A survivor of the brutal Sri Lankan conflict holds an atlas showing her former island home. She is now in Hong Kong, being helped by Christian Action.

Having successfully fled the brutalities of wars in African and South Asian countries, refugees who make it to Hong Kong find themselves stranded, often for years,  while they await refugee status from the United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees.  They  are men, women and unaccompanied minors -  but seldom do they arrive with their family intact.   The conflict and chaos they have escaped often leave them traumatized, and because Hong Kong’s immigration laws prevent them from seeking employment here, they also suffer from economic hardships and consequently depression.  Christian Action is the only non profit organization providing Hong Kong’s refugees with a holistic range of services. We are helped by a committed group of volunteers. Read the rest of this entry »

Greetings!

I promised to tell you about how Christian Action serves desperate people who seek asylum in Hong Kong, so here’s an example for you.  Some time ago Mary arrived on the doorstep of our Service Centre in Chungking Mansion, Kowloon, with two little girls clinging to her side. She was traumatized and in despair. The government militia in Congo, her home country, had detained and sexually abused her following the arrest and disappearance of her husband, who had participated in a national election. Mary knew no one in Hong Kong – but hoped that we could help.  We are actually the only drop-in service centre for asylum seekers and refugees in Hong Kong. Read the rest of this entry »

Running for refugees: Bonita Choi in Namibia | Photo: Bonita

Hello!

I don’t know about you but I have been captivated by the media coverage of yesterday’s 40th Anniversary of man’s landing on the moon.  The courage and dedication of the astronauts boggles my mind.  Recently however, I got to witness astronaut-like dedication in a brave young volunteer who deliberately chose a tough road – actually, a tough run across the second oldest desert in the world!  Meet Bonita Choi, the 25 year old financial analyst from Hong Kong who completed a seven-day, 250km endurance run in May so that she could help the helpless!   Read the rest of this entry »