Hem Acharya

After Hem Acharya’s father participated in a peaceful movement to defend the human rights of Lhosampas, ethnic Nepalese in southern Bhutan who were discriminated against, the government seized Hem’s family’s land and demolished their property. At gunpoint, the Bhutanese army then forced Hem’s father to sign a document stating that he had willingly given the land and property to the government. Hem fled Bhutan in 1991, at the age of 12. From 1991 to 1994, he had to fend for himself. He walked to India, where he worked on farms in exchange for food and shelter. In 1994, Hem reunited with the rest of his family in Nepal. Slowly, other ethnic Nepalese from Bhutan joined them. From 1994 to 2006 Hem lived in Beldangi Refugee Camp in Nepal, where UNHCR, Lutheran World Services, the Red Cross, and other organizations provided food, clothes, and health care. Soon, 30,000 refugees had joined them in the camp. When Hem learned that someone had sponsored his education in the camp, he began to volunteer. For two years, Hem taught refugee children. Life in the camp had its ups and downs, and depended on a lot of patience and perseverance. In 2006, Hem received scholarships from a professor in Japan, Inner Wheel Club, and a Rotary Club in India, which enabled him to leave the camp, finish high school, and pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in India. In 2008, Hem was resettled in Seattle. It was challenging, learning how to access services and resources, find a job, and overcome the language and cultural barriers. Today, Hem works as a Family Advocate and a youth teacher. He helps refugee parents connect to resources and figure out the U.S. educational system. He also serves as an interpreter and helps refugee youth develop and pursue their career goals. Hem first felt at home when he began to discover resources, began to work with people who shared his cultural heritage, and felt respected by people he met. World Refugee Day reminds Hem of his past. He says it plays an important role by honoring refugees around the world and reminding them that they too have rights and dignity.