The Bhutanese Refugee

Empowerment Program

“Charity is in

jurious unless

it

helps the reci

pient become

independent of

it” -John

Rockefeller

A CORD INITIATIVE

About the Bhutanese Refugee Outreach Program:About the Bhutanese Refugee Outreach Program:

-The Bhutanese Service Project began as part of a follow-up on the White -The Bhutanese Service Project began as part of a follow-up on the White House Dharmic Conference held on April 20House Dharmic Conference held on April 20thth, 2012, 2012

- The plight of nearly 3 million Bhutanese Hindus refugees who escaped - The plight of nearly 3 million Bhutanese Hindus refugees who escaped their painful past to be settled in United States was highlighted.their painful past to be settled in United States was highlighted.

-The refugees from Bhutan face manifold hardships adapting to the new -The refugees from Bhutan face manifold hardships adapting to the new ways, culture and language barriers in their adopted countryways, culture and language barriers in their adopted country

- Their hopes for a bright future are slowly fading and being replaced by a - Their hopes for a bright future are slowly fading and being replaced by a sense of utter hopelessness, which will eventually result in an alarming increase sense of utter hopelessness, which will eventually result in an alarming increase in the number of suicides in their community across the U.S.in the number of suicides in their community across the U.S.

Continued...Continued...

- - Following this conference, an action plan evolved, approved by the board Following this conference, an action plan evolved, approved by the board of CORD USA and CMWRC; in partnership with HASC (Hindu American Seva of CORD USA and CMWRC; in partnership with HASC (Hindu American Seva Communities). Communities).

- Youth, primarily the CHYKS (Chinmaya Mission Yuva Kendra) of our mission, - Youth, primarily the CHYKS (Chinmaya Mission Yuva Kendra) of our mission, shall help the children and youth of the Bhutanese communities around the USshall help the children and youth of the Bhutanese communities around the US

- This includes mentoring and tutoring program that involves:- This includes mentoring and tutoring program that involves:

- English lessons for the kids and youth on a fortnightly basis- English lessons for the kids and youth on a fortnightly basis

- Mentoring at-risk youth and providing peer-support programs- Mentoring at-risk youth and providing peer-support programs

- Tutoring- Tutoring

Challenges we face:Challenges we face:

•the availability of the CHYKS on whom this program primarily depends the availability of the CHYKS on whom this program primarily depends upon, and who continue to juggle an impossible schedule to commit to upon, and who continue to juggle an impossible schedule to commit to this projectthis project

•treating the variations in the curriculum according to the age groups of treating the variations in the curriculum according to the age groups of the kids attendingthe kids attending

•the ongoing efforts to raise awareness amongst the significant adults on the ongoing efforts to raise awareness amongst the significant adults on the importance of educationthe importance of education

•the language barriers that we face in communicating with the people, the language barriers that we face in communicating with the people, amongst others.amongst others.

Unto Sri Gurudev,Unto Sri Gurudev,

Meena RadhakrishnanMeena Radhakrishnan

Seva co-ordinator:Seva co-ordinator:

““……The Bhutanese Service Project is The Bhutanese Service Project is more than a tutoring program, it is more than a tutoring program, it is more than a mentoring project, it is a more than a mentoring project, it is a program that leads kids in hopeless program that leads kids in hopeless conditions, to hope and aspire for conditions, to hope and aspire for more, beyond the reach of their more, beyond the reach of their circumstances, to reach higher and to circumstances, to reach higher and to believe further in themselves; and be believe further in themselves; and be inspired by the very presence of the inspired by the very presence of the young men and women who came to young men and women who came to serve them. This program is but a serve them. This program is but a humble endeavor in reaching out to humble endeavor in reaching out to serve the needy in our community. It serve the needy in our community. It is my fervent hope and prayer that is my fervent hope and prayer that with His grace, the Bhutanese service with His grace, the Bhutanese service project will realize the very potential project will realize the very potential that it has set out to fulfill.that it has set out to fulfill.””

How Can You Help?

A fun and interactive game played with Balavihar A fun and interactive game played with Balavihar Children.Children.

Where and When?Where and When?During Balavihar sessions!During Balavihar sessions!Start DayStart Day: : Friday, December 13, 2013 (Gita Jayanti)Friday, December 13, 2013 (Gita Jayanti)End DayEnd Day: : Friday, February 28, 2014 (Shiva-Ratri)Friday, February 28, 2014 (Shiva-Ratri)

Rules for Penny Wars• Penny Wars is a competition between each class group.Penny Wars is a competition between each class group.

- Each class group will be assigned to one jar, and these jars Each class group will be assigned to one jar, and these jars will be lined up at your center during Balavihar. will be lined up at your center during Balavihar.

- Eachclass will be putting in pennies into their own jar;Eachclass will be putting in pennies into their own jar;

- Quarters, dimes, nickels, dollar bills should be put in others Quarters, dimes, nickels, dollar bills should be put in others classclass‘‘ jars. jars.

- Pennies in a classPennies in a class’’s jar bring positive points to that class s jar bring positive points to that class group. group.

- Nickels, dimes, quarters, bills all bring negative points. Nickels, dimes, quarters, bills all bring negative points.

Rules for Penny Wars CntdThe competition will span from December 13, 2013 until February 28th, 2014,

This keeps the auspicious start and end times of Gita Jayanti and Maha Shivaraatri

After February 28th, add up each of the class’ jar’s negative and positive points.

By the end of this time, the class with the most points wins!

PrizeEach Mission center can determine the prize for the Each Mission center can determine the prize for the winning class. winning class.

Perhaps a trip to a local Little Caesar's Pizza, or a tub of Perhaps a trip to a local Little Caesar's Pizza, or a tub of ice cream (ice cream party!) to share with the winning ice cream (ice cream party!) to share with the winning class. class.

It should encourage the classes to compete and raise It should encourage the classes to compete and raise money!! money!!

Where will the Penny Wars funds go?The money raised from this fundraiser can be used to help your local Bhutanese The money raised from this fundraiser can be used to help your local Bhutanese Community.Community.

If your center does not have a Bhutanese refugee community in proximity, the If your center does not have a Bhutanese refugee community in proximity, the funds can be donated to the national CORD USA cause, or to CORD causes around funds can be donated to the national CORD USA cause, or to CORD causes around the globe.the globe.

These causes include funds needed for CORD Sri Lanka, CORD Deuladiha, and These causes include funds needed for CORD Sri Lanka, CORD Deuladiha, and others.others.

Additionally, any information on your centerAdditionally, any information on your center’’s success with the fundraiser will be s success with the fundraiser will be sent out to the CORD USAsent out to the CORD USA’’ reader base, which includes all centers across USA and reader base, which includes all centers across USA and many CORD enthusiasts around the world!many CORD enthusiasts around the world!

Monetary Details

The funds collected from this fundraiser The funds collected from this fundraiser should be collected into your local CM should be collected into your local CM centercenter’’s bank account. Once the fundraiser s bank account. Once the fundraiser has ended, those funds can be transferred has ended, those funds can be transferred to CORD USA.to CORD USA.