By LORI SZEPELAK
Correspondent
WESTFIELD – Chhatra Basnet and his family are survivors.
During a late afternoon last week in his family’s home on Franklin Street in Westfield, Basnet shared the despair his family experienced living in a refugee camp for 20 years as well as the joy they now have – thanks in part to organizations including the American Red Cross, Ascentria Care Alliance (formerly Lutheran Social Services of New England), and the United Nations.
Basnet was only 5-years-old when his family had to flee their home in Bhutan, officially now the Kingdom of Bhutan, a landlocked country in south Asia at the eastern end of the Himalayas.
“We had a big house,” said Basnet, noting his family had 20 cows, chickens, and a “huge amount of land” which they used to produce food for their family.
“My parents would also sell produce so we could buy salt and sugar at the market,” he said.
The family’s life changed dramatically when they were forced to resettle in a refugee camp in eastern Nepal where they languished for 20 years in a tent with mud floors and plastic for a roof.
“It was a sad, unhappy time for many due to famine and little food for the 60,000 refugees,” he said.
Basnet noted that diseases were widespread due to poor living conditions.
“We survived with the food rations that were provided every 15 days,” he said, noting that bags of rice they opened said “United States.”
Basnet had heard about this country but couldn’t imagine how diverse the land and its people were.
“We imagined large cities with tall buildings where you couldn’t see the sun,” he said.
What also kept Basnet alive and engaged was education.
“Teachers in the camp would volunteer to work with the youngsters,” he said, noting classes were conducted under trees most days.
“If it rained we had to go back to our tent,” he said.
Basnet excelled at his studies and loved math and physics.
“We lived with no hope and no future,” said Basnet, but in his heart, he knew if he persevered a better life was possible for his family.
“When the international organizations started the process for migration, we did the paperwork,” he said.
His family’s despair changed to hope when in 2009, they were accepted into a resettlement program in Westfield.
“We were the second Bhutanese family to settle in Westfield during the first wave of refugees from Nepal,” he said.
Basnet noted his family came to America with only $5 in their pockets.
“When we were driven to Westfield we first noticed the beautiful forests and in a few minutes everything changed for us,” he said, adding that last July 4, he was sworn in as a U.S. citizen during ceremonies in Northampton.
“Becoming a United States citizen was one of the happiest moments in my life,” he said.
Today, Basnet serves as district translator for the Westfield Public Schools. His role ranges from oral and written translations of school notices and documents, to translating at meetings and open houses, and strengthening the bond between the schools and the Bhutanese community. He also helps in the registration process when newcomers arrive and tutors in several high school math classes for those students who cannot access the curriculum without his support.
He is also majoring in mathematics at Westfield State University and will graduate in 2016. He graduated from Holyoke Community College with an associate’s degree last spring. His wife, Chandra, works with Bhutanese children at the South Middle School in the bilingual education program. He added that his family members are either attending school or working at local companies.
“In the past my family members had no hope or future but now we are all thinking about our future,” he said, adding, “it is important to be independent.”
Chandra Basnet echoed those sentiments.
“I love this community, everyone is very helpful and nice,” she said.
When Basnet isn’t working in the schools he also assists Susan Moore, an ELL Coach with the Westfield schools and coordinator of the Refugee School Impact Grant from the Office of Refugees and Immigrants.
“This grant provides family strengthening and cultural adjustment programs for our refugee students and their families,” said Moore, adding that aspects of the grant include Parent ESL and Parent Liaison classes.
“Presently, we are offering Parent ESL classes on Thursday nights at South Middle School, but in May, we expect to increase the classes to two times per week,” she said, noting that learning a language in a class only one night a week is “very hard.”
Moore noted that volunteers are needed who would like to work on oratory and literacy skills with families.
“Volunteers may be the added support they need to improve their English language skills,” she said, adding, “some volunteers from Westfield State University are already working with families in this capacity, coordinating their time and placement through Chhatra.”
Basnet added that volunteers working with one family one-on-one can make a big difference in their lives.
“Also, we encourage volunteers to tell their story to the families,” he said.
Additionally, Basnet assists the Bhutanese community in all aspects of their lives – medical, financial, educational and emotional.
“When someone calls I don’t want to say no, I don’t want anyone to feel they are alone,” he said, noting that navigating all aspects of daily living can be challenging for some Bhutanese families.
Moore noted that as the parent liaison for the grant, Basnet serves in all aspects of support needed by the refugee community in Westfield.
“He brings family members to physician appointments or to the emergency room when necessary, at any time of the day or night,” said Moore. “He is the emergency contact person for a multitude of people, and he helps individuals obtain health insurance and medical aid. Also, he makes phone calls and disputes bills, and he calls for services that may be needed to property and homes.”
In his free time, Basnet offers weekly ESL classes that meet in the homes of the participants, and he teaches Bhutanese heritage to the younger students who have a limited sense of cultural identity. For more information on volunteering opportunities, contact Basnet via email at [email protected].
Basnet has come a long way from walking six miles a day, one way, since he did not have a car, from his family’s original home on Frederick Street to Westfield High School when he began his journey teaching and tutoring.
“Despite all of the challenges we have endured, the people of Westfield opened their hearts to us and we are forever grateful. I look forward to continue giving back to this community and to this country which has given so much to me and my family.”
