Archive
May Roundup
Jun 2nd, 2019 | Advocacy | Comment
Hello! Our Refugee Union Hong Kong office is now opened again to public after renovation this summer, may we send a warm greeting to you all. Since always we work closely with our committed volunteers and spare no pain to safeguard asylum seekers and refugees’ fundamental rights, improving their condition and to optimise their future prospect.
DONATIONS
Welcome our lovely new friends for joining us, we are so grateful to have all donors’ support throughout the years.
It is high time for us to convey our sincere gratitude to Feeding Hong Kong for their continuous support of daily necessities to our members who are asylum seekers and refugees. Thank you very much!
Also, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Suits for Success their big donations of clothing to our members. Thank you very much!
Last but not least, thank you Quarry Bay School for donating us daily necessities and furnitures. They are very useful!
NEW EVENTS
With Professor Terence Shum’s generous support, our Cantonese class for adults is now resumed. Thank you Professor Shum and we are looking forward to seeing you all soon!
On 21 May, we are privileged to have Professor Randall Hansen from the University of Toronto visiting our office and interacting with our members and volunteers. Thank you for concern on our asylum seekers and refugees in Hong Kong!
On 22 May, we are glad to have journalist Emma Russel visiting our office. The door is open, thank you in advance for your time!
REGULAR EVENTS
On a weekly basis, our office still offers a series of classes targeting asylum seekers and refugees with different age groups. These ongoing activities do not only provide opportunities for our members to learn, but also to socialise and to let them get out of the oppressive routine of feeling like prisoners-in-the-city without the opportunity to work and to contribute.
Every Saturday, we have the Canadian Tutorial Session in our office, with a group of passionate volunteers from Canadian School teaching our children school assignments and assisting them to do revision.
We also have volunteers from Justice Leader Council offering education campaign for our youngsters, teaching us language and other general knowledge. Thank you for their contribution!
Members who are interested in the above programmes, please visit our office for more information. Again, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all donors and volunteers who stand with us. Keep visiting our website and Facebook for the latest information. For enquiry, please don’t hesitate to visit our office or email us at info@refugeeunion.org.
April Roundup
May 12th, 2019 | Advocacy | Comment
Refugee Union Hong Kong was founded in 2014 with the visions to safeguard asylum seekers and refugees’ fundamental rights, improve their current condition meanwhile to optimise their future prospect. Since our establishment, we have been working closely with our committed volunteers, organised different activities to actualise members’ well-being.
DONATIONS
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to DB Mothers & Friends for donating our members with necessities such as clothing, furnitures and baby items. Thank you very much!
Also, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our donors for their long-term financial support, their efforts have made our office renewal possible. Our new office is coming soon with new air-conditioners and other equipments. Thank you very much!
NEW EVENTS
On 4th April, students of Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong visited our office and communicated with our members who are asylum seekers and refugees. Thank you for their time and concern on us!
On 13th April, we are glad to have students from the University of Hong Kong (HKU), under the Social Innovation Round Table (SIRT), organised us mental health programme, acquiring our members with knowledge about mental health, and teaching us ways to cope with life stress. Thank you for their great effort!
REGULAR EVENTS
On a weekly basis, our office still offers a series of classes targeting asylum seekers and refugees with different age groups. These ongoing activities do not only provide opportunities for our members to learn, but also to socialise and to let them get out of the oppressive routine of feeling like prisoners-in-the-city without the opportunity to work and to contribute.
Every Saturday, we have the Canadian Tutorial Session in our office, with a group of passionate volunteers from Canadian School teaching our children school assignments and assisting them to do revision.
We also have volunteers from Justice Leader Council offering education campaign for our youngsters, teaching us language and other general knowledge. Thank you for their contribution!
We meanwhile have creative writing workshop on every Saturday, with volunteers who are students teaching our kids writing skills. Thank you for their contribution! Special thanks to Dr. Jason S. Polley, Associate Professor from the Department of Language and Literature, Hong Kong Baptist University, for visiting us and teaching our kids on 6th April session.
Members who are interested in the above programmes, please visit our office for more information. Again, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all donors and volunteers who stand with us. Keep visiting our website and Facebook for the latest information. For enquiry, please don’t hesitate to visit our office or email us at info@refugeeunion.org.
March Roundup
Apr 11th, 2019 | Advocacy | Comment
This March was a busy month with a series of new activities organised at our office. As usual, we continue to work with our committed volunteers to serve asylum seekers and refugees in Hong Kong.
DONATIONS
We would like to express our gratitude to West Island School for donating toys for our children, including dolls, cars, games, puzzles, and reading cards. Thank you very much!
We would like to express our gratitude to secret donor for donating two boxes of summer shorts for our children. Thank you very much!
After completing the “Table for Two Cities” programme earlier, we have got a calendar of this year. It records stories and encouraging words of asylum seekers and refugees. Thank you coordinator Tegan Smith, an initiator of the program, donors, supporters, friends and all who have participated in the programme.
NEW EVENTS
On 1st March, we were so privileged to host teachers and students from the Open University of Hong Kong for organising Local Food and Cantonese Workshop for families. We all shared good time, thank you for their support.
On 17th March, we were honoured to be invited to the Open Day of Victoria Shanghai Academy. Participants had precious opportunities to meet new faces, watch music performance, play sports games, and select textbooks for their learning. Thank you for organisers, school administration, teachers and fellow students’ efforts. Children were overjoyed!
Starting from this month, we have a new programme, Creative Writing Session for kids on each Saturday. Thank you for volunteers’ kind-heart support, children now can have chances to enhance their writing!
On 30th March, we were glad to have Justice Leader Council Education Campaign for kids, equipping them with knowledge and skills to live their daily lives. We believe education is the best way to empowerment.
On the same day, there was also Social Innovation Round Table for adults, exchanging creative ideas to cope with difficulties. Thank you volunteers for organising a series of meaningful activities for us, we had a fruitful weekend.
REGULAR EVENTS
On a weekly basis, our office still offers a series of classes targeting the asylum seekers and refugees with different age groups. These ongoing activities do not only provide opportunities for our members to learn, but also to socialise and to let them get out of the oppressive routine of feeling like prisoners-in-the-city without the opportunity to work and to contribute.
Every Saturday, we have the Canadian Tutorial Session in our office, with a group of passionate volunteers from Canadian School teaching our children school assignments and assisting them to do revision.
Members who are interested in the above programmes, please visit our office for more information. Again, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all donors and volunteers who stand with us. Keep visiting our website and Facebook for the latest information. For enquiry, please don’t hesitate to visit our office or email us at info@refugeeunion.org.
FEBRUARY ROUNDUP AT THE REFUGEE UNION
Mar 4th, 2019 | Advocacy | Comment
Kung Hei Faat Choi (恭喜發財)! We wish all of you the best in the Year of Pig. This February, our Refugee Union Hong Kong office continue to serve the community of asylum seekers and refugees with our committed volunteers, despite of the Lunar New Year holidays.
DONATIONS
We would like to express our gratitude to Madam Emma for donating our babies with ten boxes of Wildalp Austria Water. Thank you very much!
NEW EVENTS
On 16 February, we are glad to have volunteers from Canadian School and Korean Student Service Community (KOSMOS) joining us and organising a Joint Tutorial Session for our kids. Young tutors are passionate to teach and humble to learn from each other. We are looking forward to welcoming them again!
Meanwhile, on the same day, we have volunteers from the Justice Leaders’ Council holding an education campaign for our young refugees. They will be teaching Cantonese in the coming weeks. Thank you for their generous support and we are looking forward to seeing them again!
REGULAR EVENTS
On a weekly basis, our office still offers a series of classes targeting the asylum seekers and refugees with different age groups. These ongoing activities do not only provide opportunities for our members to learn, but also socialise and to let them get out of the oppressive routine of feeling like prisoners-in-the-city without the opportunity to work and to contribute.
Every Saturday, we have the Canadian Tutorial Session in our office, with a group of passionate volunteers from Canadian School teaching our children school assignments and assisting them to do revision.
Members who are interested in the above programmes, please visit our office for more information. Again, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all donors and volunteers who stand with us. Keep visiting our website and Facebook for the latest information. For enquiry, please don’t hesitate to visit our office or email us at info@refugeeunion.org.
JANUARY ROUNDUP AT THE REFUGEE UNION
Feb 2nd, 2019 | Advocacy | Comment
Happy New Year! At the beginning of 2019, our Office continues to work closely with our committed Members and kind-heart volunteers as usual, striking for a better living for asylum seekers and refugees in Hong Kong, despite an increasing challenge and difficulty that the government forces on us.
New Events
To begin with, we would like to express our gratitude to Madam Stephanie for her generous donation of new chairs to our Office. The old and broken black chairs can be replaced finally. Thank you very much!
On 27 January, our Members were invited to this year’s Migrants’ Day themed “Many Journeys, One Family”, sharing our stories with the public. Thank you Claret Mission, Claretian Missionaries, Secular Franciscan Order, Columban Missionaries for organising this meaningful event to promote the spirits of social inclusion and acceptance of diversity.
On the same day, our Members also received a special invitation to attend the Integration of Talents event organised by the Claretian Missionaries. It was a great opportunity to perform our talents and had a taste of delicious Chinese cuisines, as an early celebration of the Lunar New Year.
Regular Events
On a weekly basis, our Office also offers a series of classes targeting the asylum seekers and refugees with different age groups. These ongoing activities do not only provide opportunities for our members to learn, but also to socialise and to let them get out of the oppressive routine of feeling like prisoners-in-the-city without the opportunity to work and to contribute.
Every Saturday, we have talented volunteers come and hold Music Session for our refugee kids at our Office. They teach our children to sing and to play with musical instruments. We also have the Canadian Tutorial Session on every Saturday at our Office, with a group of passionate volunteers to teach refugee children school assignments and help them to prepare for tests and examinations.
Last but not least, the Cultural Diversity Playgroup at our office targets both refugee adults and babies. Participants can make new friends and learn new things during lessons. They all share joyful moments.
Members who are interested in the above programmes, please visit our Office for more information. Again, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all donors and volunteers who stand with our refugee community. Keep visiting our website and Facebook for the latest information. For enquiry, please don’t hesitate to visit our office or email us at info@refugeeunion.org.
Video about the Asylum Seekers in Hong Kong, Launched by our Volunteers
Jan 21st, 2019 | Advocacy | Comment
//We are a group of students from CUHK that concern about the asylum seekers in Hong Kong. Last summer, with support from the I‧CARE Social Service Projects Scheme, we launched our social service project called “Love ‧ Care ‧ Boundaryless”. In these few months, we have offered free Cantonese lessons and cultural tour for the asylum seekers to let them understand more about the local culture, enabling them to better adapt the social environment.
After this project, we made a video which aims to let the public rediscover the socially marginalised. They are neither fake refugees nor criminals, but the asylum seekers who fled from their home countries under the threat to life.//
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eba8XqMZsks
Acknowledgement:
Funding: I‧CARE Centre for Whole-person Development
Venue and collaboration: Refugee Union Hong Kong
Project advisor: Dr. LEE King-wa
Video: Antony Chan, Kris Chu
Refugee Union petitions the Legco Panel on Security
Oct 5th, 2018 | Advocacy, Government, Immigration, RU Report | Comment
The Refugee Union is gravely concerned about the tightening of security around refugees in Hong Kong. This only serves to worsen the conditions we suffer when applying for protection in the city. On 4 October 2018 a group of Refugee Union leaders submitted a petition to the Security Bureau ahead of a meeting of the Panel on Security (Legco) on the subject.
We stongly hope that the rights of refugees in Hong Kong will be protected while the Immigration Department improves the screening process (USM) by producing more credible results than the current 1% acceptance rate for the past decade.
The proposed tightening policy will pose a detrimental impact on the lives of refugees. We therefore stand against the proposal and call for humanitarian treatment by the Hong Kong Government. We hope that lawmakers and Government officials appreciate that no one leaves their home country unless their home is in the mouth of a shark.
We sincerely hope the Panel on Security will consider our needs and uphold the humanitarian virtues of Hong Kong.
