Education is the ticket to achieving the American Dream for Bhutanese refugees in Akron Part 2

 

Story by Tom Crain

 

David James, Superintendent of Akron Public Schools (APS) says that several of Akron’s schools have been undergoing significant change due to the influx of refugees. “Little did any of us know the U.S. foreign policy decision made nine years ago would bring into our schools a story that is truly inspirational in an American way,” he says. “And now, with so many articles and broadcasts coming out of our refugee schools, much of America is aware.”

North High School (NHS) was waning in attendance for years and was in danger of closing altogether before refugee resettlement kicked in. Now, NHS has become known as Ohio’s most diverse public school.

THE FIRST 90 DAYS:

Bhutanese Refugees face a ticking clock of self-sufficiency
laden with many hurdles and challenges along the way

Story by Tom Crain

Durga, Nirmala, Bishnu, and Kailash  Ghimirey

 

Durga Ghimirey is one of 120,000 Bhutanese refugees being relocated around the world. He is a member of the Lhotshampas, the unlucky ethnic group in Bhutan who fell victim to ethnic cleansing.

As a teen, he fled to India, then was trucked to Goldhap, one of seven refugee camps in Nepal. Here, he spent nearly two decades highlighted by his marriage to wife Bishnu and raising two children, daughter Nirmala and son Kailash. He and his family lived in a cramped bamboo hut without running water or electricity. He received rice rations once a month having to make them last, earning extra money to pay for supplemental food or having his family go hungry. He and his family experienced several bouts of life threatening starvation and illnesses, and witnessed other camp residents dying all around them.

International Institute Hosts Citizenship Ceremony for Nearly 50 New Residents

Nearly fifty men and women from 30 different countries took an oath
of allegiance at the Akron-Summit County Public Library and became U.S. citizens
June 30 as part of a naturalization ceremony. (Photo: Chris Miller)

 

Story by: Yoly Glez M Heisler Courtesy the Akronist

 

About 50 residents were officially given their U.S. citizenship on Tuesday. The Naturalization Oath Ceremony, held at the Akron-Summit County Public Library’s Main Library auditorium, awarded citizenship to people from India, South Korea, Burma, Canada, Hungary, Belarus, China, Lebanon, France, Peru, Mexico and Cameroon, among a few dozen other countries.

The International Institute of Akron (IIA), the event host, was on hand to celebrate the naturalization of these citizens. Elaine Woloshyn, executive director of the agency, served as the event moderator, which was fitting considering all the work the IIA has done to help prepare these and other new citizens. The International Institute has helped immigrants and refugees for almost 100 years. Akron has a wealth of agencies to help these residents, including Asian Services in Action (ASIA Inc.)

From Nepal to Akron: Refugee’s journey brings new opportunity (Article and Video)

Sagar Timsina’s home in North Hill is vastly different
from Nepal, where his childhood home had no access
to electricity or running water. (Photo: Dale Dong)

Story by Maria Duvuvuei of the Akronist

Refugee studies computer engineering, works at International Institute of Akron

Sagar Timsina doesn’t remember Bhutan. The 22-year-old was only a couple months old when his parents were forced to leave their country and their home.

Sitting in his family’s home in Akron, he explains how his family came to live in the United States. He seems comfortable in the space, where brightly colored floral arrangements adorn the walls and decorative streamers hang in entryways from room to room. He points out the makeshift shrine to the Hindu deities his family worships, a bookcase bordered by strands of multi-colored lights.