OSC funds charity helping refugees find work
A Christmas wish for a beneficiary of a community centre is about to come true. Uzma Naveed has been in Hong Kong for almost nine years. A few months ago, she received her refugee status, which would allow her to live in the city, though temporarily. With the help of lawyers, she was also permitted to work here legally. This magical moment was possible thanks to the Employability Programme by the Christian Action Centre for Refugees, one of the 16 local charities to be funded by the Operation Santa Claus 2023 campaign jointly organised by RTHK and South China Morning Post. The theme for this year's Operation Santa Claus campaign is "Magic Moments", and the 16 causes cover everything from children and youth needs, to the environment, to help for people with disabilities. Formerly Chungking Mansion Service Centre, Christian Action Centre for Refugees was established in 2003. In 2017, it launched the Employability Programme so that recognised refugees can participate in Hong Kong's workforce. The community centre in Tsim Sha Tsui is the city's first and only drop-in facility serving asylum seekers and refugees, providing support to hundreds of people every month who are often fleeing war, violence and persecution.  From humanitarian care to soft skills training to legal assistance, these services do not discriminate against race, religion or gender. They help beneficiaries lead more independent and dignified lives so that they can, in turn, provide for themselves and their families. Speaking to RTHK's Carol Mang, former beneficiary-turned-centre employee Naveed said the programme has been valuable not only to her, but also to those around her. "The Employability Programme helped me to gain my skills. And now what I'm doing [is] all what I learned from my Employability Programme. We go for public speaking. We go for interviews. We make our CVs. And now I'm helping others through the skills I have learned through the Employability Programme. "One of the best things about Christian Action Centre for Refugees is that they found my son a scholarship to Kellett International School, so right now he's studying in one of the best schools in Hong Kong," she added. So, with new opportunities in education and employment, it promises to be a festive Christmas for Naveed and her family.  "Now my son is so happy that mom is working and she will get a salary... So it's really amazing this Christmas [that there will be] a gift for my kids and for my family. I'm so, so happy," Naveed said. To find out more about Operation Santa Claus or to support the campaign, visit the Operation Santa Claus website.