Archive
Refugees fight hunger with donations
Mar 1st, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment
The recent panic buying at supermarkets is especially problematic for refugees because we can only buy groceries at Park’n’Shop. Our government-issued food cards provide HK$ 1,200 a month ($40 a day) in electronic allowance that cannot be spent in any supermarket, wet market or grocery shop other than those in the Park’n’Shop group. So what are we supposed to do when we find no bread, rice, noodles, vegetables and fruits there?
The limitations of this inflexible policy are particularly glaring under the challenging conditions of this pandemic lockdown. A member from Yuen Long posted on our group chat, “So sad. No food to buy. Where will we use our foodcard?” A member from Kowloon added, “Sham Shui Po Parknshop is the same thing! No juice. No vegetable. No egg. No have any fruit also … oranges, grapes … anything I cannot find tonight!” Another member complained, “Mine is empty too. My case officer doesn’t even reply how to use the foodcard in quarantine. All Parknshop is empty. So Sad ????”
In these difficult times we are deeply thankful for the generous support of donors who not only provide essential groceries, but also donate cash that allows us to purchase food wherever we can find it. It is tough enough to live in Hong Kong with empty wallets in normal times, but this pandemic has taken our suffering to another level. Frankly, without the support of residents, our families would be going hungry. The government is closed for us.
If possible, please donate to our crowdfunding program which helps us fight hunger. Currently online orders are backed up for weeks, so cash donations are the most direct and practical ways to help us today. We can then purchase what we need at wet markets and local grocery stores where supplies are still available.
Please spread the word with friends and on social media as the best way to raise awareness about our plight.
To support with cash please visit our crowdfunding program here: https://bit.ly/3qYFq5u
TATLER – How to Support the Charities Helping Hong Kong’s Most Vulnerable
Feb 28th, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment
FEBRUARY ROUNDUP
Feb 28th, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment
Dear Members, Donors, and Volunteers,
This month has been a challenging one to us and to other people in Hong Kong. The city is again put under lockdown following the fifth wave of outbreak of coronavirus disease. We are thankful to people like you who, despite all difficulties, still think about us and lend us a hand. This roundup presents you an update about our centre throughout the month.
About us
We are the Refugee Union. Our organisation was founded in 2014 and is the first refugee-led organisation in Hong Kong. Our centre is currently based in Sheung Wan. We share the vision to safeguard refugee rights and have been collaborating with our community partners to improve the status quo of asylum seekers and refugees stranded in Hong Kong.
Urgent call for assistance
Activities at our centre were halted in view of the worsening and worrying pandemic situation. The lockdown does not hurt only local businesses but also us asylum seekers and refugees, putting us in a more vulnerable situation.
Government offices, churches, and many supporting organisations are now closed, meaning that we have nowhere to seek help. Prices go skyrocketing as people scramble for necessities under panic. For us asylum seekers and refugees, we can barely survive with very limited vital resources.
We sincerely seek your help to donate us the following items:
Cash donations are also welcome. We have a crowdfunding campaign here. Thank you to our friends at GIVE.Asia in Singapore for launching this crowdfunding campaign for us.
We would also like to thank media professionals at Hong Kong Free Press (read here) and South China Morning Post (read here) for featuring us and raising awareness about refugee issues during the pandemic.
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.
While we are calling for urgent assistance, this month we have received donations of wide-ranging items. 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.
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). *Office hours may be adjusted, kindly contact us in advance.
Thank you for your support of our initiative. We are refugees helping refugees.
Lockdown Emergency Food Drive
Feb 21st, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment
Here is a suggested donation of twelve items we need the most and suitable for all cultures and religions:
- Bag of Rice
- Box of Pasta / Noodles
- Bottle of Cooking oil
- Canned tuna / sardines
- Canned beans / soup
- Bag of instant noodles
- Box of UHT Milk
- Biscuits and crackers
- Fresh vegetables
- Fresh fruits
- Toilet paper / tissue
- Panadol Extra as refugees also get sick ????
You are most welcome to deliver to our centre anytime during opening hours:
Address: Unit E, 2/F., Lee Fung Building, 315-319 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Time: 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, excluding public holidays
Contact: Mr Ibrahim
WhatsApp: 9828 7176
Delivery may be arranged in person, by courier, Deliveroo, SF Express, Gogo van or directly by the supermarket????
Frankly, cash donations are most flexible as we can then buy at local groceries the ethnic products that we eat at the cheapest prices – thank you for your understanding.
To support us with cash please visit our crowdfunding program here: https://bit.ly/3qYFq5u
The registered charity “Drink For Justice” will issue tax-deductible receipts for cash donations above $200.
Please share this post with friends and on social media as word of mouth is best to raise awareness for us ✅
Thank you from the heart for being there in our moment of need! ????
Leaving Hong Kong? Check this to-do list
Feb 17th, 2022 | Advocacy | Comment
We are grateful to the website LIFESTYLE ASIA for suggesting donations to Refugee Union to those leaving Hong Kong.
Click this link to read the article: https://www.lifestyleasia.com/hk/whats-on/leaving-hong-kong-check-list/
Quote: “Regardless of whether you’re being treated to a relocation package, forking out for movers off your own back or just winging it with a couple of suitcases, you’re more than likely going to have accumulated quite a few things over your time here. Unless you’re particularly attached to your IKEA furniture, odds are that selling or donating is the best way to go. List your things up on faithfuls such as Facebook Marketplace, Carousel and Asia Expat, or considering donating to a charity like the Refugee Union who are always grateful to receive clothes, kitchen items and old electronics.”
By the way, many of our members have been stuck in Hong Kong for more than a decade and cannot leave …
Anyway the article is absolutely correct: Got stuff to give away? Please WhatsApp 9828 7176 for gratitude ????
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?
