)
- Find “scholarships” for kids to summer camp, plantarium, zoo, museum
- Help get library cards for adults and kids
- Teach use of kitchen appliances: microwave, can opener, oven
- Shop together at nearby supermarket and discuss types of foods
- plain full fat yogurt only please
- what meat, if any, is acceptable to family
- bulk rice for savings
- Make sure adults understand food stamp card
- Discuss any problems with landlord/neighbors
- payment will be 5 days late
- smell of spices when cooking upsets neighbors: close the door
- no chairs or toys can be left outside at night
- Attend eligibility hearing with local health and human services officials
- Find local sources of free used TVs, clothing, and supplies
- Arrange GED courses or ESL courses and transportation thereto
- Participate in festivals (Dashain, Tihar, Krishna Astami, Holi, etc.)
- Arrange for kids to trick-or-treat on Halloween
- Have family to dinner and introduce different vegetables
- Help obtain the cheapest phone card to call Nepal refugee camps
- Help establish a checking account
- Teach how to use an ATM card
- Introduce family to available public transportation (bus routes, etc.)
- Help distinguish important mail (bills, eviction notices) from junk mail
- Search together for low cost used auto
- Provide basic driver training in empty parking lots
- Celebrate kids’ birthday
- Some observations
Once you start with a family, you will find that you must draw a limit to your participation. Families will want you to do more than you have the time or inclination to do, at least in their first months in the US. It is good for you and for the family that they not become too dependent on you. Your goal should be to introduce them to their new life, new culture, new surroundings, and be a friend.
The children were all born in the camps and, if asked, consider themselves Nepali rather than Bhutani. They also have some basic ability in English. Their parents (age 20-40) may consider themselves Bhutani or Nepali. Some, those who were teachers and organizers in the camps, may have reasonably good English skills. The grandparents (age 40 and up), if asked, will say they are Bhutani. Many of them never attended school, know very little English, and may even be illiterate in both Roman and Devanagri alphabets.
No matter how rudimentary or rusty your Nepali is, the families will love the fact that you try to speak some. You will quickly find your language skills returning somewhat. (After 32 years of not speaking the language, I have found this to be personally very rewarding.)
The paramount issues for the newly arrived adults are housing and employment. The local agency will help with both. Some adults will have the hardest time with the need to get a job. Most have been without work for 17 years and limited food and housing was given to them in the camps. They will receive 4-8 months of financial assistance, food stamps, and subsidized housing after they arrive here. They may not realize that they must be self-sufficient in a very short period of time. You can be a real help in making them realize this very early. Some may not even believe that they will not continue to get free housing and food and cash.
Once you have begun to work with one family, you may quickly discover how the “system” of refugee resettlement has many flaws. That may draw you into working on system issues as well. Why won’t medical specialty practices pay for interpeters? Why is the closest bus stop ½ mile from the state welfare office? Why do hospitals and schools require signatures on so many documents that are supposed to indicate that the signer has understood them when, in fact, they have not? Are there enough ESL classes for adults?