Hope is Not Lost
Updates from Centre for Refugees - September 2018
Dear Friends,
It has certainly been a busy few months at CFR. Summer was a great time for our refugee children as we ran our Summer Camp for 3 weeks. The children even managed a night-out camping and roasted marshmallows around the camp fire!
After a month-long series of events and celebrations for World Refugee Day in June, this month, our team rejoiced with much positivity as we continue to receive good news from our clients: 21 have been offered a job through our Employability Programme, and 4 received news about resettlement through securing their own sponsorship to Canada. We are proud of all our refugee champions for the progress they have made, and cannot be more thankful for the support we have received.
Recently one of our champions, Darius, spoke at TEDxWanchai and shared about refugees in Hong Kong. Speaking of the highs and lows they face through their journeys and refugees are a resource, not a burden. His talk reminds us that, with the right network and support, positive changes can happen. (Scroll down or click hereto watch the video.)
In August, CFR hosted the 7th Annual Community Meeting. In 2012, we organized the first ever Community Meeting with the initial aim to provide an opportunity to rebuild and reconfirm a mutual vision for CFR and its service users. The Community Meeting initiative hopes to strengthen communication lines and increase community participation in issues that they face. It is also part of our commitment to continue improving our services to be able to respond to their growing needs by consulting them and evaluating our services.
Due to the trail of destruction Typhoon Mangkhut left in Hong Kong, the refugee community, alongside students and other members of the local community joined hands to help rebuild Hong Kong so that every man, woman and child can go back to their daily lives unhindered by the devastation of Typhoon Mangkhut. Just to share a few articles written about their efforts: Hong Kong Free Press; HKrealism, HK01 and Hong Kong Guide.
At CFR, we often rely on volunteer champions and Richard is one of them. On 13th October, Richard from Profile Search & Selection, will bravely challenge the open water and swim 13km from Clearwater Bay to Shek O beach to support refugees. If you wish to support this impressive initiative, please click here. All money raised will be split equally between RUN Hong Kong and Centre for Refugees because together we can make a difference!
As we rounded off the last month of summer with awareness and community building activities like our annual summer camp, we hope to bring you more positive news from the community.
Most importantly, we look forward to seeing you at our Centre and events. With your support, we CAN make strides to create a positive change.
Christian Action--Centre for Refugees Team
EMPLOYABILITY PROGRAMME
In the month of June, our team and our volunteers ran a series of Employability Workshops with an aim to prepare recognised refugees to get back into the workplace. Running workshops at Macquarie, with other corporate partners and individuals, our workshops focused on the benefits of allowing refugees to contribute to Hong Kong in the workplace setting.
We are happy to announce that, so far, 21 of our clients have been offered a chance to be independent and contribute to Hong Kong and 8 are now officially working. Moreover, 10 new corporate groups and private businesses have joined us in our journey to make this Programme happen and succeed.
For more information about the programme, please click here or contactjonnet.bernal@christian-action.org.hk.
CFR SUMMER CAMP 30 July to 18 August
Summer is a great opportunity to get all our families together. Incorporating education, training and development, our annual Summer Camp is a 3-week gathering to provide an opportunity for refugee children to be engaged in various and fun activities. This year we are ecstatic to announce a partnership with Save the Children and Ark Eden in hosting this camp which benefited over 30 families.
If you are interested in learning more about our summer camps, or wish to support our education sponsorship programme, or share your birthday present with a refugee child, please click here or via TwoPresents.
Thanks to our partner organisation "Save the Children" for supporting this Summer Camp!
TAKE ACTION
$200 a month can give a refugee access to shelter and other basic needs
$500 a month can help send a refugee child to school
Our mailing address is:
Christian Action -- Centre for Refugees
No. 6, 16/F., Block E, Chungking Mansions
36-44 Nathan Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
Hong Kong Add us to your address book
