Sewa is a non-profit charity and community development organization. Our ‘Get Inspired Houston’ summer volunteer internship program is a leadership development initiative to provide opportunities to young individuals to serve the Houston community and undergo personal development. GIH aspires to engage tomorrow’s leaders with today’s society for sustainable development in the Houston community. For more details visit Sewa Houston's website at www.sewahouston.org.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Sewa ASPIRE Tutorials
Saturday, June 25, 2011
First Impressions
Friday, July 2, 2010
Children's Activities at Villa Bella Apartments (7/1/2010)
Leela, who used to be shy when talking to me certainly now fell a bond as strong as the knot I made with the scarf on her hair. Her speech turned bubbly as she told me about the houses in Nepal, where she was born. "My parents made my house out of bamboo" she said. As she described what it took her parents to make the house I could not stop but think about this book I read one day that said "to know the history of humans it is important to look at their houses." She explained the houses were not stable, the wind would often blow the bamboos away and it would leave her and her brothers in a 24-hour watch for missing bamboos on the roof and the house's structure in general.
To me this story summarizes what I have seen this past month while talking to my new group of friends: the Bhutanese-Nepali. Each and every generation has suffered with subjugation from misunderstanding cultures throughout their lives. The parents, brothers, sisters and grandparents I have talked to, all had to move away from the land they lived on because of cultural persecution. Therefore I conclude the only thing that has kept them sane was their culture: which is what all have in common and all strive to protect.
Their culture is like the house Leela just described. The basic foundations were thought of centuries ago but each family has built and tailored the culture and made it unique to them. The older folks treat these foundation almost like a sanctuary, but the children are the ones now in charge to be on the watch for things that will move the "bamboos" of their heritage. They are the ones who will decide, from now on, whether or not to fix it when in contact with American "winds." I have observed the children for three weeks and I believe that has left me with the opportunity and fondness to say this "tornado" might as well do the same thing it did for me and my culture: draw a very stable blueprint for the "house" they will one day build for their families or themselves.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Youth Mentors
For instance, the youth mentorship project just had its first collaborative meeting this morning. Its mission is to create a student organized and student led buddy system between Bhutanese and Houston high school students, one which would help share teenage-relevant information and build friendships. The club would offer practical help, such as high school study tips or college preparation ideas. It would supplement these meetings with social events like pizza parties or bowling. Soccer or cricket leagues, music jam sessions, and after-school programs have also been discussed.
It was great to introduce some of the Bhutanese students to the high school leaders of youth mentorship today. I envision this group will help make Houston more of a home and the transition from Nepal to American high schools, more fluid. It certainly can be risky leaving a project up to high school volunteers with already packed schedules, but their commitment thus far has been very inspiring. I hope that the co-leadership between the Bhutanese and Houstonians continues and that the club expands as other high school students are looking for volunteer hours.
Let’s add a dash of unity to high school!
Accepting interested volunteers indefinitely. The project will most likely start at Hastings High, and most events will probably be on Saturdays.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Knitting Circle Launch
As part of the circle, Kathy and I learned to count in Nepali, we taught the women key phrases in Spanish, we laughed over dropped stitches and silly two year olds. We discussed health concerns, got updated on the job search process, and shared congratulations on English improvement and new-found jobs. The age of our group ranged from two and a half (ok, our honorary member) to late, late seventies. The stitching patterns, yarn color, native tongues varied, but the sentiment was shared. I think we all needed the time to sit and chat and literally unwind.
Houston, I was genuinely so inspired by this first meeting; I can’t wait to return next week. I think it will be a great outlet for the women to improve their English, share their feelings, strengthen friendships, and relieve stress. The challenge right now is finding a way to get the materials donated so that we have enough for the women to make the blankets, hats, and sweaters that they knit and crochet so beautifully. Then we might be able to cover the vendor fee and get our co-op club into a local craft market- team work, initiative, and perhaps a little microfinance.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Universal Language
At the end of last week, Agatha and I went to VP in hopes of meeting more of the women and hearing their concerns. I have to say I was blown away by the number in attendance. We not only got a lot of helpful information, but we were able to speak with a wide age range- from 19 to 79 years old. I would say that any specifics in the refugees’ needs, and of course English proficiency, are based on age. But even the language barrier was put aside in this very engaging conversation. We finally got the specific art supplies they need for their beautiful crocheting and knitting projects, and even got to see some of their art pieces up close. I am very eager to begin our knitting circle next week to build a stronger sense of community between the women and, if the market idea works out, create an additional source of income.
When I was reflecting on this particular visit a few days later, I suddenly realized that when the room became so noisy with voices, the whole room was speaking to me in Nepali. The questions that I had asked the designated translator became public property and a truly a community concern. By no means do I speak Nepali, but in some strange fashion I could understand the injuries they described or the details of their children. Language barriers are, after all, relative.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Waving in Traffic
Please bear with me as I use a bizarre analogy. Late last week, my computer decided to play hopscotch with the normal functions it is supposed to perform, leaving me at the mercy of my team mates and in the waiting room of a computer repair shop. I had determined not to get too frustrated, but was made immediately aware of how reliant we are all on technology- so many of my projects depended on e-mail contacts, internet access, sharing Google documents, accessing stored phone numbers, etc.
The times when we find ourselves teetering between stress and forfeit remind me of how thankful I am for the people that swoop in to help. They are not the masked super heroes that we read about, but they are the team member sitting next to you who sends some extra e-mails and takes on an extra hour of work. They are the jean-wearing tech masters who can decipher 10-12 digit strands of information and troubleshoot out-loud. These unexpected moments of sanity always come when I realize how much I do not control in life and how much I rely on the people around me. (A little plug for anyone reading this blog- next time you’re in traffic and someone lets you cut in front of them, please wave. It will make someone’s day, I promise).
The moral of my jumbled story is that even these computer glitches and their aftermath helped me grow in my efforts to help the Bhutanese. For instance, while I was temporarily kept from productive work, I was quickly reminded of the fear that accompanies a problem you have no idea how to solve. I was desperate for the tech person to explain the situation in my language and to fix what was broken. Similarly, the refugees are desperate for some advocates to make sense of this new land and help them fix the unemployment situation. Resources are not helpful if we hoard our knowledge of them. I have a renewed commitment to get as many resources ready as possible (our team motto) and say thank you as much as I can.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Los Arcos Visit
So with a tiny bit of skepticism, I accompanied both my team and workforce development to Los Arcos Apartments, where we were lead to a community room filled with refugees. Workforce dealt with the men, while Women's Issues [unsurprisingly] dealt with the women. It's what we do.
Anyway, Agatha, Katie, and I divided our group of women into 3 groups so that we could complete the census in a more efficient and personal manner than if all 3 of us did it together--I think that would have seemed more like an interrogation, which probably isn't the best way to go about building trust. At first I was very nervous about talking to my group of women by myself;usually, Agatha and Katy and Katie do most of the talking, while I interject with a few questions every now and then [If I were in the position of the refugee women, I think I'd feel better explaining my problems and personal information with the people who've graduated from high school already]. In retrospect, the feeling was completely absurd. The women at Los Arcos were incredibly open, eager, and willing to answer every question to the best of their abilities. A very good deal of them spoke English, which made it much easier to communicate with the women and made the census questions fly by. There was even some casual banter after we were done with the formalities of the census.
The general consensus was that they all want jobs. As one refugee described it to me, "If we find jobs, then every other problem solves itself." It was clearly a burdensome worry for each of the women I talked to; there was even a fear that only 15 refugees at the apartments would get jobs. However, that rumor was quickly dispelled, and it was reiterated that Workforce would do their best to supply them with the resources and knowledge they would need to find jobs. Reassured, they all left and thanked us for our help.
All in all, it was a very good day. Basically, I went into the apartments with a reserve of cynicism [just in case], and left with faith in humanity. I have very high hopes for Los Arcos.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Workforce Development
While we started out researching available jobs in the area and helping refugees edit their resumes, we have moved away from that. We've since decided to focus on training refugees to take control of their own job search and professional development. Right now, we're creating the materials needed for training. We're planning a resume and job skills workshop (complete with a mock interview!), English classes, and computer classes. We need English teachers who can commit to at least six months: if anyone is interested, please contact us!
I'm looking forward to more cooperation with local agencies. It seems like there are so many services being offered to refugees in the area, particularly in the skills that we're trying to develop. Imagine how much more powerful a coordinated effort to support refugees would be!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
planting trust
This has been quite an eventful week. My primary focus has been working on the community garden project, trying to get supplies donated and secure our location. It turns out that our original donor is no longer able to offer his land but another volunteer offered his spacious backyard, so all is not lost. I actually think that this smaller size will work well because it will force our gardeners to be a close-knit group with a set schedule and leader.
I also posted a grant application on dosomething.org (check out
I also worked to schedule follow-up meetings at various apartments and one introductory meeting at the apartment with the largest number of refugees. It is really interesting to notice how each apartment has a very distinct personality, and I can’t figure out if it is because of the amount of time the refugees have been in the country, whether or not they are still receiving the 90 days of aid and from which organization, or their neighborhoods and security.
Two themes that I’m noticing are desperation and community. In some apartments, these go hand in hand to balance each other. In other apartments, the desperation seems to overcome any chance at community; there is such a need for employment, and the desired job, that our efforts to help our often frustrated. It seems that where a sense of community and initiative remains, we have made much more progress. So, how do you build trust, encourage honesty, and repair community? Tricky questions, but ultimately SEWA and Women’s Issues’ goal.
Obstacles are part of life and of any worthwhile project. So honestly, I’m not that frustrated with the challenges we have faced thus far. Instead, I think I am now more committed to lead this Women’s Issues group. Our work is both never ending and unpredictable because we have to convince the Bhutanese community- especially the men- that we are not trying to Americanize the women but help the Bhutanese women live whole, safe, and satisfied lives in
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Victoria Park and World Refugee Day
After our conversation with the women, we were able to take some of the younger girls, including Padma and Indra, with us to Westland YMCA for the celebration of World Refugee Day. Essentially, the event was about them. There were many refugees from different regions of the world, including Africa and Bhurma, at the event. Each shared an insight into their culture by way of performing their cultural dances and the like. Six of our Bhutanese girls performed a traditional dance and looked absolutely beautiful. We could see the enjoyment and "plaisir" on the other Bhutanese girls as they watched them remind them of the pleasant cultural traditions. It was amazing to watch. At our Sewa Int'l booth at the fair, we were able to share the vision of our different teams within our organization to those who'd never heard of Sewa. I was able to walk around and do bit of networking with the other non-profit groups there. I met up with a representative from UNA-Houston organization who brought up a discussion about microfinance. She has valuable contacts that would be help for our women's issues team, not just for community awareness but also for our long-term goals of the women starting their own businesses.
All in all, it was a very productive day for women's issues. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Apartment visits
The group members are beginning to understand that, besides employment and language issues, there is an intricate web of complexities the refugees are undergoing, such as general mistrust of the new environment, doubts about their futures, gender roles, etc. Interacting with them, I begin to reminisce about my own experience in coming to the United States. For a great deal of time, I dreaded going to school and speaking to other people, simply because I felt my uncertainty and fear would be visible to all. I receive this impression from the refugees as well. I do not think us interns can necessarily eradicate such feelings; however, we do our best to at least put them at ease since cooperation between us is the only way of bringing forth positive results in their lifestyles. I am constantly asking my mom to share some of her feelings from when we first arrived so as to better understand the internal issues of the women.
I speak on behalf of my whole team when I say that the internship is an extremely rewarding and humbling experience. The open-mindedness, sensitivity, and optimism of my team makes every day an enjoyable one.
first apartment visit
This Friday marked our first group visit to one of the apartments, V.P. Without really knowing what to expect, this trip offered a range of insights into the issues facing the Bhutanese. We began by meeting the apartment coordinator. The coordinator serves as the link between SEWA and the refugees. Generally, he or she is also the refugee that has the most English proficiency and has been in
What struck me immediately about this afternoon was the sense of hospitality that filled each room. We were offered juice, greeted with heart-warming namaste and introduced to family members. I particularly noticed, as we tried to gather a family census, that there were just as many neighbors in a given room as blood relations. Our apartment coordinator explained that since the children were so used to living among thousands in the camps, they were not used to the boundary of doors and family divisions.
Another striking element of our visit was the number of health problems. Kidney stones were quite common, and their prevalence made me wonder if there might be a nutritional cause/deficit (most of them are on food-stamps and adjusting to a different cuisine). Thus, transportation appeared an issue not only for finding and keeping jobs but also for frequent trips to the ER.
Two other interests that we noticed were a love of soccer among the young boys and a fondness for crocheting among some of the women. Women’s Issues Group is going to try and incorporate these interests into our art and entertainment projects, and maybe even use the crocheting as a means to generate extra income. But when a 68 year old grandmother spoke urgently through the coordinator of her desire to learn English, there was no denying that ESL classes must be goal number one. Most individuals want to work but there are definitely still obstacles of language, access to and knowledge of resources, and attempts to join/retain community. Education, English, and employment remain our priorities as we strategize how to provide resources and empower these families.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
day one planning
Second, I think day one finds us in the tricky balance of far reaching goals and realistic possibilities. Our fruitful brainstorming sessions have created ideas such as a museum display of the children's art, a community garden and farmers' market sales, crafts as community builders and as English instruction, mentoring programs, health and abuse support groups, and childcare for working parents. The suggestions are so plentiful and the desire to help is so great that it is sometimes hard to compromise the desire to help with the reality that we cannot do it all, or cannot do it all at once.
We continually repeat that our priorities are securing jobs and teaching English. Without these two elements, any attempt at community building is severly limited. Add to this the sensitive issues of gender divisions from the refugees' experiences, traditions, or economic concerns...and the goal of talking to the women one on one grows even more dim.
But I feel that my group is headed in the right direction. We are planning projects that we hope will welcome the women and children to their new home, and create a bond of trust. We are also preparing ourselves to shelve any of these projects at the drop of a hat. These three months have to be about us offering ourselves as helpers, and observing. We will need to read between the lines of family dynamics, exaggerated or simplified answers, and language barriers. It's a play by ear scenario balanced with the mission to serve, empower, and welcome.