Global Bhutanese Organization-GBO has concluded its First Annual Convention in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with great success. it was hosted by the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg (BCH) on November 27, 2021. The event was chaired by Mr. DB Rai, GBO President & Executive Head, beginning the function with candle lighting, and singing the U.S. National Anthem followed by a welcome speech by Mr. Som Dhakal, GBO Vice-President, and the event, was MC’d by Mr. Mitra Subedi, GBO Director for Outreach & Public Relations.
Mr. Rai presented the overall GBO activities; GBO Countries updates, annual reporting of one-year financial support, project presentation, and a projected budget for the next four years for facilitating the ECDC Early Childhood education program in the camp in Nepal has presented.
Excerpt: In the first fiscal year of operation, GBO has facilitated financial support of 4,868,385.71 NPR ($43,467.00) to ECDC early childhood education project operating in Beldangi and Patharisanischare Camps in Nepal. This has been possible by the collective contributions and consolidated supports of resettled Bhutanese communities in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Nepal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The executive members and representatives, Deepak Giri, (Georgia) Jhalak Adhikari (Tennessee), Ganga Tiwari (Massachusetts), Bishnu Khadka (New Hampshire), Biswaz Gurung (Michigan), Chandra Sitaula (Scranton, Pennsylvania), BB Poudyel (Cincinnati, Ohio), Shiva Dahal, (Kentucky), Taran Tiwari (Massachusetts), Bhim Gurung (Nebraska), Mukesh Gurung, Jaganath Adhikari and Ranjit Pradhan (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) presented their city and state updates respectively, in the convention.
The GBO representatives outside the USA, Bishnu Adhikari & Team (Denmark), Prem Giri (President, BWA UK), Bal Ghimire (President, BSNZ, New Zealand), Kamal Dahal & Suman Chhetri (Australia), Bhanu Dhungana (Canada), Ram Karki (Netherlands), Purna Gurng (ECDC Beldangi Secretary), Laxmi Neopaney, Champa Singh Rai (Camp Secretary Sanischare), Krishna B. Subba (the Camp Secretary Beldangi) and Devendra Pokhrel (regional manager, CARITAS Nepal) virtually joined with the convention.
Special guests, Local government officials, Mr. Tom Connolly, (Commissioner, Swatara Township Board President), and Ms. Shaela Ellis (Commissioner, Swatara Township) observed the function of the GBO convention and expressed their support to Bhutanese Communities. Bill Lockard, Program Director of DeafCAN has shown a role-play presentation from the Bhutanese Deaf Community.
GBO’s donors and partnering organizations, Kirat Community Organization of America (KCOA) President Raju Idhingo, Bhutanese Kirat Rai Organization of America (BKROA) President Amber Rai, Neoly Home Care LLC CEO & President Narad Pokhrel expressed their continued support to this GBO education project going forward. In recognition of their contributions, GBO honored them with a small token of love, individually.
During the fundraising event in the GBO annual convention, Biswanath Chhetri, Governor Wolf’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, and BCH Advisory member voiced his supports and donated $500 to GBO to support children’s education in the camp.
Similarly, the following organizations and individuals made their generous donations in the event:
Mahesh Thulung, Arjun Rasaily, Monaj Dhakal, RB Basnet, Dharmindra Timsina, Dr. Khem Adhikari, Amal Rai, Bhakta Ghimire, Patalo Antare, many invited special guests made their generous participation to support for GBO’s mission and, local artists entertained the audience with their beautiful performances. GBO honors the donors, partnering organizations, volunteers, and its representatives in recognition of their humane contributions.
GBO is thankful to the Bhutanese community in Harrisburg to be part of this event in supporting its mission and objectives to facilitate financial support for children’s education in the camps in Nepal. We the team in GBO express our deepest gratitude and sincere thanks to Mr. Binay Luitel, BCH President for his overall management, coordination, and tireless effort to make the event successful. We cannot thank him enough for all his works for the event.
We would also like to thank state host program organizing committee members, Sovit Adhikari, Amrit Ghimire, and entire team members for their selfless volunteer services in hosting the convention successfully. Likewise, we thank our sponsors, Ghimire Homes, LCC, Mom’s Momo & Deli, and Indigo Foods USA for sponsoring this event and without their support, this event would not be possible.
GBO profoundly appreciates the elegant move and support of all donors and partnering organizations in facilitating learning opportunities for our small children back in the refugee camps. We are confident that you know the souls of those little children in the camps are filled with joy from your graceful acts of thoughtfulness. We will continue the mission to enable them to dream big.
