{"id":18870,"date":"2021-04-20T11:16:33","date_gmt":"2021-04-20T03:16:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/varsity.com.cuhk.edu.hk\/?p=18870"},"modified":"2021-05-26T16:17:20","modified_gmt":"2021-05-26T08:17:20","slug":"a-connected-heart-and-a-helping-hand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/varsity.com.cuhk.edu.hk\/index.php\/2021\/04\/a-connected-heart-and-a-helping-hand\/","title":{"rendered":"A Connected Heart and A Helping Hand"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NGOs are committed to raising awareness about asylum seekers\u2019 issues through simulations.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Gabriella Lynn<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young single mother Kristel*, an asylum seeker from the Philippines, can only live in Hong Kong with help from others. She survives on HK$1,200 food coupons, HK$200 in cash for transportation, and HK$1,800 for housing every month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for necessities like toiletries, clothes, and masks, Kristel cannot afford them. \u201cI use one mask for three days, and the mask is really thin and itchy. My baby doesn\u2019t have masks,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kristel came to Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper in 2017. She has been forced to become an asylum seeker since her employment contract was terminated in 2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While trying to search for another job, Kristel became pregnant with her baby Ali. Concerned about her family\u2019s reaction, she overstayed her visa while trying to find ways to stay in Hong Kong longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBack home, I was the breadwinner, and I was single. I didn\u2019t know how to explain to my mother why I got pregnant while working,\u201d Kristel says.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kristel did not immediately surrender to immigration authorities as she was afraid of being deported. During her pregnancy, she finally decided to surrender so she could get access to medical care in the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c(Before surrendering to the immigration authorities), I couldn\u2019t get check-ups. I couldn\u2019t even go to hospitals. I hadn\u2019t had an ultrasound \u2013 nothing. I needed a private doctor but I didn\u2019t have enough money. So, I surrendered and they gave me temporary papers until I gave birth,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After giving birth, Kristel began the process of applying for asylum. From her friends who have overstayed in Hong Kong, she learned about Refugee Union, a refugee-led society that protects the rights and well-beings of asylum seekers. She sought help from the group and has become a beneficiary of the organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSometimes, (volunteers) take pictures of my baby and post them on Facebook when I need something, like baby formula or diapers. The next day, I get lots of donations from kind people,\u201d Kristel says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Kristel and her Hong Kong-born baby boy Ali. (Photo courtesy of Kristel) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Because of COVID-19, searching for resources has been difficult. Kristel cannot go to other non-profit organisations in fear of infection risk. She often has to compete for donations with the other 800 active beneficiaries of Refugee Union because everything is distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding, Caring, and Changing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Refugee Union has been raising awareness about the situation of refugees through their social media pages. They post regularly about the needs of their members and run donation drives with other NGOs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crossroads Foundation, a non-profit humanitarian aid organisation, shares the same goal as well. The foundation\u2019s Global X-Perience programme runs simulations that replicate the lives of underprivileged people. David Begbie, the director of the programme, wants more people to know about refugees like Kristel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Begbie conducted a simulation section with students from YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College on May 8, 2018. (Photo courtesy of Crossroads Foundation)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe very first thing we have to do is make people care. But you can\u2019t engage someone if they don\u2019t know about the issue,\u201d Begbie says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A student who participated in the simulations, Felicia Lam Sum-tim, says her mindset shifted after attending a session in 2017. \u201cI understood and became more empathetic towards the underprivileged because you just feel their frustration and (helplessness),\u201d she says.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lam found the experience so eye-opening that she has shared her experience with many others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI told a lot of people about (the simulation) and the situation of the underprivileged. (The simulations) can raise awareness as the experience made us reflect,” she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One simulation called \u201cRefugee Run\u201d is designed and run by real refugees. \u201cWe want to know that for people who have lived through the refugee life, the message of our simulation is on point. When we debrief after the simulation, we also ask them for their opinions,\u201d Begbie says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople often come to me at the end of the simulations and ask me how I can use their lives to make a difference. And I tell them, just be themselves. Use their existing<\/em> skills,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen people\u2019s perspectives change radically (after the simulations). Just for a moment, they got a taste of what (life as a refugee) is like, and they grieved at their own  <\/del>callousness,\u201d Begbie says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’ve seen people’s perspectives change radically (after the simulations).”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Making a Difference During COVID-19<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ever since the pandemic started, large gatherings have been prohibited. The simulations, usually consisting of 20 \u2013 100 participants, have not been available for bookings for more than a year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A simulation site at the NGO’s centre in Tuen Mun is now empty. (Photo courtesy of Crossroads Foundation)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Despite the support, Begbie\nsays that monetary donation is much needed. \u201c For a\nlot of people, they need money to survive. We need to get people back on their feet,\u201d he adds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kristel shares\nBegbie\u2019s opinions. \u201cIf we have job opportunities, then maybe we can have a\nnormal life in Hong Kong. We don\u2019t have to be beggars waiting for food and other\ndonations. But because we have no money, there is no choice,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hong Kong\ngovernment holds a \u201cfirm policy\nof not granting asylum and not determining or recognising refugee status of any person,\u201d according to a government press release\nissued on May 20, 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Illegal immigrants can\nmake non-refoulement claims, and those with substantiated claims will not be\ndeported. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the press release\nalso states that whether their claims are substantiated or not, claimants \u201chave\nno right to work in Hong Kong.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Out of the 31,429\nclaims made between late 2009 and December 2020, only 243 were substantiated,\naccording to the Hong Kong Immigration Department. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Full name omitted at the interviewee\u2019s request<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edited by Patricia Ricafort
Sub-edited by Kassandra Lai<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NGOs are committed to raising awareness about asylum seekers\u2019 issues through simulations. By Gabriella Lynn Young single mother Kristel*, an asylum seeker from the Philippines, can only live in Hong Kong with help from others. She survives on HK$1,200 food coupons, HK$200 in cash for transportation, and HK$1,800 for housing every month. As for necessities […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":18877,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1770,8],"tags":[1710,1418,246,1708,1711],"class_list":["post-18870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-issue-159","category-our-community","tag-asylum-seeker","tag-covid-19","tag-ngo","tag-refugee","tag-simulation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/varsity.com.cuhk.edu.hk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/varsity.com.cuhk.edu.hk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/varsity.com.cuhk.edu.hk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/varsity.com.cuhk.edu.hk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/varsity.com.cuhk.edu.hk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18870"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/varsity.com.cuhk.edu.hk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18870\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18984,"href":"https:\/\/varsity.com.cuhk.edu.hk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18870\/revisions\/18984"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/varsity.com.cuhk.edu.hk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/varsity.com.cuhk.edu.hk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/varsity.com.cuhk.edu.hk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/varsity.com.cuhk.edu.hk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}