Update Post-Fire

Our fabulous (and very appreciative!) Centre for Refugees Team. Front row (L to R) Yanmi, Mary, Jeff, Anina and (back row) volunteer Rob. Not pictured: Jonnet, Kalyan, Wilton, and Aime

One month after the awful fire on the morning of August 29, we are well on our way to rebuilding our Centre for Refugees (CFR). Thank you very much for your generosity! Over HK$1.7 million was donated – which was more than twice our initial fundraising target!

I can also report the good news that our wonderful CFR staff have managed to create a new, temporary work space on the 16/F and have been able to resume services to all our refugees!

We’re also very excited and thankful for the skilled volunteer architects and designers who have been helping us start the rebuilding process.

This statement from one of our refugees provides a glimpse into what the loss means to them-

"When I heard about the fire in our centre, I was shocked and hoped it was not that bad. But when I saw the video it really broke my heart...my son, who was sitting next to me said, ‘Mama this is the place I sit and play games on the TV, it's not good.’ He was really sad. My husband too was heart broken and said ‘I was just there yesterday sitting on that sofa.’ CFR is more than a centre to us; it has been our home for five years.. It hurts to see it like that and pray that we can enjoy our home as we did before. CFR staff are really great and they have been strong to keep us strong. They are still providing us with our daily necessities even though they don't have enough space to have people coming. I am so grateful to have such good caseworkers who are always happy to help, first throughout Covid, and now the fire.” – Ursula

Support is provided at our Centre. Community is created at our Centre. Life is lived at our Centre. We provide a safe place of refuge -- a “home away from home” -- for our beneficiaries. Our Centre has been the first place where many asylum seekers and refugees come when they arrive in Hong Kong and are at a loss of how to fit into the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. Our beneficiaries are often referred to us for emergency shelter and food; and we have become the place they can rely on throughout the time they remain in Hong Kong for basic needs and beyond including social and mental health support and education and training. Refugees in Hong Kong live in limbo for years awaiting status determination. We support children’s education expenses from the time they first enroll in school to when they graduate as young adults. We can only do this your support!

I am so thankful for our team of staff, volunteers, supporters and community who have joined together to make sure that vulnerable refugees continue to be served.

Thank you all again for standing with us. Watch out for updates on our rebuilding progress!