HAPPY NEW YEAR WISHES TO ALL REFUGEES AND SUPPORTERS

Post Date: Dec 31st, 2015 | Categories: Advocacy, Opinion, Refugee Community, Welfare | COMMENT

Greetings Refugees and Supporters,

My name is Cartier Dieodo and I have been a refugee in Hong Kong for over 10 years, living in misery with my family, because Hong Kong Government does not allow me to work. I am a coordinator of the Refugee Union and will be a regular contributor of blogs to this website.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, I wish you all a happy new year! Here we are about to end the year. Firstly we need to give glory to God, as we are still alive and healthy. I think also that we need to ask several question concerning the past year and make some resolutions for the next, as many people do.

What was great this year?

2015 was definitely a great year as we achieved some goals: the first year of the Refugee Union; launching this website to reach supporters locally and internationally; conducting dozens of interviews with journalist, TV reports and university students; closing the refugee slums; receiving food coupons, instead of rubbish food collections; getting some kindergarten support, and publicizing the Zero Percent Acceptance Rate with the media and the public. 

It was something, but it was not enough.

Are we not supposed get better support than this as refugees? How do we rent rooms for 1500$ and eat three times a day with 1200$ a month (or 40$ a day)? How do we school our children without full financial assistance if not allowed to work? Why does Hong Kong recognize so few refugees, or 37 of almost 20,000 asylum claims since 1992? How can Hong Kong get away with such shameful treatment of refugees? Why do 10,000 refugees live in misery and destitution in Hong Kong?

If the results were positive, why and who was behind that motivation?
What were the main strategies and goals in 2015?
How do we improve our strategies and goals in 2016?

There is experience growing in our Union and it is our responsibility to ask ourselves: What went well? What went wrong? How can we make it better by changing strategy? How do we organize more action from Refugee Union members? How do we reach out to more supporters in Hong Kong?

Let us come together for a solution that satisfies all members and brings more powerful results to our community. We already know that many organizations, schools, companies and people want to know more about our struggle and are offering their generous support. We are most thankful to them all.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, we must all stand as Brother’s Keepers to one another. United we can achieve much more. May 2016 be the year of determination, a year of communication, of love, respect, support and caring. May peace and success shine in 2016!

Happy new year and remain bless.

One Love    

Happy new year images 2016