Take the $40 Challenge and walk together with refugees
Refugees in Hong Kong live on HK$40 a day for food.
-
Refugees and asylum seekers, especially single parent families, people experiencing physical and mental health challenges and survivors of war, violence and harm, face enormous challenges. They experienced severe traumatic events, such as being subjected to witnessing violence, family loss or separation, sudden displacement and are now in the process of applying for non-refoulment protection and refugee status. The number of refugees and asylum seekers according to Immigration Department in 2024 are approximately 15,000, with many from Asian, Middle Eastern and African countries. They barely survive on a stipend of $3,500 per month and suffer severe economic hardship, social isolation and disempowerment due to restrictions on their rights to work and the minimal support available.
-
In Hong Kong, each refugee is given HK$1,200 per month for food in the form of supermarket vouchers – that’s $40 a day.
The monthly assistance for a refugee includes:
Housing allowance of HK$1,500 paid directly to the landlord
Food allowance in the form of pre-paid supermarket cards of HK$ 1,200 (HK$40 per day)
HK$300 for utilities,
a toiletry bag with personal hygiene items,
and some petty cash for transportation to appointments.
-
We are dedicated to addressing the unique legal precarity faced by refugees, asylum seekers, and other displaced people in Hong Kong, by offering support with their protection claims. By ensuring that their stories are heard we aim to achieve a safer, more secure future for them.
We recognise that the path to safety relies on more than legal processes. Our programmes are designed to address immediate and pressing psychological and welfare needs ensuring that our clients can live with dignity as they pursue their legal journeys.
Our Emergency Welfare Fund allows us to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies that cannot be solved through NGOs or other means, providing short-term relief for accommodation, medical needs, food, and other basic essentials.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
JOIN THE #$40 CHALLENGE TO:
Walk with them
For 7 days of your choice from 29 May until 12 June live just one of the limitations that refugees face in Hong Kong. Budget to spend $40 a day on food to walk in their shoesFundraise for them
Donate the balance of what you usually spend on meals over seven days to help refugees and asylum seekers; or ask your friends to sponsor you. Justice Centre receives no government funding. Every dollar raised by the $40 Challenge will be directly allocated to sustain our essential legal and welfare services, including replenishing our Emergency Welfare Fund, which provides immediate assistance to refugees in dire situations in Hong Kong.
Your organization may also choose to match funds raised by participating staff, or offer prizes or incentives for staff donating above a certain amount. We will be happy to provide e-posters to help you publicize your organization’s support, or to schedule a talk at your office.
Help us reach our goal of raising HK$200,000 to replenish our emergency fund for one year and help more refugees receive urgent legal and welfare support.
Recently our Emergency Welfare Fund: Provided a refugee with severe tooth ache with urgent dental treatment, alleviating unbearable pain and restoring their ability to eat and smile without suffering
Secured temporary accommodation for a man facing homelessness when his savings ran out, offering him a safe place to stay until he could receive further assistance. This support was a lifeline during his most vulnerable moments.
Helped a single mother and her two boys, who struggled to pay her utility bill after her husband’s departure. The Emergency Welfare Fund stepped in, ensuring her family had electricity, warmth, and light in their home during a challenging time.
If you prefer to give directly to our works and services, please gift by visiting our donation page.
