Four women participants of city of Seattle representing the Bhutanese community went through an empowerment training and mentoring facilitated by the metro police of Seattle city on Saturdays September 4 through November 1. The empowerment program was run by City of Seattle under Refugee and Immigrant affairs with an aim to better prepare the refugee and immigrant women for taking up jobs in various sector as the women in American society do.
The training program involving police officers as the mentors will help Bhutanese women too to come forward in terms of taking equal opportunity jobs in the government with men and be bold enough to put their concerns and issues without any hesitation.
“Our women who normally shy away taking up bold steps of empowerment are expected to bring positive changes in the community after this training”, said Hari Nirola who actually recommended four women participants.
The training conducted on Saturdays also paid daily allowance as incentive to the attendees with buffet lunch, training materials, child care and transportation fare.
Four women leaders Kunti Timsina, Hem Adhikari, Sushila Adhikari, and Saraswati Banstola attended the training. They all have high school education back in refugee camps.
On the final day, November 1, Mayor of Seattle, Ed Murray and police chief gave their perspectives on the training and encouraged women participants to take up jobs in police, fire and other departments of metro government.
