Bhutan Refugees Find Hope At Sunnking
Every Friday morning, Sunnking gathers all of our employees for a weekly update on company news, events, and operational changes. Sometimes the topics are serious, sometimes they're funny and other times they can be pretty boring (but necessary). The other week however our Friday meeting was none of the above. In this meeting one of our hard working employees from Bhutan, Tula Magar gave a heartwarming speech about his home country of Bhutan, how he fled Nepal as a political refugee, and his experiences immigrating to the U.S. to work for Sunnking.
...Tula isn't the only Bhutan native that works at Sunnking. In fact we have 7 workers from Bhutan that lived in Nepal and immigrated to the U.S. because of the violence and political unrest that caused many to flee the country. Tula came to the U.S. in 2009 through the IOM (International Organization For Migration) and was given an opportunity to live and work here in Rochester through the CFC (Catholic Family Center). The others soon followed, and all found a home right here at Sunnking as well. To their credit, they are some of the hardest working employees that we have, and we're happy to have them as part of the diverse Sunnking family.
Tula Magar, Garja Gurung, Harka Mongar, Dhan Magar, Suk Subba, Harka Subba,
Edha Raj Gurung, Kharka Manger, Thakur Parkharel
So many of us take our jobs and freedoms here in the U.S. for granted. Tula's words were touching and should inspire us all to appreciate what we have, because there are so many who live life in fear and oppression instead of happiness and freedom.
Click on the image to view Tula's letter to Sunnking (transcription below)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It gives me an immense pleasure to write a few lines about Bhutan and Nepal. With full faith and devotion to my birthplace, I am proud to recall that I belong to the land where the Buddha, meaning "the enlightened one" was born. The teachings of the Buddha that advocates for peace and compassion echoes across the meandering rivers, the valleys, and Mt. Everest. The majestic mountains that overlook the world are breathtaking and worth visiting at least once.
The land of lophophorus, the cows, and red rhododendrons is today undergoing a phase of sea-change in all aspects.
I am the son of lush soil that is rich in cultural diversity and national unity. Nepalese truly do believe in thinking independently together. I am one of those brave gurkhas who believes in self-dependence. My country Bhutan is not tiny!
Today I live and work in Rochester city of New York in the states with all my fellows. These fellow citizens deserve a big thank you for what I am today in this land of opportunity pursuing the American dream.
I express my sincerest gratitude to Sunnking, my company for giving me a chance to speak about Bhutan and Nepal. I love my company and its big family, Kudos!
Tula Magar