Hong Kong's Refugees

A survivor of the brutal Sri Lankan conflict holds an atlas showing her former island home. She is now in Hong Kong, being helped by Christian Action.Having successfully fled the brutalities of wars in African and South Asian countries, refugees who make it to Hong Kong find themselves stranded, often for years,  while they await refugee status from the United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees.  They  are men, women and unaccompanied minors -  but seldom do they arrive with their family intact.   The conflict and chaos they have escaped often leave them traumatized, and because Hong Kong’s immigration laws prevent them from seeking employment here, they also suffer from economic hardships and consequently depression.  Christian Action is the only non profit organization providing Hong Kong’s refugees with a holistic range of services. We are helped by a committed group of volunteers.

If there was ever any doubt about the difference a volunteer can make, one only needs to look at Christian Action volunteer Deborah Chan.  Deborah is a psychologist and has been providing free psycho-social support to the refugees and asylum-seekers we serve. But Deborah doesn’t stop there -  over the years she has helped us identify foundations and has even written funding proposals!

Recently Deborah wrote to her friends appealing for help - and  she has graciously allowed me to share her letter with you:

Dear Friends,

Here I go again, asking for help for some very underprivileged children here in Hong Kong. For the past two years, I have done volunteer work with asylum seekers and refugees here at Christian Action, which is a non-profit organization. I have heard the most heart-breaking experiences of men, women, and children who have lived through the horror and inhumanity in their strife-torn countries. The most vulnerable are the children, who along with their families, are among the poorest in Hong Kong and whose basic needs like food, shelter and clothing are a daily struggle. They have no resources to cover the education costs of their children.

We support the education of these kindergarten, primary, and secondary school children. Every year we face the most daunting challenge in finding funds to keep these vulnerable children in school. It is our most costly programme. We continue to be the ONLY group in Hong Kong which assists with educational funds and school applications for the children of asylum seekers. I am asking you to help me help these children. You may also contact the centre manager, Lisa Lee, at (852) 3176-6256 or email her at lisa.lee@christian-action.org.hk

With Gratitude,
Deborah Chan

To support the refugee children Deborah writes about, or read more background on the program,  please download the attached PDF.

Blessings,

Siew Mei

Click here to download the PDF file 'Refugee Children'

DONATE TO THE REFUGEE PROGRAM

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