To date, we have helped over 800 refugees and their families start a new life. Here we share accounts of the people we’ve helped along the way. All names have been changed to protect the person’s identity.
Esther
Esther spent her first few nights in Hong Kong sleeping in the Star Ferry terminal. Forced to leave her children behind, she traveled for days with a man who demanded sex for travel assistance.
Esther came to Hong Kong desperate for safety. Back in her home country in Western Africa, she was brutally beaten and sexually attacked by security forces searching for her missing husband. She is a resilient and courageous woman so she survived. However, she was finally forced to flee the country fearing for her life when threatened again for taking part in peaceful protests.
After a few days sleeping rough in Hong Kong, Esther registered her case at the UN Refugee Agency. Sadly, her application was refused due to a lack of evidence.
Fortunately, she was introduced by a friend to HKRAC where we gathered crucial evidence to appeal the decision. Through an interpreter, Esther was finally able to communicate what had happened to her and we were able to submit translated papers from a doctor who treated her after the attack.
With HKRAC’s help, Esther was eventually granted refugee status. Today she is reunited with her children and safely resettled outside of Hong Kong.
Esther told us:
“I don’t think about the past. It is still there, but now I think about the future. This is because of the wonderful work you did. Before I could not talk to you directly and we had to talk through an interpreter. I never dreamed I would be able to speak a different language and talk to you directly. I have such good friends here, people who support me, all these blessings flow from the work you did. Please keep helping other people.”
See how past donations helped Esther & see how your donation could change a life in 2012.