Nobody wants to be judged on a subjective basis. When it comes to new immigrants, Hong Kongers tend to label them as welfare-eaters. But most people fail to see the predicament new immigrants are in, for example, their failure to adapt to a new environment, a huge family burden, discrimination when finding jobs, social isolation or negligence on their efforts. Conflicts between China and Hong Kong have deepened lately and the difficulties that newly arrived women face are somehow hidden under the mess. Are you willing to lend your ear and listen to their story?

Pain of being new arrivals

My name is Qun-di, my friends usually call me Qun Jie. In 2005, I came to Hong Kong from Mainland China with my two sons. We lived in Kwun Tong with my husband. Soon, I decided to divorce my husband because he was a gambler and ignored us. I started a new life with my sons after the divorce. Faced the burden of living expenses, tuition fee of my sons, rent, I needed to do three jobs. The pressure was huge and I had no time to rest, my health by then was really bad, unknown dizziness always haunted me and hospitalization was commonplace to me. A neighbor who witnessed my hardness suggested me to apply for CSSA (Comprehensive Social Security Assistance). But she did not know that being a new immigrant who had not stayed in Hong Kong for seven years yet, was not eligible to CSSA. I could only hang on and swallow all the pain.

I worked day and night and endeavor to blend into Hong Kong society, but still felt that I am not welcomed and accepted. When I looked for jobs, some employers criticized my incorrect accents and teased me for unable to write traditional Chinese. There was a time I became very depressed and even wanted to give up myself, I isolated myself and stayed home all day long. But I was lucky, I thought of a note by my son at the critical moment, which he pasted on our freezer: "The most beautiful thing is to live well". At last, I decided to live on.

Voice out and help ourselves

Until 2008, the old building I lived would be rebuilt, and a volunteer from New Women Arrivals League (NWAL, 同根社) came and visited me. They understood my difficulties and helped me to apply food bank service and Social Welfare Department to exercise discretion in my CSSA application. Through this organization, I understood that newly arrived women could help ourselves and each other, because we all share very similar experience and hardship. That's why I joined NWAL and became one of the executive committee members.

I just want to help people who are like us – this has always been my belief. We have to voice out for newly arrived women. Each step we take is stronger than before. I participate in lots of actions and activities, such as meeting with government officials, interviewed by media, training new members. I learn to speak up and be positive now. We sisters share our feelings and difficulties with each other, and it becomes natural to help others too. Of course we feel bad when people say some discriminative words like "new arrival people come to eat welfare" or even curse us with foul language; but I don't care, those people just do not understand new immigrants.

Coherence among our sisters is important, because the most important thing in an organization is people. As the chairperson and contact person of NWAL, I hope to train up more active members, strengthen their skills in computer, answering hotline, communications, and organizing actions. And to debunk the hidden injustice in Hong Kong society, eliminate discrimination and prejudice against new arrival women!

"Do you know?"

70% of new immigrants from Mainland China are women. Half of them are homemakers, while most of others are working for low paid jobs in service sectors or unskilled positions.

Source：
Thematic Report: Persons from the Mainland having resided in Hong Kong for less than 7 years, Population Census 2011

HER Fund held a Grantee Visit to Women Coalition of HKSAR (WCHK) on 15 June 2013, hoped to let more supporters know further about HER grantees and grant projects. WCHK is a civil organization that protects sexual minority rights from a female perspective. Her mission is to eliminate discrimination and oppression from sexual orientation and gender identity. More than 10 participants joined the Visit and learnt more about WCHK's Project of Equal Working Environment for Sexual Minorities.

The Project trains female sexual minorities as ambassador to promote "Tong Chi (sexual minorities) friendly working environment" to different organizations and companies. They will build a "Tong Chi" friendly recruitment website which contains of job advertisements by companies that promised to provide equal and friendly working opportunity and environment to "Tong Chi". In the long term, the project can push the legislation of Sexual Orientation Discrimination Ordinance.

Two volunteer of the Project came to share their experiences of being discriminated in working environment and school because of their different sexual orientation and gender identity. Angel, a male to female transsexual, said she had suffered from all kinds of discrimination in her career life. Her business partner asked her to withdraw her shares in the company after knowing her intention to change sex. And after her sex reassignment surgery, her job required her to have no paid leave without proper reason. Another girl, Rachel, was ostracized in school after telling others she was dating a girl. Both of them found the Project very meaningful and thus joined as volunteer.

Some of the participants of the Visit were from Rainbow of Macau, a newly established pro-LGBT and sexual minority organization in Macau. They thought that if the Project could gain success, Macau, where lots of companies are managed by Hong Kong companies, would also be benefited.

Talking about dreams, what will you think of? "You may say I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one." Lyrics from the song Imagine by John Lennon? "I have a dream", the powerful and encouraging speech by Martin Luther King?

Next year, will be HER Fund's 10th Anniversary. Executive Director of HER Fund, Linda To, described HER journey in the past 10 years was like a dream. The following issues of HER News will share the sweet dreams and nightmares of HER journey.

How HER dream started?

The reason to start HER Fund was pure and simple; here is a note the founders of HER Fund wrote 10 years ago:

"We endeavor to develop and collect resources to support and encourage Hong Kong's women's rights work and movement; and to create a more equal and just society."

Most of government resources and major foundations seldom support projects by the marginalized women such as single moms, low income women, sex workers, sexual minorities, migrant workers. And it is difficult for them to raise fund; so HER Fund was founded to make societal change by re-allocating resources with innovative way and crowd sourcing approach. And hope to realize the dream of "small fund, big change"!

Next issue: HER important first time!

Do you want to know how we did the first fund raising and grant making projects? Let's review "her story" together in the next issue!

Glam-It (former known as GlamGirl): Donated raffle ticket proceeds to HER Fund at the soft launch party of the brand on 29 November 2012.

Rainbow Village: Raised $16,705 for HER Fund at their 10th Anniversary 410 Annual Charity Dinner.

Mr. Brian Hodgson, InterNations: HER Fund co-organized a talk on “How to make your event a success?” with InterNations on 23 April 2013 to HER grantees. Mr. Hodgson who has rich experience in fund raising was the guest speaker of the talk.

(In no particular order.)

Share Talent is a charity fundraising platform that provides interest classes conducted by voluntary teachers and talented individuals in the community. All funds collected will be donated to HER Fund for supporting the promotion of women's rights in Hong Kong.

Please like us on facebook!

website：www.sharetalent.hk
Facebook：www.facebook.com/ShareTalent

Line Dance

Thursday or Friday 7-9pm

Click here for more information

Tai Chi Qigong

Thursday 12-1pm or 6:30-7:30pm

Click here for more information