Emergency lockdown appeal
Feb 10th, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment
JANUARY ROUNDUP
Feb 1st, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment
Dear Members, Donors, and Volunteers,
January marks the beginning of one year. We hope that the year of 2022 will bring you health, success, and happiness. This roundup presents you an update about our centre throughout the month.
About us
‘We are refugees helping refugees.’
We are the Refugee Union. Founded in 2014, we are the first refugee-led organisation in Hong Kong. Our centre is currently based in Sheung Wan. As a union of protection claimants, we share the vision to safeguard asylum and refugee rights. With this vision we have been collaborating with our community partners to improve the status quo of asylum seekers and refugees stranded in Hong Kong.
Activities at a glance
It is unfortunate that many activities in our centre had to be put on hold in light of the deteriorating pandemic situation in Hong Kong. Nonetheless, we are still thrilled to share with you a few activities we engaged or happened in our centre:
We would like to thank Eaton Hong Kong and all vendors in last month’s Christmas market. We are thankful to them for fundraising for us and raising awareness about refugee issues.
We are proud to be one of the beneficiaries at the Circle Back event jointly organised by Take Out plastic and No Thrillsss. It was a secondhand clothing swapping market held on 22 and 23 January. We are thankful for the items donated to our members.
We would also like to grasp this opportunity to thank professional photographer Karling at So Lightly for taking amazing photos of families, adults, and children. Thank you for raising awareness about refugee issues.
Giving is a blessing
Asylum seekers in Hong Kong are prohibited from working and are solely reliant on a limited stipend of some HK$3,000 (US$385) and few necessities, to survive. Essentials such as baby’s items and toiletries are not (adequately) provided. Despite activities being halted, members are in need of necessities.
This month we have received donations of wide-ranging items in our centre. We would like to take this chance to express our heartfelt gratitude to all generous Donors for lending us a hand. Your support means a lot to us. As always, we promise to deliver all donations we received to our members who are in need.
As the Chinese New Year approaches, we wish everyone health, prosperity, and peace in the year of the tiger. May we also invite you to consider donating some of your red packets received and share the blessing with people in need, such as asylum seekers and refugees.
We have a crowdfunding platform here.
Please stay tuned to our official website and social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for the most updated information. You are also welcome to contact us by email at info@refugeeunion.org or by visiting our centre during office hours (Mon to Sat, 10:00-18:00).
Thank you for your support of our initiative.
We are brothers and sisters
Jan 17th, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment
We are brothers and sisters. Nobody wants to be labelled, sorted and dehumanized by a passport, but that is what happens today to refugees and migrants at borders. Refugee Union stands for justice in migration, asylum and all forms of border crossing.
Did you know that passports were only required for travelling after World War Two? Prior to the 1950’s it was sufficient to buy the passage on a ship or plane to travel anywhere in the world. The United States only started to require passports in 1952.
In 2022 a passport offers either extreme freedom or extreme hardship.
What do you enjoy?
Fundraise to Support Refugee Union in 2022
Jan 11th, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment
We believe that together we stand stronger!
Refugee Union is the first self-organized group in Hong Kong where refugees help refugees. We registered as a society in 2014 to connect with Hong Kong residents and the community at large. We operate from a small centre in Sheung Wan where members and supporters meet and collaborate. It is an essential collective effort where your contribution makes a difference.
Refugee Union gathers over a thousand members from 20 countries, including 200 children. Our services are greatly limited by the donations we receive. We mainly support families as they are the most vulnerable and in need of greater assistance.
The monthly government welfare is: $1500 for rent, $1200 for food, $300 for utilities and $200 for transport to official appointments. These amounts are unchanged since 2014. No support is provided for clothes, shoes, home fittings, cooking, cleaning, medicines and phones. Imagine, how do you cook without a stove and pots? How do you raise babies without diapers? How do you find shelter with $1500 monthly?
We plead for your financial support to make ends meet.
We pay $11,000 a month to rent our busy centre which is essential to receive and distribute donations. It is practically impossible to live without money in a city where everything has a price tag. We struggle below the poverty line and are banned from working under threat of 15 to 22 months in prison. We have designed four tables to explain how we spend the money we are lucky enough to receive. See: https://bit.ly/38FjT9x
Through the Refugee Union we have the opportunity to directly reach out for assistance. We would be most grateful if you could contribute to this fundraiser so that we can strengthen our shared effort to support refugees. We are thankful that many of you have donated before as it shows that Hongkongers understand our predicament and are willing to help refugees.
We are most grateful for your support!
You are warmly welcome to visit our centre and learn directly about the predicament in which we live. As refugees can’t open bank accounts, so we appointed the registered charity “Drink For Justice” to receive and disburse these funds to us in full. This platform collects no fees either.
Kindly share this crowdfunding page with your friends and on social media as it is the best way create awareness and support our community effort. We believe that together we are stronger!
Click to donate now: https://go.sparkraise.com/fundraise-to-support-refugee-union-in-2022
December Roundup
Dec 30th, 2021 | RU updates, programs, events | Comment
Refugee Union was founded in 2014 and is the first refugee-led organisation in Hong Kong. As a union of protection claimants, we share the common vision to safeguard refugee rights and have been working closely with our community partners to improve the status quo of asylum-seekers and refugees locally.
Activities at a glance
It is December, cold weather and the festive season mark the end of this year. This month, as usual, has been a fruitful one with many meaningful activities going on in our centre, and we are thrilled to share with you some of them:
On 8 December, we were honoured to host two special guests, Tegan Smyth of the Grassroots Futures and Nick Rothwell of the Kellett School’s Outreach Programme, who came to our centre and talked with our members. Thank you for the visit and for keeping us in mind.
On 13 December, we were very glad to have students of Li Po Chun United World College visiting our centre and preparing activities for children. Thank you for spending time with us and your efforts. We all had great fun.
On 23 December, volunteers of Grassroots Future organised a crochet class in our centre. This time ladies learned how to make African violet hexagons using crochet. Approaching Christmas, we had a party for celebration afterward. Thank you so much for everything our community partner Grassroots Future has prepared for us!
Giving is a blessing
This month we received donations of wide-ranging items. We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to all generous Donors for lending us a hand. Your support means a lot to us. As always, we promise to deliver all donations we received to our members who are in need.
Please stay tuned to our official website and social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for the updates. You are also welcome to contact us by visiting our office or sending us an email at info@refugeeunion.org for any enquiry.
We are refugees helping refugees. Thank you for your support of our initiative. Wish you health and prosperity in the new year.
Merry Christmas!
Dec 25th, 2021 | Advocacy | Comment
Merry Christmas to all our wonderful supporters, donors and volunteers 
You reached out and touched our hearts with your generosity 
We are most grateful for everything you have done for the Refugee Union 
Click the link to donate: https://bit.ly/3Fg63sT
Our Dream Christmas Present
Dec 21st, 2021 | Advocacy | Comment
Here are some ways we need to spend cash …
November Roundup
Dec 1st, 2021 | Advocacy | Comment
Refugee Union was founded in 2014 and is Hong Kong’s first refugee-led organisation. To safeguard refugee rights, we work closely with our community partners to improve the status quo of asylum seekers and refugees.
Activities at a glance
This month has been a fruitful one with many meaningful activities happening in our centre, and we are thrilled to share with you some of them:
On 1/11, we were honoured to host representatives from the Sadhu Vaswani Mission and were grateful to know that they will arrange a series of donations for us soon. Thank you very much for your generous support!
On 9/11, we were excited to have volunteers from Oneinchvertical organising outdoor sports activities for kids. They were overjoyed and cannot wait for the next time.
On 10/11, our partner Grassroots Future continued the biweekly knitting class with ladies. Many thanks to Jessica and fellow volunteers for the long support.
On 18/11, we had the great honour to host representatives from RUN Hong Kong in our centre. We look forward to collaborating with them soon.
On 20/11, volunteers from CLSA Outreach visited our centre and taught children how to do hand drawn line art tattoos. Thank you for having us in mind.
On 25/11, we were delighted to have Kayla and her friends from the German Swiss International School bringing a painting class for kids. We all had great fun.
Thanks also go to teachers and students from the Chinese International School for delivering science and music classes for kids on 26/11 and 27/11. We learned a lot with joy.
Giving is a blessing
This month we received donations of wide-ranging items, which include but are not limited to food, clothes, baby’s items, furniture, and other necessities.
We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to all Donors for lending us a helping hand. Your support means a lot to us. As always, we promise to deliver all donations we received to our members who are in need.
Please stay tuned to our official website and social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for the updates. You are also welcome to contact us by visiting our office or sending us an email at info@refugeeunion.org for any enquiry.
Thank you for supporting our initiatives and we look forward to hearing from you!
October Roundup
Nov 2nd, 2021 | Advocacy | Comment
Refugee Union was founded in 2014 and is Hong Kong’s first refugee-led community organisation. With the vision to safeguard refugee rights, since day one, we have been working closely with the community and co-organising diversified programmes to improve the status quo of asylum seekers and refugees stranded in the city.
Activities at a Glance
This month has been a fruitful one as there were many meaningful activities happening in our centre. We are thrilled to share with you some of those:
On 6/10, we were delighted to have Kayla from the Hong Kong Refugee Awareness, in collaboration with the Grassroots Future, organising an artwork class for kids. Kids have learned a lot with joy.
On 8/10, we were so touched that the Med Outreachers, composed of medical students from The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), gave us a visit and delivered donations to our centre, despite the bad weather. Thank you very much!
Thanks also go to teachers and students from the Canadian International School of Hong Kong for reaching out and donating to us on 11/10, as well as the ESF West Island School for bringing us the very lovely and tasty student-baked cookies.
On 15/10, we were honoured to have Candice giving us a wonderful Cantonese class. We all have learned a lot. On the same day, a group of students from the ESF Chinese International School volunteered as homework helpers for kids. We were impressed by these students’ passion to serve.
On 19/10, Justin and his team from Oneinchvertical brought our kids a long-awaited outdoor sports class at Victoria Park. Kids were overjoyed!
On 25/10, we were honoured to host Ms. Kitty Chan from the British Council Hong Kong at our centre. We had a meaningful discussion. Thank you for having us in mind and we look forward to the future collaboration.
On 27/10, members from Grassroots Future organised another knitting class for ladies, having seen ladies’ interest. Thank you to all volunteers who devoted time and efforts to this.
Giving is a Blessing
This month we received donations of wide-ranging items, which include but are not limited to food, clothes, baby’s items, furniture, and other daily necessities.
We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to all donors for lending us a helping hand. Your support means a lot to us. As always, we promise to deliver all donations we received to our members who are in need.
Please stay tuned to our official website and social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for the updates. You are also welcome to contact us by visiting our office or sending us an email at info@refugeeunion.org for any enquiry.
Thank you for supporting our initiatives and we look forward to hearing from you!
September Roundup
Sep 28th, 2021 | Advocacy | Comment
Refugee Union was founded in 2014 and is Hong Kong’s first refugee-led community organisation. With the vision to safeguard refugee rights, since day one, we have been working closely with the community and co-organising diversified programmes to improve the status quo of asylum seekers and refugees stranded in the city.
Activities at a Glance
This month we had a number of activities happening in our centre.
On 11/9, we were glad to have students and representatives from the Chinese International School, Delia Memorial School, and Fr. John Zhang’s Group visiting our centre. Later this month, we were also delighted to have students from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and King’s College giving us a visit. We can’t wait to work with you soon. Thank you for showing your care about refugee issues, it means a lot to us.
On 15/9 and 16/9, volunteers from Grassroots Future taught knitting and artwork classes in our centre for ladies and children respectively. We all enjoyed the classes. Meanwhile, we would like to thank all volunteers for spending time with us and their tireless efforts devoted to the programmes.
On 24/9, we were honoured to host Mr. Nick Rothwell, the Director of the Outreach Programme at Kellett School, at our centre. Thank you for sparing time with us and we look forward to the future collaboration.
Giving is a Blessing
This month we received donations of wide-ranging items, which include but are not limited to food, clothes, baby’s items, furniture, and other daily necessities.
We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to all donors for lending us a helping hand. Your support means a lot to us. As always, we promise to deliver all donations we received to our members who are in need.
Please stay tuned to our official website and social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for the updates. You are also welcome to contact us by visiting our office or sending us an email at info@refugeeunion.org for any enquiry.
Thank you for supporting our initiatives and we look forward to hearing from you.