Support Social Network-building for Hubei Migrant Workers

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ ‘SHARE’ Mar-Apr 2013 – Between City and Village ]　STEP INTO THE WORLD

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Many villagers in Wufeng County in western Hubei are migrant workers but they lack basic labour law knowledge and there is no liaison organisation to help, so whenever a labour dispute arises or hardship falls, migrant workers are on their own and helpless.

To promote connection amongst migrant workers originating from Baiyanping Village of Wufeng County, CEDAR builds effective enquiry platforms and social support networks so that through channels like mobile text messages, message boards on the internet, contact cards and blogs, migrants can get the latest information on labour and daily living, enhance their bargaining power when they look for work. Further, labour dispute settlements are facilitated through referrals, and CEDAR sets up training on parenting, finance management, occupational safety and labour rights.

Please support the Hubei migrant workers project financially to safeguard their rights:

HK$200> will financially help 5 migrant workers with four work related training sessions each

HK$400> will provide 10 migrant workers with information on labour protection and practical living

Donate Now! Click here.

Other Methods of Payment

  1. Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
  2. Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
  3. Autopay (only applicable to regular fixed donations), enclosing with a completed Autopay Authorisation Form (Download: WORD or PDF)
  4. Visa/ Master Card

Download Donation Form

Please send a completed Donation Form, enclosing with cheque or pay-in slip, to CEDAR FUND, G.P.O. BOX 3212, HONG KONG.

Donation Form: WORD or PDF

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.

Caring for Our Society Practising Our Faith | Matthew

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ ‘SHARE’ Mar-Apr 2013 – Between City and Village ]　TAKING ACTION

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Author> Matthew, Chairperson of Hong Kong Baptist University Christian Student Union (CSU)

This year, through CEDAR, CSU visited new immigrant women and people living in wooden-partitioned cubicles, and after visits we met up to share our thoughts and experiences. In CSU, all Christian students have unrestricted space for examining our faith and how it can be applied in our lives. A Christian’s spiritual life and concern for society are interdependent; therefore, we as a group of Christian students walk in our community and establish contact with others so that through visits, sharing and reflection we may work out how we live out ‘Christian caring for the society’.

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This project helped us see differently those we visited. The media often portray new immigrant women in a negative way, but after meeting with them, we discovered that they have come to Hong Kong not to get the territory’s resources for their own use, but for their children’s future.

Students live a colourful and exciting life, members of CSU study different courses and go to classes at different times, and furthermore they have their own church activities to attend, so it was tricky trying to arrange our visits. Not all the churches of CSU members have a community ministry hence we hope that these visits can enrich and broaden the scope of applying our faith.

Justice and Self-sacrifice | Jojo POON

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ ‘SHARE’ Mar-Apr 2013 – Between City and Village ]　CEDAR’S BLOGGER

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Author> Jojo POON, Education and Promotion Officer

In the past I have always felt indignant when faced with lopsided criticisms, excessive accusations, over the top special treatments and rude attitudes; I would even get annoyed by customer services that have special counters for ‘VIP’ – does it mean that other people are less important, and their time spent on queuing is not as precious?

Yet, often, the so-called lopsided, excessive, over the top, rude or unfair events, might have been assessed by my own sense of values – but what is a fair measurement to be used? It varies. From this, I felt less certain that the anger inside is fuelled by a sense of justice. How much of this anger is about justice, and how much from jealousy or self-love?

Recently I made a paradoxical discovery: ‘Justice’ and ‘self-sacrifice’ are twins! When one demands another to treat others fairly, one also needs to be unafraid of losing out. When one expects others to handle matters justly, then one also needs to willingly take on extra commitment. Only when one learns to let go of ‘self’ will one be able to focus on discerning and pursuing true justice. Yes, humility is vital in learning self-sacrifice.

As a reminder, I pin a note by my work desk which includes Andrew Murray’s definition of ‘humility’:

‘Humility is perfect quietness of heart, without worries, anxiety, anger, rage, hurt, or disappointment;

It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me;

It is not resenting or seeking revenge. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised.

It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble.’

Time for Action to End Violence Against Women

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for women vulnerable to violence]

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The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women. However, worldwide today, 603 million women live in countries where domestic violence is not yet considered a crime; up to 70% of women in the world report having experienced physical and/or sexual violence; up to 50% of sexual assaults are committed against girls under the age of 16; over 60 million girls worldwide are married before the age of 18….

The theme of this year International Women’s Day (8 March) ’A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women’ seeks to strengthen international community’s commitment to put an end to violence against women. The UN also organizes UNiTE campaign, calling on all governments, civil society, women’s organisations, men, young people, the private sector, the media, etc. to join forces in addressing this global issue. [UN]

Pray for women vulnerable to violence:

  • Pray for God’s protection and deliverance to them;
  • Pray that international society will face up to all forms of violence and discrimination against women and secure the rights and safety of women by legislation, enforcement, education, social network and assistance, etc.

CEDAR will organise a sharing on ‘Walking with Women in South Asia’ on 28 March night. Please come and join us.

Remember Farmers in India

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for farmers in India]

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Though the number of farmers committing suicide in India has decreased, there were still 228 farmer suicide cases alone in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra (Mumbai also in this province) in 10 months ended 31 Jan 2013. Reasons for farmers’ suicide include mounting debts and those connected to farming conditions such as drought and flood.  Some desperate, debt-burdened farmers in an adjacent province Andhra Pradesh even sold their kidneys to raise loans. The Indian government has devised some assistance/aid schemes such as Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme (ADWDRS) since 2008. However, an Indian well known journalist, especially on reporting peasant suicides in India, said that Indian society has become more unequal than ever and farm loan waiver was designed to fail. Farm credits were disbursed more in urban Mumbai than in rural Maharashtra. Most of the farmers who committed suicide were those who took loans from private lenders. [OneWorld, the Hindu]

Pray for farmers in India:

  • Pray that depressed farmers will have social assistance and supporting network, to help them face the desperate situations;
  • Pray for better design on the official agricultural debt waiver and debt relief scheme to fix the need of rural farmers.

Concern on Recent Riot in Bangladesh

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for peace and safety in Bangladesh]

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At least 48 persons were killed and thousand others were injured in clashes in Bangladesh at a strike called over due to a death sentence given to an Islamist party leader on charges including murder, rape and torture during the war of independence in 1971 on 28 February. The main targets of the Jammat Shibir (Islamic student organisation) are the minority communities specially the Hindus as well as law enforcers. The Jammat Shibir set fire on vehicles and train, pulled out railway slippers in many part of the country. Two field workers belong to one of our local partners were stopped by Jamaat Shibir activists while they were on their way to field visit. The activist asked them to stop working for Christian NGO and to join them to save the Islam. Our local partner has asked all field staffs to take extra pre-caution during the field visit.

Pray for peace and safety in Bangladesh:

  • Pray for God’s protection over to the target groups, i.e. the Hindus minority community and the law enforcers;
  • Pray for the safety of frontline workers from our local partners in Bangladesh and other NGOs, and that our partners will have wisdom to spread the love of God and message of reconciliation in the midst of a hostile environment.
  • Pray for the peace talk between the Islamic groups and the government of Bangladesh.