CAMP for Emerging Leaders

Camp for Emerging Leaders (CEL) is Asian Refugees United's (ARU) year-long leadership development and community organizing program for Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees in the diaspora. Since its launch in 2018, CEL has brought together emerging leaders, artists, activists, organizers, advocates, and community members from across the United States to reconnect, build relationships, and strengthen collective leadership for personal and social transformation. 

The program seeks to provide participants with political education, leadership development, and organizing skills grounded in the lived experiences of the Bhutanese refugee community. Participants will explore the history of Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees– from forced displacement in the early 1990s to ARU’s We Belong Here campaign advocating against the deportation of stateless refugees in the United States. Through workshops, discussions, storytelling, and community-building activities, participants will deepen their understanding of the Asian American movement, statelessness, crimmigration, transformative justice, healing, and rapid response efforts supporting families impacted by deportation. 

CEL creates a collaborative learning space where participants explore identity, belonging, and community while building the skills and relationships needed to become effective leaders and organizers. By the end of the program, we hope participants find support in strengthening their leadership, organizing, advocacy, and team-building skills; build lasting networks with fellow participants, artists, scholars, mentors, and organizers; identify community challenges and develop collective solutions; and contribute to advancing healing, equity, and empowerment within the Bhutanese community. 

Who Can Apply?

The program is open to Nepali-speaking Bhutanese community members in the diaspora who are 18 years or older, regardless of prior leadership experience

Program Commitment

• Virtual Sessions: April-July (biweekly Saturdays, 1.5-hour Zoom sessions)

• In-Person Retreat: July 29-August 1 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Applications open in early Spring every year!

Youth Summit Day

Asian Refugees United (ARU) Annual Youth Summit Day is an integral part of annual CAMP for emerging leaders (CEL). Youth Summit Day began as an initiative to connect our CEL participants with the local community in central Pennsylvania that ARU engages with throughout the year. This day serves as an opportunity for participants to build meaningful connections with community members through dialogue, interactive activities, and fun games. Together, we create a space to remember and honor the stories of our families and communities while celebrating our shared histories, stories, and resilience. 

We invite community members from across central Pennsylvania to join us for a day of connection and joy. During the summit, the community will have the opportunity to learn about the work youth leaders across the U.S and ARU are doing to support and uplift our communities. Community members can also learn about local resources provided by Asian Refugees United in the area, while enjoying performance by our Storytellers.