The Freedom Fighters

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed every year on October 17th. It is a time for renewing our support for the underprivileged with our gifts and our finances.

According to the latest ‘Hong Kong Poverty Situation Report 2020’, which was released by the government at the end of 2021, the number of poor people in Hong Kong in 2020 was 1.65 million. This was a new record high figure. Sadly, the number of children living in poverty reached 274,000 and is rising!

I believe that everyone in marginalised and socially vulnerable communities are capable of reaching their full potential and contributing to society. I believe this because I have seen it happen time and time again. That is the magic that you and I and the entire Christian Action team are privileged to be a part of. 

The stories that we see unfold are beautiful, humbling and are born of real struggle, such as in Siu Yuk’s case. Siu Yuk has been estranged from her husband for two years, but she and her two children continued to share the same tiny subdivided apartment with him because she had no income.

Both of Siu Yuk’s children have benefited from Christian Action Mong Kok Service Centre’s After-School care program. Her daughter is in Primary 5 and has worked hard on her English skills. Her son on the other hand, was helped tremendously by our social worker and now attends an EMI (English as a Medium of Instruction) school. Because of the hostile environment at home however, he frequently chooses to stay outside and hang-out near fast-food restaurants.

The good news in all of this is that our social worker helped Siu Yuk develop job-related skills and she has landed a full-time job as a personal care worker with a reasonable wage. She is now planning to move away and improve her children's living conditions.

On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, please become a poverty fighter and help more families like Siu Yuk’s by clicking here. 

Thank you.
Siew Mei