Archive
Trick or Treat
Oct 25th, 2023 | Advocacy | Comment
Hi Trick or Treaters! Exiting stuff! One more weekend till our Hollywood Halloween!
The Trick or Treating map will be available for pick up from tomorrow onwards (21st of October) at anytime of the day or the week at Unit 1905, 135 Bonham Strand. For us to ensure there is enough maps for all, please try and pick it up as soon as you can before the actual day of the event. Please only take *1 map per kid* and don’t forget to donate $50 if you haven’t already!
The Refugee Union is still accepting Halloween costumes donations for adults and kids today and tomorrow only, in their Sheung wan office 2F, 315 Queens Road C. For other detailed information, please check out the Group’s description.
Drink For Justice event on 19 October 2023
Oct 13th, 2023 | Advocacy | Comment
We are honored to invite our friends, donors and supporters to “SWAP TALES AND COCKTAILS” – a casual gathering and fundraiser held at 6pm on 19 October 2023 at BELLA LEE, 37 Peel Street, Central.
This event is organized by our long-time friends at DRINK FOR JUSTICE (drinkforjustice.org) for the benefit of the families supported by the Refugee Union. The venue will donate 25% of the total evening revenue and is supported by the Italian shaker and stirrer bartender extraordinaire Michele Venturini.
Please support and spread the word with friends and on social media. See you there! 😊
July Roundup
Aug 4th, 2023 | Advocacy | Comment
Welcome to the Refugee Union’s monthly roundup! We’re excited to share our latest updates and developments as we continue advocating for the rights and well-being of refugees in Hong Kong. This edition highlights key events from the past month, including our advocacy work, community outreach, and fundraising efforts. We hope this roundup offers a comprehensive overview of our work and inspires you to join our mission to create a more just and equitable society for all.
About Us
The Refugee Union is a community-based organisation, established in 2014 by refugees in Hong Kong. Our mission is to promote and protect the rights of refugees through advocacy, education, and community building. We work to empower refugees to become self-sufficient and active participants in their communities, while also advocating for policy changes that support their rights and well-being. Our organisation is run by refugees, for refugees, and we are dedicated to creating a more just and equitable society for all.
Activities at a Glance
On 3 July, we were delighted to collaborate with Luuna, who will be helping us to raise funds with several schools.
On 8 July, we thanked Edward for organising an “Everything can be a painting” class for our children, who enjoyed learning about art in life.
On 21 July, we were excited to have our former intern, Sally, arrange an arts and crafts project for our children using old newspaper and magazine photos. We are always grateful for any help offered to our young ones.
On 24 July, we were thrilled to announce that we have moved to a bigger office. It’s the same address and the same floor, just a bigger unit (2B), right in front of the lifts. This way, you cannot miss the Refugee Union when you visit. Thank you to all the volunteers for your hard work today.
Giving is a Blessing
This month, we received a wide range of useful item donations. We would like to express our gratitude to those who have lent a helping hand. Your support means a lot to us, and we ensure all items received are distributed to refugees.
Please continue to support our centre and stay tuned to our website and social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for updated information. You are also welcome to contact us by email at info@refugeeunion.org or visit our centre during office hours (Mondays to Saturdays, 10 am-6 pm).
June Roundup
Jul 2nd, 2023 | Advocacy | Comment
Welcome to the Refugee Union’s monthly roundup! We’re excited to share our latest updates and developments as we continue advocating for the rights and well-being of refugees in Hong Kong. This edition highlights key events from the past month, including our advocacy work, community outreach, and fundraising efforts. We hope this roundup offers a comprehensive overview of our work and inspires you to join our mission to create a more just and equitable society for all.
About Us
The Refugee Union is a community-based organisation, established in 2014 by refugees in Hong Kong. Our mission is to promote and protect the rights of refugees through advocacy, education, and community building. We work to empower refugees to become self-sufficient and active participants in their communities, while also advocating for policy changes that support their rights and well-being. Our organisation is run by refugees, for refugees, and we are dedicated to creating a more just and equitable society for all.
Activities at a Glance
On 12 June, we were delighted to welcome the talented Adele from the Chinese International School, who will be assisting us with our social media throughout the summer.
On 16 June, we were pleased to greet PhD candidates Dave and Ayomide from Nigeria, who are currently studying at Lingnan University. They are researching acculturation strategies and social relationships of refugees in Hong Kong.
On 23 June, we were thrilled to welcome the inspirational Cici Fan and colleagues from ARCH Education, who will be designing study programmes for our older children. With over 500 children of all ages registered at the Refugee Union, any support is always greatly appreciated.
On 24 June, we expressed our gratitude to Charlene and Melissa from Hong Kong International School, who performed an enchanting dance for us in the afternoon.
Giving is a Blessing
This month, we received a wide range of useful item donations. We would like to express our gratitude to those who have lent a helping hand. Your support means a lot to us, and we ensure all items received are distributed to refugees.
Please continue to support our centre and stay tuned to our website and social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for updated information. You are also welcome to contact us by email at info@refugeeunion.org or visit our centre during office hours (Mondays to Saturdays, 10 am-6 pm).
SCMP: Hong Kong should empower its young refugees with better education and support
Jun 6th, 2023 | Advocacy | Comment
Help the Refugee Union fundraise through your network
Apr 22nd, 2023 | Advocacy | Comment
We are grateful for the support of Simply Giving and excited to deploy their fundraising tools. We appreciate that our donor base is our strength and wish to leverage “peer-to-peer” fundraising to broaden our services and make them more sustainable and consistent through the year.
If you are reading this post, then you know about the Refugee Union and hopefully believe that what we do is meaningful both for our members and for Hong Kong at large. If the government offered adequate support, then our humanitarian efforts would be less impactful, but we all know the truth.
Our objective is to leverage crowdfunding into a community effort that will support more refugee families. Since we started online fundraising, we have been blessed by the generous support of hundreds of donors. The challenge is: How can we expand our donor base through broader networks?
Simply Giving offer an easy-to-deploy fundraising toolkit that will amplify the collective effort. Your story is important to appeal to friends and colleagues who will help. By setting achievable targets we can develop “peer-to-peer” fundraising by individuals, pairs, groups of friends and corporate teams. We lead by example, so tell your friends why you care about the Refugee Union’s mission.
The next step is the most important: reach out and send the fundraising link to at least 15-20 people that are most likely to take action. You can send personal emails, WhatsApp messages and post on social media to kickstart your campaign. Your social media network is a great place to raise awareness.
Thank you for your support!
Click here to download the “Fundraising Toolkit”!
Give Hope to Refugee Moms and their Little Ones
Apr 19th, 2023 | Advocacy | Comment
Dear compassionate supporters,
親愛的支持者，
We need your help. As you read this, refugee mothers with young babies in our community are suffering and turning to us for help. They have no source of income and are unable to work due to their legal status. They are struggling to provide basic necessities and to make ends meet. It is a heartbreaking situation that no one should have to face.
我們需要您的幫忙。在您閱讀這篇文章的時候，我們社區裡的難民婦女和她們年幼的孩子正在承受痛苦，尋求我們的協助。難民沒有收入，也不能工作。這是一個令人心碎的畫面，沒有人應該面對這種情況。
More than 50 mothers with babies have approached the Refugee Union for assistance. We understand that the love of a mother for her child is immeasurable, but even the most dedicated and loving mothers cannot provide for their children without access to basic necessities such as baby formula, diapers, clothes as well as hygiene and healthcare items.
超過50位育有嬰兒的難民婦女向本會尋求協助。我們明白母親對孩子的愛是無法衡量的，但即使是最敬業和慈愛的母親，在沒有嬰兒配方奶粉、尿墊、衣物以及衛生和醫療用品等生活必需品的情況下，也無法照顧好孩子。
This is why we are launching this fundraising campaign to provide essential support to mothers with babies in the asylum community. With your help, we can ensure that these families have access to the basic resources they need to survive. Your support will make a difference in their lives and help alleviate some of the stress and hardships they are facing.
這正是我們發起這項籌款活動的原因，為難民婦女和年幼的孩子提供必要的支援。在您的幫助下，我們可以確保難民家庭能獲得他們生活所需的物資。您的支持將改善難民社群的生活，抒援他們生活上面臨的巨大壓力。
We understand that times are tough, but we urge you to consider the impact that your donation could have. Even a small amount can go a long way toward providing these mothers with the support they need. So please, open your hearts and help us make a difference. We cannot do it without your generosity and compassion.
我們明白時局艱難，但我們懇請您伸出援手。您的支持對難民社群非常重要。即使是一小筆金額，也能改善難民社群的生活。
Your support of our fundraising campaign is just one way that you can help. We encourage you to spread the word about the Refugee Union and the vital services we offer. Share our campaign on social media, talk to your friends and family, and encourage others to extend their support.
除了捐款以外，我們亦鼓勵您向身邊的人分享本會提供的服務，例如在社交媒體上分享我們的活動，與您的家人和朋友分享難民的狀況，並鼓勵他們伸出援手。
Thank you for your support and know that your kindness and generosity are truly appreciated.
我們衷心感謝您的支持。
Click to donate: Give Hope to Refugee Moms and their Little Ones
Hong Kong asylum seekers face bureaucratic maze and deportation under tightened policy
Mar 27th, 2023 | Advocacy | Comment
‘People are losing hope’: New policy sparks fear among Hong Kong’s asylum seekers
Mar 25th, 2023 | Advocacy | Comment
South China Morning Post – A revised law in Hong Kong has sparked fear among the estimated 14,800 asylum seekers and refugees who live in the city. Introduced in December 2022, the new policy allows immigration authorities to remove unsuccessful claimants from the city before they can exhaust legal pathways to challenge the decision. The government says the move was necessary to crack down on claimants abusing the judicial review process to prolong their stay in Hong Kong. Human rights lawyers allege the changes infringe on the rights of asylum seekers, while NGOs and community leaders say they are seeing a surge in the number of claimants seeking psychological help.
FEBRUARY ROUNDUP
Mar 17th, 2023 | Advocacy | Comment
Welcome to the monthly roundup of the Refugee Union. We are delighted to share with you our latest updates and developments in our ongoing efforts to advocate for the rights and well-being of refugees in Hong Kong. In this edition, we will be highlighting some of the key events that have taken place over the past month, including our advocacy work, community outreach, and fundraising efforts. We hope that this roundup will provide you with a comprehensive overview of our work and inspire you to join us in our mission to create a more just and equitable society for all.
ABOUT US
The Refugee Union is a community-based organization established in 2014 by refugees in Hong Kong. Our mission is to promote and protect the rights of refugees through advocacy, education, and community building. We work to empower refugees to become self-sufficient and active participants in their communities while also advocating for policy changes that support their rights and well-being. Our organization is run by refugees, for refugees, and we are dedicated to creating a more just and equitable society for all.
ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE
On February 4th, a student from ESF Discovery College set up a website for fellow students to exchange letters with refugees to share experiences and cultivate friendships. Thank you for bringing this meaningful initiative to the attention of your peers.
On February 6th, we were honored to gather with Simon Mak and Dr. Bo Zhou of Ascent Partners, as well as Andrew Woo and colleagues of Antech Solutions, to brainstorm broader support for refugees.
On February 10th, we were invited by the YMCA Christian Academy to share our lived experiences as refugees with teachers and students. We were also honored to visit ESF West Island School, Hong Kong International School, and ESF Glenealy School later this month to give a presentation for teachers and students. We would also like to thank them for arranging donation campaigns for our refugee members.
On February 11th, we were grateful to Michelle of the Hong Kong International School Heritage for organizing an art class for refugee children. The artwork will be turned into NFTs and fundraised for refugees. Thank you very much!
On February 13th, we were delighted to have Erin and Andrea of Don’t Throw Me visit our center. We have been nominated as one of the beneficiaries of their platform to swap, sell, donate, and breathe new life into clothes and other goods. We also thank Take Out Plastic for hosting a clothes swap campaign and donating clothes to our refugee members.
On February 14th, we welcomed Clayton, a journalism student, who interviewed and took photos of our refugee members with a view to publish a booklet about refugees in Hong Kong and the services we provide to support them.
On February 17th, we were delighted to have our student interns from Hong Kong Shue Yan University patiently teach refugee children to finish homework. Thanks also go to students from the University of Hong Kong who gave a tutorial session for refugee children later this month.
On February 20th, we were thrilled to announce the establishment of a partnership with Wee Bean. We were also thankful for their sales initiative to support refugee children. Please visit their website for more details.
GIVING IS A BLESSING
This month, we received donations of a wide range of useful items. We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to those who lend us a helping hand. Your support means a lot to us, and we deliver all items we receive to refugees.
Please continue to support our center and stay tuned to our website and social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for updated information. You are also welcome to contact us by email at info@refugeeunion.org or visit our center during office hours (Mondays to Saturdays, 10 am-6 pm).