“If you were in our shoes, would you not also ask to be given a chance to live a dignified life?”

This year, eight of our girls began taking ballet classes at the Chinese Language Arts and Culture Academy. For all of them, it was their first time in a prestigious school like this, to experience the rigour, discipline and expectations of Beijing Conservatory certified instructors.

Regardless of status, this is not only an amazing opportunity to be treated like any other student in Hong Kong, but also to receive the quality instruction all other kids have access to. The parents appreciate that their children are given the opportunity to expand their horizons beyond their academic schools.

The parents took time to share their thoughts with us.

Malory*: “Ballet class has been a big help in boosting my child’s self-confidence, realising the importance of time management, and most importantly, developing self-discipline. It is also a big step, as it makes her explore doing things outside of her comfort zone.”

Clara*: “My child told me that she became like a popular student at school, because in the beginning of the class, Ms. Jennifer took a picture of them, and my daughter posted it on Instagram. The next day her classmates knew that she has ballet class, and she was really happy.”  Jennifer is Branches of Hope’s Education Officer who has worked closely and tirelessly with the kids of our community.

Experiencing a dignified childhood, filled with hope and opportunity to flourish and learn is invaluable to human development.

Mary* shared: “My kids have become friendlier through the ballet class, and have developed the confidence to communicate with other children, especially those who are older.”

We received a few words from our new ballerinas and their parents.

“We are also human beings like you. We are also parents like you, who wish and struggle for the sake of our children. We are all humans with dignity and respect, and have love and faith inside our hearts.  It is not our choice to be asylum seekers and refugees; we do not wish to cause any disturbance or be a nuisance to your society, as some assumes of us. Our wish is for freedom and dignity, and for our children to see the value of responsibility and build good relationships with their instructors and peers. We also have talents and skills that we can offer, if we are given a chance. Our children… they also show talents and potentials that need to be nurtured and developed, which will benefit Hong Kong society too!”

 

*Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Ahmad* recently completed his associates degree and is now pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Business and Technology.


Before any of these achievements, he faced major challenges navigating through the education system as he did not have access to support. There was a time when he was accepted into one of Hong Kong’s top universities; however, upon realising his status, his registration was withdrawn. The tuition money he had saved and raised was returned to him. He had to start all over but he did not give up. He succeeded in obtaining special permission from the government to allow him to attend university.

Currently, Branches of Hope supports Ahmad* through the Post-Secondary Education Assistance programme. Despite the challenges faced, this process of fighting for his right and access to education made him more confident to socialise in society. The experience also contributed greatly to the development of his skills.

Due to his asylum seeker status which does not allow him to work, his biggest worry is not being able to find a job after he graduates. Nonetheless, this does not hinder his dedication and hard work as he understands that education is the key to his future.
 

Through education, Ahmad* seeks to gain wisdom and knowledge in order to support him through his entire life, even if he may not be able to work immediately.


He would like to encourage the people of Hong Kong to be more open and understanding towards other cultures, society and people. Many things in this safe region might not last forever, but individuals may form lasting relationships.

  

*Photo is used for illustration purpose only.

*Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Ali* has been in Hong Kong since 2001, he fled his country due to religious persecution from his conversion to Christianity.

For two years, his application for a refugee status has been an ongoing process of repeating the appeal. As a result of this, he suffers from chronic headaches, sleepless nights and he constantly worries for his children.

Ali married his Filipino wife in 2003. His first child was born in the Philippines while the other three were born in Hong Kong. All his children have birth certificates but they neither have passports nor ID cards. Ali was told that if a passport registration needed to be lodged, he would need to take it to the Pakistan Consulate.

In 2010, he attempted to apply for a passport for his first daughter but was met with many trials. Since it was so difficult, he lost the will to return with his other children’s application.

Although International Social Service (ISS) provides HK$1500 rental assistance per adult, it is hardly sufficient for a family of six. Ali could only afford a two bedroom apartment which does not offer enough space or privacy for his family – his son is turning 16 and his children do not have room to study in private.

He also feels a pressing concern from his son’s education. While his daughters go to a neighbourhood school, his son has to report to one that is far away from home.

As his children grow older, they started to question their father’s situation. His son’s classmates would casually ask about his father’s profession and to that, the son would reply that his father runs his own business, in attempt to hide their situation in Hong Kong. Sometimes when his classmates buy snacks, his son would not have the means to take part in the social activity.

Ali’s son is a talented player in football and basketball. However, the few opportunities that the school offered for a friendly exchange in China, he would not be able to participate. He was unable to go since he does not own a passport, therefore, when his classmates inquired, his son had to suggest that it was due to Ali’s’ disapproval towards the exchange.

Many times, Ali’s’ son would ask why they had to live like prisoners in Hong Kong and why his father is not allowed to work.

Sometimes during holidays, the children would want to go out for a nice meal but Ali will try to tame the request by promising his children that their mother would cook whatever they wanted for them. His daughters would also ask why they cannot live in a bigger home.

He keeps secrets from his children because he does not want them to feel ashamed in public or at school. He will try to reassure them that he will have his visa one day in which he will be able to start working.

Although his son understood his father’s flee from religious persecution, he would still despair in the thought that there is no way to be free in his family’s situation. He dreams of having the luxury of affording nice food like KFC or even new clothes.

Ali wants to treat his family out for a nice meal from time to time but due to the reality of their financial situation, it would be a big expense for a big family and that would take away many essentials from their budget.

Due to limited assistance, he does not spend on himself to save up for his children’s needs in education, transportation as well as their regular visits to immigration etc.

Till this day, Ali has been waiting for his application to be approved.

*Photo for illustration purpose only.

*Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Megh* came to Hong Kong in 2015 from Bangladesh, and her son was born three years later with a serious heart condition. While her son struggled with his heart condition, Megh’s daughter also began kindergarten. Without the ability to work, she struggled to pay for her daughter’s external kindergarten costs.
 

However, after Megh became connected with Branches of Hope, she was able to receive assistance from the Keeping Kids in Kindergarten sponsorship for her daughter. With support from sponsorship, Megh was able to pay for her daughter’s school books, stationery, uniform, registration fees, and other costs not covered by the government.

The situation changed drastically during the pandemic when schools closed and students were asked to study online. Megh was once again at a disadvantage. The technology she had access to at home was limited, so her daughter had to use Megh’s phone to watch class recordings. Volunteers from Branches of Hope went on a home visit to see Megh and became aware of her limited access to technology and its impact on the daughter’s schooling. Branches of Hope realized the value of setting her up with a laptop. 

Through assistance from the sponsorship, Megh was able to alleviate some of the difficulties of simultaneously raising her ill son and funding her daughter’s education. Amidst the pandemic, the type of support she received evolved, so her daughter could continue to learn despite the technology divide.
  *Name has been changed to protect her identity, and photo is from stock image.

Mohamed Afser is one of the amazing youths we are supporting for university studies this year. Originally from India, Mohamed and his family fled to Hong Kong 9 years ago. He entered school at the Primary Five level and eventually completed his secondary education at a local high school.

“This experience transformed me that after I graduate high school, I shouldn’t just give up, I should somehow try all my best to enroll in the college even if it’s just for a year.”

Mohamed believed that life begins after high school but he encountered many hurdles in his pursuit for his dream. When he was accepted into college, he approached many organisations for financial assistance with his tuition fees; but was turned down. Due to his status in Hong Kong, his resources were limited.

One fateful email from Mohamed brought Tom, our CEO, in touch with his situation. During this time, Mohamed came to know about our Refugee and Opportunity Development Programme (ROAD). Although ROAD’s assistance did not start until the following year, Mohamed focused on the hope that was restored in him.

True enough, when he shared his encounter with his teachers, they in turn took on the baton to support this hopeful young man with his first year degree tuition fees!

“I thought even if I could just step into college for a year that would still be enough but since I approached right people and had network with right people I got the opportunity to further study in Hong Kong.”

For many that are like Mohamed, the government only provides assistance to the extent of secondary education. Students that desire to further their education face many uncertainties, discouragement and the lack of support from the government.

Mohamed believes that for those who share the same walk as him, he can be their guide and he will use his knowledge to help others.

Mohamed is currently pursuing his second year degree in Professional Accounting. His dedication is evident in the achievements he acquired along the way.

Read about some of Mohamed’s achievements on SCMP here and here.

 “My education experience in Hong Kong is a mixed one. In the beginning, I struggled with language, discrimination and social exclusion when my family and I first moved to Hong Kong. Over time, with the help of some good people, I was able to overcome some of those struggles. The education in Hong Kong provided more learning opportunities and developed my skills as well. After Form 6, I struggled getting into college. I feel hopeless most of the time.”

Despite facing all the challenges, Mohamed Afser received a full scholarship to university.

“One of my worries is about tuition fee for my 3rd and 4th year. I am afraid that if I am not able to get a higher GPA this semester, I might not be able to continue my scholarship. My other worry is about my internship opportunities. I am afraid that due to my identity, I would not be given the permission to learn during my internship. My biggest concern is being deported back to India before I finish my studies. 

I wish to gain knowledge, skills and experience to help me both in my career and in my life. I know this might sound cliché but I want to help people in need with my knowledge and skills; that is my goal.

Providing higher education and employment opportunities to asylum seekers and refugees in Hong Kong would have a variety of benefits that do not simply affect the individual but also have a positive impact on the community. Higher education would equip refugees with the knowledge and skills to contribute to the community as role models and in turn transfer these benefits to their communities through employment in fields that enable them to have a lasting impact upon reconstruction and sustainable development in the refugee community and Hong Kong.”

Photo is used for illustration purpose only.

*Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals

Robert* came to Hong Kong as an asylum seeker from an African country. When he first arrived, he did not know anyone in the city and ended up stranded on the street. Fortunately, he was directed to our organisation by a stranger he met there who knew about our work with refugees.

Soon after being referred to us, Robert attended an ARISE fellowship and with the financial subsidy from Branches of Hope, Robert was ableto leave ‘survival mode’ and think about his future. He dreamed of developing new skills and learning another language, eagerly enrolling in our language lessons, management and computer skills, and vocational training courses in warehouse. He met other African refugees. ‘I was soexcited to see a community in Hong Kong that supported, encouraged, and cared for one another,’ he shared.

ROAD staff met Robert after he was recommended by a friend to apply for financial assistance. He was unableto legally work as a refugee, and the government subsidy was not enough to pay for rent. He was nearly evicted by the landlord just as the financial subsidy from Branches ofHope came through.

After a few years, Robert’s dedication paid off; he had learnt valuable new skills and learnt to speak English. And shortly after that, he was recognised as a mandated refugee, giving him the ability to apply for a work permit in Hong Kong. With the newly mastered skills he learnt from our programmes, it was no time at all before Robert successfully found work and becameindependent of nancial subsidies.

Despite the hardships he had faced coming here, Robert was able to get back on his feet and strive for a better future. All he needed was the support and care of a local community.

*Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals

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