Together We Will Build a Better Future
Refugee Transportation Fundraiser
Our Mission
Our mission is to help increase outreach to refugees in Hong Kong, as well as to help them access various social services and thereby better integrate within HK society. This initiative aims to get transport discounts and funding for refugees and asylum seekers in HK.
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Few citizens know that under the bustling city's image of wealth and prosperity, a severe refugee issue exists. Despite being educated and possessing skillsets, refugees are not allowed to work in HK, and instead must live on meagre allowances provided by the Immigration Department.
These allowances include housing, HK$1,500; utilities, HK$300; food (supermarket coupons) HK$1,200); and a few hundred HK dollars for transportation. All of which is the bare minimum one could live upon. As for education, financial support is only given to refugee children ages 6 and above, causing 3-5-year-olds to not have any preparation for early childhood education. If they choose to apply to kindergarten, the Student Finance Office takes months to process their claims and demands them to pay the tuition in advance and reimburse them later, which is unrealistic as the families do not have the income to cover these fees.
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Indeed, the government provides services for them, yet they are all scattered across Hong Kong, and often refugees are isolated in distant communities where the rent is cheaper. This results in their lack of cultural community support, and in addition, they often face social stigma and discrimination. Therefore, this initiative to fundraise for transportation funds and ultimately pitch to transport corporations in HK for permanent transport discounts is a way to connect with them and build a strong Hong Kong.
"Even a small action to help can make a big difference"
How the initiative began
Hi! I am Katie, a student at Chinese International School Hong Kong. I first learned about Hong Kong's refugee situation through my school's Hong Kong Experience Human Rights Program, during which I had the opportunity to speak to refugees.
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Unlike the stereotypes, they were educated and fluent in English, and I learned that a lot of them previously held jobs like engineers or nurses in their home country, but was forced to flee their home country to escape political persecution. Yet these individuals are not legally allowed to work for his own income, which definitely affects their standard of living in this expensive city
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As a mere student, there are many issues I can't solve, such as their housing issue, social inequality or close the income gap. But transportation and mobility was a genuine problem for them. Hence, I partnered with the Refugee Union to film an interview about their situation and why transport funds are important for them. I created platforms on social media to raise awareness for this issue as well as raise funds for them.
As fundraising is not exactly a sustainable solution in the long term, in the future, I plan to pitch it to transportation organizations in Hong Kong, particularly New World First Bus, so as to allow refugees to get a further discount on their transportation.
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Moreover, daily transportation poses as a difficulty for them. I realised how serious the issue is after speaking to Adella, the head of the Refugee Union, who told me how this may cause them to be confined to isolated, distant districts of Hong Kong. It also becomes more difficult for them to attend classes and activities as transportation is expensive.
Support the project
with a Donation
All of the donations will solely go to the Refugee Union. Any amount of donation is greatly appreciated.
The Refugee Union is founded in 2014 with the aim to safeguard asylum seekers and refugee’s basic rights, improve their current standard of living and better their future prospects. They provide various means of social and financial support for refugees to ensure their wellbeing and allow them to come together and form their own community. The organization has partnered with Vision First, Feeding HK, Justice Center and various other NGOs. (http://www.refugeeunion.org/)
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Together We Will Build a Better Future
Contact
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