Thriving in
utah
The story of
Buu DieP
Buu Diep traveled many distances from the southeast corner of Asia after the end of
the Vietnam War. At the age of 12, she left Vietnam on a cramped shipping boat where
she eventually made her way to a refugee camp in the Philippines. Through an American foster family, Buu settled in the Salt Lake area at 14 years old. She became the first
female refugee foster care child sponsored by Catholic Community Services. She cites
the unknown as the hardest part of her ordeal. The culture, language, and school system
lacked a sense of familiarity.
Coming from a family of well-educated individuals, Buu pedaled her way through school
and later earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Utah. In addition, she
formerly worked with CCS as the refugee foster care program manager, where she oversaw refugees and their foster families. Her experi" I believe that it doesn't
ences had truly come full circle. As for what Buu
matter what part of
misses most about Vietnam, she doesn’t hesitate to
life You've been
say the tight-knit community in Saigon. She misses
Saigon’s tranquil pace and the fresh produce that
through because everylined the markets daily.
one deserves a second
chance, no matter what."
Even with nostalgia at hand, Buu encourages other
refugees to look towards the future and to utilize
the opportunities that are available to them. Buu currently serves as the vice chair for Salt
Lake County’s Council on Diversity Affairs.
09 | VOICES | MCA.UTAH.GOV