Every day, we assist Hong Kong people who battle to manage life on limited financial resources. They are referred to us by branches of Hong Kong’s Social Welfare Department (SWD) or by Hong Kong NGOs. Here is a close-up look at one of the thousands we help each year.
Ms Choi (name has been changed) represents thousands of people in Hong Kong who manage, as a single parent, in a tight living space. Home for Ms Choi is a tiny 6 x 8′ room with her toddler, in an apartment she shares with three other single mothers. Life is tough, but Ms Choi has an irrepressible smile, despite her circumstances. Raising a growing, energetic toddler in a one-room home was becoming more and more difficult, so Ms Choi came to us to find more space-efficient storage solutions. She also came for a computer to share with her household of mothers,
to assist their daily lives and to help them stay connected to the world. She arrived with toddler in tow and a measuring tape in hand. A couple of hours later, she left with several sets of shelves, measured exactly to fit her home, along with that much wanted desktop computer to serve her whole household of flat-mates!
Two Crossroads’ staff travelled back home with Ms Choi to see the goods installed. Her new storage furniture was indeed fit to purpose and their installation replaced a small desk. She graciously offered that desk back to Crossroads – a beautiful example of the kind of sharing and efficiency we love! “Recycling is better than wasting,” Ms Choi said, with her ever present smile. “These items are precious resources for those with little money to spare!”
It’s our privilege to walk with thousands of individuals and families referred to us by the Social Welfare Department and by NGOs each year. We help with goods that turn bare flats into homes, that invest in their children’s educations, and maximise possibilities even for those on the most minimal of incomes.
The calls began in earnest mid 2015 as a surge of global interest grew in response to the refugee crisis. In Calais, France, an informal camp appeared, known as the ‘Jungle’. It grew rapidly, though without decent facilities or permanent shelter. There were hundreds of unaccompanied minors among the refugees, children in hugely vulnerable situations. Through our Global Hand service, many people across the channel, in the UK, wanted to reach out. Our Global Hand office ran hot, throughout the duration of the Calais Jungle, guiding donors by phone and email to see the needed goods reach those stranded in this heartbreaking location.
Volkswagen astonished us by donating two people passenger movers, Caravelles and a Polo, perfect for moving our team around. Rather than sell these slightly used company cars, Volkswagen chose to donate them to us. An awesome gift!
Facts, figures, data… The creative IT company, Qlik, ‘automagically’ lets you see your data through different ‘lenses’ , in visual form, or graphs or charts. That ‘view’, in turn, lets us manage our systems better which means we can better serve people in need. Amazingly, Qlik has donated its services to us. Their example is proof positive that companies can help people in need by using their expertise. And all at a ‘Qlik’!
New computer centre: We sent computers that created the first computer centre in the area. It may be hard to believe, in today’s world, but many in the community had never seen a computer before. Now over 300 villagers have regular access to the centre, increasing their skill sets and helping connect them with the rest of the world (photo above).
New playground: Play is serious business in locations where childhoods are too often robbed. Psychologists advise that children’s overall development is impaired if they cannot ‘be kids’ and balance their growing years with play. Hong Kong’s Canadian International School sent equipment unlike anything the community had seen before! The presence of the playground is the first in the history of the village. Happiness is now part of their daily life.
