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| Volunteers help lighten the load of Bethune's clients |
One of the
biggest and longest-serving shelter home for distressed migrant workers has
issued an urgent appeal for financial help, saying it only has enough funds to
cover expenses for the next two months.
In a letter sent
to supporters and various media outlets, the Bethune House Migrant Workers
Refuge through its executive director, Edwina Antonio, said it is launching the
“SOS” or “Save Our Shelter” campaign in hopes of raising enough cash to tide it
over at least until the end of the year.
“We humbly appeal to your
kindness and compassion to help us raise HK$1 million in order
to sustain our operations
until the end of the year,” said Antonio.
“This would cover rent and
utilities for our two shelters and provide food and other necessities such as
personal hygiene items, medical needs, visa extension fees, transportation, and
documentation during their legal processes.”
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| Antonio at a recent fundraising bid for Bethune House |
Antonio said Bethune House
had counted on receiving “anticipated grants” this year, but these fell through
at the last minute.
“Sadly, this
reflects the reality that funding opportunities for the welfare needs of
distressed migrant domestic workers are indeed wanting in Hong Kong,” Antonio
said.
Bethune House
which was established 38 years ago, has been providing not just shelter but
also sustenance and moral support to hundreds of migrant women who find
themselves homeless, jobless, vulnerable, distressed, or abused while in Hong
Kong.
Volunteer case
workers accompany the shelter’s clients to police, the court, consulates and
other support organizations depending on their needs, so they could get redress
for their problems or help them assert their rights.
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| Clients learn cross-stitch while at the shelter |
During the
pandemic, Bethune House was among a few organizations that actively supplied
affected migrant workers with food, medicines, masks and other needs, and gave
them counseling as they faced the prospect of being sent home after getting
infected with Covid-19.
Every week, more
than five of distressed migrant women seek refuge at the shelter, which is able
to accommodate up to 30 women daily and more than 680 annually.
These are women
who are facing charges or are seeking just compensation from their employers
and are not allowed to take up work, so they rely solely on Bethune House and other
charitable groups while awaiting the resolution of their cases.
A few migrants are
given shelter while undergoing expensive treatment for an ailment they acquired
while working in the city.
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| Kind-hearted donors footed the bill for this Disneyland visit for clients and volunteers |
Here are the ways you can make a donation: to Bethune House:
• To support online: https://donorbox.org/bh-raise-the-roof
• By Direct Deposit
The Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge Limited
Hang Seng Bank 284-8-241309
HSBC 808-312649-292
• By cheque
Payable to The Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, Ltd.
All cash donations of HK$100 and above are tax deductible. (We will gladly assist
interested donors to set up an autopay system if they wish to do so to become our regular
pledgers.)
*By transfer through Alipay by scanning the QR code below:
