A new documentary by New Hampshire filmmaker Doria Bramante follows exiles from the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan as they abandon their twenty-year effort to return home from Nepalese refugee camps and decide to seek a new life in America. Many of these refugees have resettled in the New Hampshire cities of Concord, Manchester, and Laconia. Today we take a look at their incredible journey…along with the challenges and successes of starting over in the Granite State.
GUESTS:
- Devika Bhandari – She is now an interpreter for Lutheran Social Services, and a Co- Facilitator for the Women Leadership Project at the Bhutanese Community of New Hampshire. Devika is a Bhutanese refugee who came to NH in 2009.
- Doria Bramante – filmmaker of “The Refugees of Shangri-La”
- Bhagirath Khatiwada – board chair of the Bhutanese Community of New Hampshire and caseworker at Lutheran Social Services. He moved to New Hampshire with the first wave of refugees, five years ago.
You can learn more about the documentary at its website, and find more information here about the upcoming screening in Portsmouth on January 23rd
