Goldhap Refugee Camp
Encyclopedia
Goldhap refugee camp is a small refugee camp in Nepal
populated by just over 4,600 Bhutanese refugees as of 2011. Because of its dwindling population, the UNHCR is planning to merge Goldhap into the nearby Beldangi refugee camps
. The camp is located near the settlement of Goldhap, along the Thulo Bato Road, directly abutting the Charali Jungle in Jhapa.
After settling in the different camps, politically-interested people formed many political organizations. Most of the people in the camps are Hindus
, and the rest are Buddhists
also few Christians. There were no other religions in the camp at first, but later some people joined religions other than Hinduism and Buddhism.
accepts grade 6 to 10 (usually 7-10), focusing on college preparation. Some students return to teach or go on to hold important positions. In the Pathsala
of the Goldhap Camp religious books are also taught, include Geeta and Vishnu sahasranama
.
The Institute of Fine Art and Commercial Art (IFACA-BHUTAN) teaches fine arts and focuses on helping young refugee children to express their feeling and restart their new life. The program began under the trees with limited materials but moved to a Caritas-built school, Blooming Lotus English School
(BLES). This institute has been working for years to raise awareness of the Bhutanese Refugee issues regarding health, environmental sanitation, education, human rights, women's rights, children's rights, firefighting, and bird flu. They work in co-ordination with different UN agencies, Nepali government
, local organizations and peoples in refugees camp by making posters, banners, pamphlets, boards and awareness exhibitions.
In addition to advocacy, this institute has produced hundreds of Bhutanese artists from the Jhapa and Morang refugee camps in Nepal. Govinda Dhungana, who received primary education at Blooming Lotus English school, is the first screen actor from Bhutan.
, another nearby Bhutanese refugee camp, claiming 1,200 homes.
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
populated by just over 4,600 Bhutanese refugees as of 2011. Because of its dwindling population, the UNHCR is planning to merge Goldhap into the nearby Beldangi refugee camps
Beldangi refugee camps
The Beldangi refugee camps consist of three settlements in Damak, Jhapa District, Nepal: Beldangi I , Beldangi II, and Beldangi II Extension . They are inhabited by Bhutanese refugees. As of 2011, Beldangi I to the east had 12,793 residents; Beldangi II to the west had 14,680; and Beldangi II...
. The camp is located near the settlement of Goldhap, along the Thulo Bato Road, directly abutting the Charali Jungle in Jhapa.
Inhabitants
Goldhap is the smallest of the seven Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal. Its 2002 population was about 9,000, which fell by 2011 to just over 4,600 thanks to third-country resettlement.After settling in the different camps, politically-interested people formed many political organizations. Most of the people in the camps are Hindus
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, and the rest are Buddhists
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
also few Christians. There were no other religions in the camp at first, but later some people joined religions other than Hinduism and Buddhism.
Schools in Goldhap
Blooming Lotus English SchoolBlooming Lotus English School
The Blooming Lotus English School is a school for Bhutanese refugees at the Goldhap refugee camp in Nepal. The school was founded in August 1992, and educates its students in three different languages: English is the language of instruction, whereas Dzongkha is taught from grades 3 to 8 and Nepali...
accepts grade 6 to 10 (usually 7-10), focusing on college preparation. Some students return to teach or go on to hold important positions. In the Pathsala
Pathsala
Pathsala is a town and a town area committee in Barpeta district in the Indian state of Assam.-Demographics: India census, Pathsala had a population of 9652. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Pathsala has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of...
of the Goldhap Camp religious books are also taught, include Geeta and Vishnu sahasranama
Vishnu sahasranama
The Vishnu sahasranama is a list of 1,000 names of Vishnu, one of the main forms of God in Hinduism and the personal supreme God for Vaishnavas . It is also one of the most sacred and commonly chanted stotras in Hinduism...
.
The Institute of Fine Art and Commercial Art (IFACA-BHUTAN) teaches fine arts and focuses on helping young refugee children to express their feeling and restart their new life. The program began under the trees with limited materials but moved to a Caritas-built school, Blooming Lotus English School
Blooming Lotus English School
The Blooming Lotus English School is a school for Bhutanese refugees at the Goldhap refugee camp in Nepal. The school was founded in August 1992, and educates its students in three different languages: English is the language of instruction, whereas Dzongkha is taught from grades 3 to 8 and Nepali...
(BLES). This institute has been working for years to raise awareness of the Bhutanese Refugee issues regarding health, environmental sanitation, education, human rights, women's rights, children's rights, firefighting, and bird flu. They work in co-ordination with different UN agencies, Nepali government
Government of Nepal
The Government of Nepal, or Nepal Government, is the executive body and the Central government of Nepal. Prior to the abolition of Monarchy in Nepal, was officially known as His Majesty's Government....
, local organizations and peoples in refugees camp by making posters, banners, pamphlets, boards and awareness exhibitions.
In addition to advocacy, this institute has produced hundreds of Bhutanese artists from the Jhapa and Morang refugee camps in Nepal. Govinda Dhungana, who received primary education at Blooming Lotus English school, is the first screen actor from Bhutan.
Physical Features
The camp is surrounded by rivers on three sides and a small stream on the fourth side. To the east, there is a big forest. To the west, north and south there is another forest and villages. The names of the river are Deuney and Baitarney. The city of Birtamode is located a few miles away from the camp, and the Chandragadhi Airport is located a few kilometers away.Fire of 2011
On March 23, 2011, large fire burned through most of Goldhap refugee camp including residential areas and the camp health center, leaving some 3,790 refugees homeless. The same day, a separate fire scorched SanischareSanischare refugee camp
Sanischare refugee camp , located near Sanischare, Kosi, Nepal, is home to some 13,323 Bhutanese refugees. The camp lies on the south side of the East-West Highway, and contains the New Horizon Academy.In March 2011, a fire burned much of the camp destroying about 1,200 homes...
, another nearby Bhutanese refugee camp, claiming 1,200 homes.