Integration not Isolation

Want to know how it's possible to live an isolated life in the midst of Hong Kong's population of over seven million people? Just call my office and make an appointment and we'll introduce you to women who know what it's like to be alone in our city - one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

Meanwhile, I'll try and paint the picture for you...

Imagine coming here as a migrant – a newcomer to Hong Kong. Your husband goes off to work and makes new friends or acquaintances. Your children go off to school and get to learn and play with other children of their own age. You may go off to the market but everyone around you is busy doing their own shopping. They speak other languages and many even dress differently. For the first time in your life you are seeing people who are obviously from countries you’ve only heard about. They look strange and they sound strange. So you go home from the market or take the children home from the playground never having exchanged a friendly word or smile with anyone else.

The next day and the one after that are a repetition of your first outing in this strange city.  Your family and the friends in your former neighbourhood are far away and your feelings of loneliness and isolation are overwhelming.  Will you ever have new friends, women with whom you can exchange recipes or discuss your children’s progress?

In 2009 Christian Action selected Tuen Mun as an excellent location for our first SHINE Centre because of its large population of ethnic minorities.  Our aim is to turn neighbours into friends.  And as we bring neighbours together and encourage them to cook their favourite dishes together, or make their crafts, the women discover that their neighbours are people with the same hopes and fears. They are people with friendship to share and kindness to offer.  Most importantly, there is the discovery that other women have the same fears they so far have had to suffer alone.

We teach these women how to access public services such as hospitals and the education system. We teach them how to deal with utility companies, immigration, and so on.  And soon they are able to help themselves and each other and we notice that they no longer need to rely on our staff for their every need.

As we mark the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21 celebrate with us as we continue to witness the small miracle of vanishing isolation and happy integration of ethnic minorities who are all a part of Hong Kong’s multicultural magic!