As told to M. Nauman Qureshi. Edited by Aarohi Narain. With a culinary repertoire spanning two continents, LK* tells her story through the medium of food. In addition to providing unique insight into the origins and usages of certain ingredients, she paints us a picture of her life in Hong Kong while narrating the struggle…
Category: Social Issues
Empowering women through art: Refugee Perspectives
As told to M. Nauman Qureshi Against all odds, Clarisse transformed her situation into a story of success and largesse. All it took was two years for her to become a fashion designer and Founder of an arts and crafts collective called Art Women. She’s now revered for her bright and bold clothing as well…
“No matter the situation, we should always have hope”
As told to Edmond Lo and Tegan Smyth. Translated by Tegan Smyth. André* has been living in Hong Kong since 2013, after fleeing sectarian violence in his home country, Togo. He left amid suspicious fires occurring at two major markets in Togo, leading to the arrest of opposition members without trial, ahead of the country’s parliamentary polls….
Living with a chronic illness in Hong Kong: Refugee Perspectives
As told to Tegan Smyth and Rivekie Ho. Sarah* arrived in Hong Kong as a foreign domestic helper. However, after falling sick with a serious illness, her contract of employment was cancelled and her employment agency bought tickets to send her home. After overstaying in Hong Kong to receive medical treatment, she is now living…
Language Barriers & Isolation: Keeping culture and hope alive in Hong Kong
Daud* and Aicha* came to Hong Kong nearly 3 years ago. While preparing several dishes from their country of origin, Chad, they told us about their day to day lives in Hong Kong and the difficulties that stem from not being able to work and having no means to speak to people in a common…
Safeguarding faith, family and freedom in Hong Kong
As told to Fatima Qureshi. Sabah* is from Egypt. Seeking refuge in Hong Kong with her husband and three children for a year now from religious persecution after her conversion to Christianity, Sabah talks about her broken past, struggling present and hopes for the future free from the anxiety of danger and exclusion. This is…
Creating a life after trauma: building a future in Hong Kong
As told to Mhairi McLaughlin and Sophie Hines. Translation by Tegan Smyth. Laura and Maria*, are from Madagascar. They arrived in Hong Kong around a year ago, after fleeing forced marriages to men in Mainland China. This is their story (Part 2 of 2). See Part 1 here. And then you escaped to Hong Kong?…
Dreams of a life: single motherhood in asylum
As told to Tegan Smyth June*, from Indonesia, has lived in Hong Kong since 2006. She has a daughter, Emma that she is raising by herself. She spoke a few months after her original interview about her hopes and aspirations for her daughter. Alice, from Togo, is also raising her two children alone in Hong Kong….
Food, running and culture: one refugee’s story
As told to Hillary Leung and Tegan Smyth. Words by Tegan Smyth. Joseph* is a refugee from a country in Africa that is currently embroiled in sectarian violence. He spoke to us about his daily life as a refugee as well as sharing a treasured recipe from home. Could you tell us a little…
The waiting game: 16 years in Hong Kong as a refugee
As told to Leanne Ledgard. Words by Leanne Ledgard. Mahmoud* arrived in Hong Kong more than sixteen years ago, after fleeing persecution in his country. Despite all his children being born and raised in Hong Kong, each day is uncertain, as Mahmoud cannot work to provide for his family – and his children live as…
Education is an alienable right, after all… if you are a child refugee in Hong Kong
By Tegan Smyth Nino*, is a refugee from Togo. In 2005, he was forced to leave his country following a series of violent events which played out during a presidential election in his country. He arrived in Hong Kong the same year, with only the clothes on his back. He has been in search of…
Lifting the ‘no-work’ policy and contrasting cultural values: Refugee Perspectives
As told to Cynthia Chung [Editor’s note] This is the third part of our interview with Alex* from Refugee Union. We spoke at length about the no-work policy, whereby refugees and asylum seekers are unable to work or volunteer by law. How would our society be different if the no-work policy is removed? As I have…
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