We introduced the discussion forum in Migyul’s second issue
as a means for our community to address various issues of pressing
need. As a start-up community magazine, Migyul has sought means
to raise funds to make Migyul free to the community while concurrently
hosting community gatherings to further our goals: to bring our
communities together.
We quickly realized that just as funds are vital for the survival
of Migyul, they are also vital for all community organizations
that do selfless work in our greater New York community. At the
same time various Himalayan communities in greater New York raise
funds to help our communities in the Himalayas. We began to pose
the following question to Migyul members and others in our communities:
How do you think community funds are best managed: For community
development here or help communities back in our hometowns?
| "Our gathering
brought together people who had probably never been in a room
together, let alone be provided with the opportunity to discuss
and debate issues of shared concern. We did not know what
to expect." |
To address this issue an informal gathering of members of various
Himalayan communities was organized on a Sunday evening in August
2004. The group represented the diverse spectrum of Himalayan
ethnic groups and people wishing to share their various life experiences.
This was the first of such discussion forums that Migyul will
organize. Our gathering brought together people who had probably
never been in a room together, let alone be provided with the
opportunity to discuss and debate issues of shared concern. We
did not know what to expect. In planning the discussion, Migyul’s
editorial board members’ initial challenge lay in identifying
people from various communities whom we thought would be forthcoming
in their opinions. This process provided an opportunity for our
board to find out more about the communities that each came from.
Sonam Sherpa most graciously accepted the role of the moderator.
We informally sat in the basement of the Tibetan Yak restaurant
as participants slowly trickled in. Recent immigrants, who still
stand by Himalayan Standard Time, showed up half and hour late.
Longer-term residents, who have assimilated some positive traits
of American culture of punctuality, appeared on schedule. The
Yolmo president identified this phenomenon of acculturation as
“accepting good things of a culture and leaving behind the
bad”. Our discussion began with each participant discussing
issues of concern to their community. An issue of pressing concern
was in the event of death of any community member, an issue that
is not often faced in smaller communities but in larger communities
that had experienced a few incidents prompted shared grieving.
Moderator
•
Sonam Sherpa (SS; Mod) Previous Board
member, Sherpa Kyiduk, Tibetan Association of New York
and New Jersey and Tibetan Youth Congress. |
Discussants
•
Mohan Lama Yolmo (ML) President of
the Yolmo Lama Society of America
• Sonam
Topgyal (ST) Joint Secretary of the
Tibetan Youth Congress
• Sonam Lama (SL)
President, Mustang Community |
Migyul Editorial Board
• Tenzing Chadotsang (TC)
• Mamta Gurung (MG)
•
Rinchen D Sherpa (RS)
•
Dhendup Chadotsang (DC)
•
Palden Khando (PK), member of the Tibetan
Women’s Association) |
|
Sonam Sherpa:
| "Our gathering
brought together people who had probably never been in a room
together, let alone be provided with the opportunity to discuss
and debate issues of shared concern. We did not know what
to expect." |
“ We come from different areas in the Himalayas and Migyul
represents us. This discussion has a greater purpose than just
an article as it is brings together the community through an exchange
of ideas. We need to discuss why community funds are needed, why
raising it is very important and how we can help people from where
we come from. Each community is different and has different issues
and needs. Making money just to get your bank balances fat does
not serve our purpose nor serve the community. The money is there
to be used. While we were in India, we had Jindaks from America
or Europe, who were pretty much like we are now. They had hearts
to be Jindak. Now as we are here in NY, why don’t we help
those people that we have left behind?
Community Funds and Why They Are Needed
ST: The Tibetan Youth Congress is a political
organization and organizes campaigns on the Tibet issue. In
order to do this we need funds. We have only one option —
to organize parties. We make profits from that and use that
money on the campaigns that we launch. We also have an office
here in NY from where we work and we need funds to keep this
office running
SL: Since we are in a foreign country, there
are problems everywhere. We raise funds for that- we try to
help any problem within our community and try to come up with
a solution together.
ML: The Yolmo Community is a Kyiduk so we
help the person in need during sickness and death. We are all
in a foreign country i.e. US and though Tibetans do not have
a country and we (Yolmos) do but like you, we are in a foreign
country. So the question here is how to help our communities?
DC: For some, organizing a big get together
is a big responsibility, as this is where people meet and get
a sense of community. They need funds for activities such as
the Sunday schools (the Tibetan community) and helping people
with needs such as asylum cases. Collecting funds also makes
them build a fund for bigger aims.
RS: Different associations are formed for
different reasons. So we cannot really compare how their funds
are used.
Mod: The Sherpa Kyiduk apart from performing
Kyiduk work also organized a workshop for kids to find out about
elementary, high schools and colleges. The other thing we did
was to use the money for Buddha Jayanti or Saga Dawa.
PK: The TWA works hand in hand with the TYC
and TC of NY/NJ. We also send a certain amount to India to the
head TWA office where it is used for various causes.
DC: Migyul magazine also raise funds because
without funds we cannot have a magazine.
Mod: To me, the perfect example is the Migyul
magazine. You spend on the magazine for publishing. No one does
it for free. It costs money. So you are not building your bank
account because you’re spending it. You raise funds, you
spend it.
On raising Funds for the Community and Problems Encountered
Mod: From my own experience, being a Tibetan
Youth Congress member, Tibetan Association and Sherpa Kyiduk.
We did have a membership fee for a year or two years. That doesn’t
bring much money, as most do not pay. So that was not really
that helpful. So we obviously have to organize parties.
MG: Why do you think people do not want to
pay membership fee even though membership in most cases is automatic?
Mod: As an executive member you tend to think
just because you are on the other side that you are doing a
lot of work. There is no incentive to become a member. Since
you’re born Yolmo, you’re a Yolmo. So why do you
have to pay $25 to be a Yolmo, or a Sherpa. The one who pays
the membership get to run for office and the ones who don’t,
do not. You know what — nobody runs for office anyways.
So why minimize the pool?
RS: I don’t know but the fundraising
methods seem to be limited to parties. Do you actually think
of going out and look for funds. Also if you have a capital
at the end of the year do you think about investing them so
that the money keeps rolling instead of just keeping it in the
bank?
SL: (Trans): We also raise money through parties.
We give small loans to people within our community. That way
money is used and it also adds to the community’s investment
while helping the community and individuals.
MG: In terms of raising funds, most of the
communities that we are talking about draw funds from within.
Most of us work 14 hours to 15 hours a day. I mean $25 might
not be a big amount but for someone who is working 6 days, 72
hours a week at very low wages, $25 might be a lot of money.
Also from what I understand, most of these organizations are
registered as nonprofits making them eligible to apply for grants
like the Tibet House.
Mod: Tibet house is Kueray We are Bhotay.
[Laughs.]
ST: But as far as TYC is concerned we cannot
do this as we are not registered yet. Even if we get registered,
the corporations tend to think of TYC as a political organization.
So once you’re a political org. you don’t get that
kind of funding.
DC: Most of the members in all our community
organizations are there for a year or so and that is a big problem.
By the time a new member comes to a productive level it is the
time for him to leave. That limits the capacity of organizations.
Mod: I feel that way too. Tibet House “types”
of projects are way too big for us. They spend money to make
money. We don’t spend any money and try to make money.
It’s not possible. You’ve got to spend it. Our community
still haven’t learned that. Instead of having food catered
we want to cook and break our backs. When we do parties, we
work days and nights to organize those events. How much do we
make? We make a thousand dollars, sometimes $2000 and sometimes
we even lose money. I feel that instead of doing that and breaking
our backs, we should contribute $500 each. $2,000 is made in
no time.
New Immigrants on Community Needs and Problems Faced
Mod: We have problems in our community here.
Say someone gets sick, $5,000 is not going to help not even
$10,000. If someone is in need of medical help and is in the
hospital for a week, the costs maybe as high as $100,000 or
even more. If you don’t have insurance or medicare, the
community may find it very hard to help that person.
ML :We know that we do not have the capacity
to help our community member pay all of his hospital bills.
But if we could help with smaller things like paying his house
rent...
TC: I think, as immigrants, we don’t
know our rights and the system. Education is important. I think
our community needs education of the American system. That is
why we started the Migyul magazine. I think that community funds
should be used to get access to knowledge that can empower people.
For instance, someone dies or someone is sick, we should have
the knowledge of what to do before he gets sick. Like what kind
of insurance has the least amount of premium that a person can
afford. Even in housing, people have low incomes but are paying
very high rents but can be eligible for public housing. People
do not apply, as they are not aware of those kind of schemes.
MG: I think there is this mixed feeling when
we talk about the community. There is one part that falls into
helping the community — about rights and stuff like that.
The other part of the community is where we share our culture,
events and our values together. We have get-togethers and things
like that. It seems like two different objectives to me.
TC: I think our communities focus more on
culture and not on our present needs as immigrants...
RS: As an organization, we cannot go with
the concept that we are only going to have get-togethers. We
cannot stop and say that we aren’t going to help now.
We cannot just close our eyes and say that we are only going
to help in maintaining our culture. We also need to plan ahead
for the next generation, say a well deserving child that wants
to go to college but cannot afford it. We as a community might
want to sponsor a child.
Mod: The communities are not really spending
money on parties and get togethers here. They are spending $2,000
to make $5,000. So it isn’t really an expense.
MG: So what you are saying is that if one
is raising funds, one should also find an outlet to use at least
a part of it, which is not happening.
Spending of Community Funds: Is this Happening?
Mod: To me, personally, it is not happening.
TC: I think it is slowly beginning to happen.
In the Tibetan Community, they have a Sunday school where they
are now employing teachers and have a space where they teach
a hundred-something students every Sunday. They have a cultural
education aspect as well. I don’t know what else they
spend on but we do see a change.
ST: The Tibetan Community has a Sunday school.
Do you think that is enough? I don’t think that is enough.
In this country there are so many resources and we are not taking
advantage of these resources. In order to do this, board members,
people that you elect, should have the expertise and help. Or
is it enough to organize events and put up some banners here
and there. That alone does not help. You need people who have
the knowledge and time to go out there and use these resources.
Even though TC is a non-profit org. they haven’t earned
a dime outside the community. It is always within the community.
So that’s what we are lacking. We have not been able to
take advantage of the federal funding. I think that third parties
like Migyul magazine should be a medium to expose people of
what all the organizations do so that we are fully aware of
what’s happening in our communities. One of the main projects
we recently initiated to help the Tibetans in their asylum paper
works. We charge less than NYANA, giving Tibetans another option.
First of all, they come from Nepal or India, and they have big
debts to pay back home and then they have to spend $6-7000 just
to apply for asylum over here. We felt that charging the least
to work on their paperwork would give them an alternative. We
have one of our own board member working full time. He is doing
his best to help with the paper work and to compensate him we
charge. So far we have been successful working on this project.
SL: (Trans) Usually when someone is unemployed
or sick, we try to help him out. If someone does not get work
and has to return back to Nepal then we pay for half the ticket.
MG: Is it not hard to find out if it is a
true case?
SL: Ours is a small community with around
four to five-hundred people so it is very easy for us to find
out on the outcome of these community funds that have been spent.
Mod: I for one don’t think that the funds are being utilized
for any useful purpose at all. Actually, I don’t think
it’s being used at all except make our bank balances fatter.
There’s a lot more that we can do with that money.
DC: With the amount of time that they have
in hand they do their jobs very well. But the thing is it is
of course after all a voluntary based post and they only have
that much time to give.
Mod: In this case, are they spending any money.
[There was a lull in the answers. But everyone felt that the
money spent was not enough.] That’s what it is. The community
is not spending the money. Looks that is pretty much unanimous.
On the Issue of Sending Funds Elsewhere
ML: With regards to funds, we do not send
anything outside. We try to use them to solve our problems here
before we try to solve our problems there. There are monasteries
there that we used to send some funds to. Everyone there seems
to think that money making is easy here. We used to send some
funds before but have stopped doing so. However, individuals
still send money to monasteries as donations but as a community
we do not. We feel that there is a greater need here for community
funds.
ST: We as TYC have so many things to do. I
am not for sending money back to India. Then some of you said,
“we help during sickness and health”. Well, I think
we help more through human resources; if not financially. If
we start to go individually then we will never have enough.
We give them the moral support, which in times are more helpful.
Mod: If we are not spending any funds here
then spend it there. People need libraries there. People in
Solukhumbhu or wherever. We don’t spend any money anywhere.
If you want to take care of people here then give them green
cards that’s what they need. You can’t do much with
$10000 anyways. You can’t buy a house.
DC: They are Kyiduks that host parties and
send money there to build buildings or monasteries. I think
most of the people come from a particular region like say Mundgod,
Darjeeling, Orissa, or also in Nepal and hold parties that are
sent over to help out for some cause over there...
MG: It may also be to serve some monastery
or something like that.
SL: (Trans) Five hundred of us started a community
for Mustang. There wasn’t a single monastery in Mustang.
We raised around $ 98,000 and sent it over there. With that
money we were able to build a really big monastery in Mustang.
Now since a lot of us are here, they say that we should not
send any more funds there. Now the new generation is going to
come and then we need to look after their needs . So we need
to do more here with the community funds. So it seems like there
is a unanimous agreement that community funds need to be spend
here and not there. There was strangely an acceptance by various
communities that the concept of a “Kyiduk” here
in New York may not be the right choice for community development.
Kyiduk- that literally means “Happiness and Sorrow”
is a concept prevalent in the Himalayas, where families help
each other in the event of death, sickness, gatherings and occasions
such as marriages. The concept of Kyiduk does not hold in the
Western world where these events have been taken off from the
personal or the community level of interaction and is left to
professionals to deal with. With this come professional fees
“hence, the whole event of life and death” needs
to be dealt with professional skills and tools like health insurance,
disability and workers compensation. Our loyalties to the concept
of Kyiduk, which in most cases have been reduced to a social
group — Kyiduks in which the concept of amassing money
was the need to spend it on various occasions for the congregation.
The finances spent on such occasions were not high as the members
of the Kyiduk provided manpower and the money amassed was sufficient
for the community. Now in New York, professionals handle these
activities and the costs involved are way beyond the capacity
of the Kyiduk.
| Our
Kyiduks, to continue its role in the community either needs
to evolve to community development organizations or have to
take a back seat as social organizations and encourage the
growth of new nonprofits and community organizations that
can assist our communities in adjusting to our lives here
as new immigrants. |
