Green: mountain and forest; White: peace and honesty; Red: blood and struggle; Gold and Circle: justice and friendship; Elephant: gentle and powerful
General Information
The Montagnard Dega Association (MDA) was established in 1987 as a Non-Profit Corporation in North Carolina by Montagnard (French for mountain people) Leaders in the United States. The Montagnard Dega Association is A NON POLITICAL PARTISAN Organization
Our Goals
1/ To preserve the rich history and culture of the Montagnard people
2/ To maintain the traditions and civilization of Montagnard heritage
3/ To unite and strengthen our fraternal ties between all people and to promote universlly a better understanding and support for the Montagnard people.
History
The Montagnard culture is an ancient culture. Like the American Indians in the United States, we have lived for centuries in the Southeast Asia, long before foreigners ever touched our shores. When the Vietnamese overran the coastline, we settled peacefully in the mountains known today as the Central Highlands of South Vietnam. Out of a population approximately one million Montagnards (according to census of 1971), over 200,000 of our brothers and sisters died by the time the Vietnam war ended in 1975. In 1986, a little over 200 of us arrived as refugees in the United States, having spent over 10 years in the jungles of Southeast Asia fighting for preserving our Montagnard Rights. In late 1992 the second group of 400 Montagnards arrived in the United States. Since 1992 approxiamately 1,000 Montagnards have resettled in the United States. These Montagnards are former prisoners having spent at least 3 years in Vietnam Re-education Camps or they are families who have Ameri-Asian children (children born with American blood). They arrived directly from Vietnam under the ODP (Orederly Departure Program). Today, the Montagnard population in the United States is approximately 3,000. Most of them live in one of three cities in North Carolina: Raleigh, Greensboro or Charlotte.
Montagnard Dega Association Activities
The Montagnard Dega Association (MDA) Office is located in Greensboro, North Carolina. Since 1994, as a Non-Profit Agency, the MDA has been receiving funds from ORR (Office of Refugees Resettlement). The MDA is using these funds to pay for office space, office suplies and hiring 4 staff persons. The main activities of the MDA office are to provide Social Service Assistances to Montagnards, in particular to new Montagnard Refugees. The followings are services providing by the MDA office:
Translation; Transportation; ESL (English as Second Language)classes and US Citizentship Training Classes; Job Devolopment Program; After School Program for Montagnard Children.
Beside those main services, the MDA office serves as A Communal House for Montagnard People. The MDA office keeps its relations with all Refugees Assistant Agencies, Churches, local and federal administrative offices, and with all American Montagnard Friends.
The MDA office is also collaborating with several cultural research agencies in order to preserve Montagnard culture.
Future Plans
1/ A Montagnard Center will serve as a museum of Montagnard people
2/ Assistant Projects for Montagnard in Vietnam, this will include scholarship for Montagnard Students in Vietnam, socio-economic development assistances for Montagnards in Vietnam.,
Dega News
New Montagnard Refugees: In 1998, 40 new Montagnard refugees from Vietnam have resettled in North Carolina. In December, 1998, three Montagnards and their families from Germany arrived as refugees in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Montagnard Church: The Montagnard christians of North Carolina have bought a new church, they named this first Montagnard church "International Montagnard Bible Church".
The International Montagnard Bible Church's address: 1606 Ridgewood Street, Greensboro, NC 27405. This church will be inaugurated on January 15, 1999.
Donation
Please send your supports and donation to Montagnard Dega Association
Shopping
The following items are now available at the Montagnard Dega Association:Montagnard traditional jacket:$120.00/item; Montagnard Dega T-Shirt:$15.00/item. Montagnard Bracelet medium size: $20.00/item; Big Size: $30.00/item
Our Address:Please be aware of the Montagnard Dega Association's new address now is 3116 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405. Phone#:(336)375-8190; Fax#:(336)375-5614; E-mail: mdadega@bellsouth.net
Thank you for visting our home page !!! This page created by Louis Ypen Bing. Last time updated: 02-16-2000
