A first group of Bhutanese refugees camped in Nepal is settling in the US as part of what the UN has described as one of the largest resettlement programmes in the world. America has agreed to take in 60,000 of the Bhutanese. Few Bhutanese refugees has already arrived New York and imagine, from a camp in Nepal to New York, cultural shock doesn't even begin to describe it.

Read the news posted on BBC - hear the voice of one of the bhutanese refugee trying to cope with the new cultural difference, trying to settle down in New York and her challenges.

Some of these Bhutanese refugees have arrived in Chicago and few more families will follow as part of the resettlement program. A meeting was held few weeks back to brainstorm ideas to help Bhutanese refugees in a smooth transition from their life, in a refugee camp in Nepal to metropolitan Chicago. Below are some ideas that were proposed. Remember, every bit of help provided will assist a family in need.  As said, this is not a work of one or two people trying to make a difference to the community, but rather its a work of the entire nepali community to come together and help for this noble cause.

Let us band together in this foreign land, to help those in need. If you would like to help in contributing, please click here to fill out a form. EACH SUPPORT COUNTS... COME LETS MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Proposals :

1. Creation of List of names and contact telephone numbers (Click to view)

A list of names will be created from interested Nepali family or persons living in Chicago Area who agrees to receive telephone call from people from Nepal or any other speaking Nepali language coming to live in Chicago area. A person from the list will answer/advice the caller's questions and concerns.

2. Creation of list of names to offer time (click to view)

Creation of a list of Nepalese/Non-Nepalese family or individual interested to offer one or more days of their time to a needy person or family; as for example to take them to some places or show them around to help shopping etc.

3. Creation of inventory of household items (click to view)

Creation of an inventory of various household items (new and used clothes, cooking utensils, furniture, etc) that any Nepali or Non-Nepali family or person likes to donate. This inventory is just a list of the items and while the items will actually remain initially with the donating person. Needy person will look at it and contact from the contact list to take it for their use. Alternatively, all the items may be collected at one place if any person can offer a place to keep them.

Notes:

This is completely a volunteer work and any of us are free to withdraw from participation if their current life style makes it difficult to participate now.

It is very important that we must execute agreed ideas. Therefore we must agree upon only those things that we can surely do.

This service will be offered to any person or family or group who may need it.