From Bhutan to Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Post Gazette shares a story about refugees from Bhutan coming to America. Since 2006 nearly 1,300 refugees have come from troubled nations to live in Allegheny County and they arrive with little more than the clothes they are wearing. They must quickly learn to navigate an unfamiliar city, speak English, adjust to American practices, find work, and send their children to school. This is helped through resettlment programs like the one I am fundraising for.
The story for the Rai family is inspiring as they sit in a basement of Whitehall church eating their first Thanskgiving meal. Their story began in Bhutan, which is southeast of Asia. They were fleeing from ethnic persecution all their lives and lived being surrounded by other refugees in Refugee Camps in Nepal. The camps were not in the best conditions but allowed safety for these people running away from their homeland. It consisted of a school and this is where Damber and Gopi Rai met. Damber and Gopi got married in high school, which was against the rules, and the school expelled them. They had two children and decided to leave the camp and applied for refugee admittance to the United States. Two years later they arrived at the Pittsburgh International Airport. Represenatives from Catholic Charities and Jewish Family and Children Services met the Rai family at the airport. They then took them to their new home and the agencies will pay the rent for the first three months and further teach them. They aim for the refugee to be self-sufficient within six months.
After seven months in Pittsburgh, the Rai family has achieved a new safe life in Pittsburgh. It may not seem like it is a luxury life to some Americans but safety if more important than a big house and three cars. Mr. Rai has to take two buses to get to his job and their apartment is small but better than the refugee camp huts in Nepal. They now have telephones, internet access, and a television. Although they are in American, they will continue to keep to their traditions because it is their culture.
Although resettlement programs allow refugees to make a sufficient life in America, it is extremely difficult for them. They do not only have to deal with coming to a new country but dealing with judgment of being different and standing out amongst Americans. This can mean appearance or language barriers. Refugees are in need of essentials to help them get started in Pittsburgh, which is why is it important to do this fundraising campaign. A little bit can go a long way.