About us
Bhutan Cultural Exchange (BCE) is a registered 501(c)3 organization. Headquarters are located in rural Baker City in northeast Oregon. The seeds that grew the organization were planted in 2013 when Venerable Karma Namgyel Rinpoche, a Buddhist Lama from Bhutan was invited to the community to perform a Buddha of Compassion Fire Ceremony. Karma Rinpoche returned to Baker City for three consecutive years. See video for a colorful visual depiction.
Several members of the board visited Bhutan and were inspired by the heartfelt quality of the Buddhist culture and traditions of Bhutan as well as the kindness and creative energy of the people. With a sincere desire to discover new possibilities through collaboration between Bhutan and the Pacific Northwest, the idea of the Bhutan Cultural Exchange was born.
Core Values of BCE:
Activities engaged in by Bhutan Cultural Exchange will be guided by the core values of harmony, compassion, and loving kindness. These values underscore our actions, our programs, and our efforts.
Vision of BCE:
The Bhutan Cultural Exchange will act with honesty, integrity, transparency and efficiency in collaborations we undertake to build relationships between and within communities.
The beautiful faces of Bhutanese citizens wherever we went were both a magnet and a mirror. Such a rich tapestry of human expression; so open and genuine, there was nothing I could do but fall in love with these people and this place. Kathleen Kiefer
