Learning About Refugees

Europe is facing a refugee crisis. But Hong Kong's tensions about refugees should not be News! We've been there before and we have survived a massive number of refugees before. I'm sure we can all remember the Vietnamese people who flooded into Hong Kong.

So why does it seem different this time?

I've witnessed divisive rhetoric from politicians and the media surrounding the issue, which has only fueled xenophobia and discrimination across the city.

I'm confident that public awareness and education are two critical avenues in paving the way for a more just and equal society. Most recently, I was a keynote speaker at the Global Youth Summit 2016 hosted by Hong Kong Baptist University. Christian Action has a history of working with refugees and with the plight of the individuals we are serving today.

Justin (our Centre-In Charge of Refugees) accompanied me, and together we were able to engage various small groups during the Q&A session. It helped to address fears and concerns that today's young people are facing. We helped contextualize refugees' predicament by sharing the story of one previous client, Siva. I encourage you to read Siva's story for yourself here!

The students and faculty said that the accurate representation of the refugee situation which we provided really helped to overcome personal barriers. That's tremendous progress!

Please join me as we continue to advocate for refugees in Hong Kong through public awareness. Consider supporting our various outreach programmes which are organized through our Centre for Refugees! More information here.