Adam* was forced to flee his home in Africa with his wife and two young children due to persecution. After arriving in Hong Kong, they stayed temporarily in Chungking Mansions and then at another shelter for two months. The shelter policy kept Adam and his family from staying inside during the day, which was a challenge that proved quite difficult due to Adam’s physical disability and the threat of typhoon season.

Later, Adam and his family settled into a walk-up studio in Kowloon with a limited rental subsidy from the government. It was difficult for him to walk up and down six floors every day.

Thanks to the referral of other members of the refugee community, Adam learnt about Branches of Hope, started attending the weekly fellowship, and signed up for financial subsidies. Branches of Hope supported the families’ lunch and transportation costs to and from the programmes, and later on, the families’ rental allowance was subsidised through the Secret Angel Programme.

With newly granted hope and financial stability, Adam and his family were able to move into a home that was better suited for them. Meanwhile, Branches of Hope supported his children’s school fees through the Keeping Kids in Kindergarten.

Before fleeing to Hong Kong, Adam had worked as an accountant and a teacher in his home country. Unfortunately, he is currently unable to work in Hong Kong because of his status. He shared with us, “Working is not just for getting paid, but also to achieve goals for yourself and feel useful. Really, without help from Branches of Hope, we wouldn’t be able to survive in Hong Kong.”

*Name has been changed to protect identity

Dalia* arrived in Hong Kong 17 years ago from South Asia. She has been a key community member over the years, helping out in classes and logistics. She also was a Secret Angel recipient. She said, “Every year, we received very good Christmas gifts. That helped us a lot. Without asking me any questions, they (Branches of Hope) understand my situation, they believe in me.”

The government subsidies haven’t changed since 2014. 10 years ago, she was able to find a place to stay with the subsidy amount of HKD 1,500. Luckily, as a Secret Angel recipient, she was able to find a place with the donation she received. 

The supermarket card that the government provides usually runs out halfway through the month. She is thankful for NGOs that provide food packs to help the asylum seekers. 

In her home country, she didn’t get an opportunity for a good education. She learned English and computer skills all in Hong Kong. Now resettled to Europe, she looks forward to her next chapter utilising these skills.

She recounted her time in Hong Kong: during the earlier years, she faced a lot of racism and stigma. She is thankful to NGOs like Branches of Hope that helped to educate the public on the refugee issue. she observed a more tolerant and open society now. 

*Name has been changed to protect her identity. The image is not her.

Finding affordable housing remains one of the most challenging issues for asylum seekers in Hong Kong. Dev* fled India and arrived in Hong Kong. He was homeless, and spent sleepless nights on the streets of Wan Chai, often falling asleep while sitting up. On rainy days, he took shelter with other homeless people at the underground walkway in Happy Valley.

After several months, he came to VCSL and joined the Asian fellowship. He started coming regularly to our weekly gatherings and became an active member. Learning of his homelessness, our RAS team reached out to Dev and acted on his behalf to engage with the housing agency and landlords. A few months later, he was finally able to secure an affordable home under the VCSL RAS Assistance Programme, now called Secret Angel sponsorship programme. Apart from receiving monthly support, he felt genuinely loved and cared for.

“I was homeless for 6 months. VCSL helped me talk to landlord and agencies to get this place (current home). Different people from church cared for me. Before I was totally hopeless but VCSL gave me the strength to continue live in HK. I want to say Thank You.”

*Name has changed.

Please note: Effective 12 March 2018, Vine Community Services Limited (VCSL) has changed its official name to Branches of Hope Limited.

Please note: Effective 12 March 2018, Vine Community Services Limited (VCSL) has changed its official name to Branches of Hope.

Joh and Hyppo were the former leaders of The Vine’s African fellowship. They fled from Togo to Hong Kong in 2005, and have resided here for 9 years. They always refer to each other as their own “brother”. Though not related by blood, they’ve shed blood, sweat, and tears together throughout many difficult years.

Joh and Hyppo used to be election monitors in their home country of Togo. During the 2005 elections, they, along with four other monitors, refused to sign false documents for the president, and were thus beaten, electrocuted and threatened with death. To flee from this military dictatorship that has ruled Togo since 1967, they came to Hong Kong seeking asylum.

They had no place to stay when they first arrived, a stranger cheated them for their money soon after their arrival, and they had to sleep at the airport, around the Star Ferry, and on the street for months. Without any money, they could only ask for bread from charities, and that was all they had for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Life was beyond difficult for them. They wandered on the street for months, until a day when they met a French lady called Ann at a charity, who later introduced them to The Vine.

The Vine provided Joh and Hyppo financial support for rent, transportation and food throughout their years in Hong Kong. It also offered them training and courses, such as the Million Leadership Mandate course – a leadership course, the Cleansing Stream course – a counseling and healing program, the Alpha course, etc. These courses aim to equip, educate, and empower people like them to become positive and contributing members of the community. It prepared Joh and Hyppo for the future, and gave them an opportunity to utilize their new skills to serve the community.

“I am not allowed to work in Hong Kong. I have food to eat through The Vine. I have transportation to go anywhere. I signed up for different courses at The Vine. The Global University course is an accredited university course and by the end of the course I can get my bachelor degree. The Family Impact Course is all about building family and transforming the community. I like this course because I am engaged and I am sure this course will prepare me to be a better husband one day,” Joh said in 2010.

“The Vine gave us a home when there was no home. They gave us opportunity where there is no hope. In 2007, my father died and I was so depressed. But the Vine family was there encouraging me and supporting me.  All these years, they always opened their arms to welcome us. I remember my first year learning sound – people came to me saying, ‘Hyppo you can do it. Have confidence.’ The sound team gave me so much strength and encouragement. The leaders were there to push me and that’s how my dream came true to study sound engineering. All of them at the Vine have impacted a lot in my life,” Hyppo said in 2014.

Joh and Hyppo met their wives in Hong Kong and were both married in 2011 and 2013, but they didn’t seek assistance from their wives for visa application. The pair applied and was accepted by Canada under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Programme, a scheme that allows citizens or permanent residents over the age of 18 with personal relationships with refugees to offer sponsor and financial support for them.

They left Hong Kong on 9th July 2014 after 9 years of seeking asylum. Moving forward, Joh is pursuing his dream to be a pastor, and Hyppo is planning to study sound engineering. To read more about their story, please visit http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1547630/african-torture-victims-stymied-hong-kong-accepted-canada-refugees