Strength‧力量
離
Voice.聲音
「 作為一個單親媽媽,子女還在讀幼稚園,玉華當時真 的很徬徨。但她參加婦女貧窮關注會後,自信心提升了」
婚,對一個多年以照顧家庭為任的家庭主 照顧,故促使她積極參與單親小組,向政府爭取單親
作為一個單親媽媽,子女還在讀幼稚園,玉華當
婦來說,承受的壓力絕不足為外人道。
時真的很徬徨。但她參加婦女貧窮關注會後,自
婦女的權益,這亦是婦女貧窮關注會的前身。
玉華的丈夫嗜賭,徘徊離婚邊緣的她知道離婚
因削減資源令社福機構無法再
信心提升了。同時,她參與了社區工作後,體會
後將失去倚靠,要獨力照顧兩
支持單親小組的運作,但小組
到有不少婦女的處境比自己還堪坷,希望把自身
個女兒。最後她選擇離婚,並
成員不願解散,所以於2005年
故事與她們分享,帶來更積極的力量。
申領綜緩維持生活。
11月29日正式註冊為「婦女 貧窮關注會」,為貧窮婦女
離婚後,玉華拒絕接觸外界。後
爭取權益、助人自助、陪同
來一張張貼於社福機構的海報吸
成員到社署申請福利、向政
引了她。起初玉華甚少在組內分
府請願等。
享,但因社署要求她外出工作, 她便開始擔心還年小的子女無人
婦女動力基金自2005年起撥款資助「婦女貧窮 關注會」的工作,包括培育基層單親婦女成為組 織者;屯門區舉行街展;參加民間聯席,向政府 部門表達意見;爭取婦女權益等,從而讓公眾認 識女性貧窮問題,減少歧視。該會現有約20名 會員。
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or a housewife who has spent her entire life caring for her family, it’s impossible to imagine life after a divorce. “I won’t be able to afford it. I will be left all alone after a divorce and will have to take care of my family on my own. I dare not do so.” Because of his addiction to gambling, Yuk Wah’s husband had not contributed towards the family’s expenses for months. But despite her fears over divorce, she eventually found the courage to do so, and applied for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) for financial support. Yuk Wah lived in isolation after her divorce. One day, as she passed a social service centre in Tuen Mun, a poster about a Single Parent support group caught her eye. She decided to join the group. At first, during group meetings, she seldom spoke out. But then the Social Welfare Department asked her to participate in the New Dawn Intensive Employment Assistance Project
and found her a job. She started worrying she could not afford the time to take care of her children if she started working. This motivated her to fight for the rights of single mothers and actively participate in the Single Parent Support Group. Later registered as the Concerning Group for Women Poverty in 2005. It focuses on striving for women’s rights, information exchange on welfare applications, and assisting its members to obtain the welfare that they are entitled to. It collaborates with the Alliances to fight for women’s rights and express their opinions in the Legislative Council. As a single parent with children still in kindergarten, Yuk Wah was very uncertain about the future. After she joined the Concerning Group for Women Poverty, her confidence was boosted.
Moreover, she learnt that some people’s lives were more difficult than hers. She wanted to share her blessings with the less fortunate. HER Fund has supported the work of the Women Poverty Concern Group since 2005 by subsidizing capacity building and empowerment programs offered to the grassroots women in Tu e n M u n . The Group a d vo ca t e s r ig h t s f o r p o o r wo m e n a n d o r g a n ize s m u t u a l su p p o r t a ct ivit ie s.
「是次活動由青少女作主導,因為網上交友是我們 經常接觸的活動,而社會對此問題亦有很多誤解」
牽
涉青少年的網上罪行正掀起一片道德恐慌,援 料後作分析和討論,並透過舉辦記者會和參與社區教育 交及網上欺凌更是近日社福界和教育界的熱門 活動向公眾分享成果。 話題。但時代不同,交友的方式亦不同,網上交友 嘉嘉強調青少女參與有助豐富社會對網上交友的討論。 真是洪水猛獸嗎? 「是次活動由我們青少女作主導,因為網上交友是我們 「社會已假設我們網上交友一定會遇到壞人然後受 經常接觸的活動,而社會對此問題有很多誤解」她說。 騙,但事實上青少年也有能力分辨是非黑白;而且 對很多青少女而言,網上交友可讓她們更勇於認識新朋 媒體亦有以偏蓋全之嫌,不但誇大網上交友的負面 友和主動表達自己的情感。「在現今世代,只要在 face新聞,亦強調女性作 book 或 msn 上加多一個姓名即識多一個朋友。這實在 為受害者的角色」嘉 便於我們在繁忙的生活中認識更多的朋友」阿寶說。「 嘉說。 加上電子科技普及,網上交友相信是未來社會溝通的方 式。」 嘉嘉和友人阿寶參加 由婦女動力基金贊助 事實上不少青少女都意識到網 的行動研究,向青少 上交友的風險,如何安全擇友 女進行有關網上交友 更是她們關心的課題,有見及 的問卷調查,收集資
een-related interT net crimes have caused somewhat
of a moral panic in Hong Kong. Most of these reports and surveys highlight concern over the sexual maturity of teenage girls and their loss of innocence. And in doing so, they effectively reinforce the stereotype of young girls as helpless and incompetent individuals. “Society assumes we will fall into the trap of committing wrongs when we make friends on the internet. But as teenagers, we have the ability to differentiate between right and wrong. Also, I think many media reports are biased, exaggerating the negative aspects of net relationships or highlighting girls as victims,” says Ka Ka. Under the guidance of social workers, Ka Ka and her friend Ah Bo took part in the research as interviewers. Together with six other teenage girls, they interviewed, discussed and analyzed the research results, then organized a press conference to share their insights
政治緣故,Sabrina於2007年1月與丈夫和 兩名女兒離開斯里蘭卡來到香港,向聯合國 難民事務高級專員署申請確認其難民身份,至今 仍未有結果。回想來港初期,她一家身上只有港 幣一千元,透過朋友的介紹而認識基督教勵行會 (下稱勵行會),讓她一家得到臨時住宿、 衣服和食物。
「其實安全與否視乎你如何選擇和認清那些網友是 可靠的,安全建立網上關係是首要一課」阿寶說。 嘉嘉表示網上和真實世界都是一個讓她們探索和建 立自我身份的平台,兩者其實並無衝突。「我們網 上有一班互相分享的朋友,現實中亦有一些互相幫 助的。兩者可以並存,」嘉嘉說。「是次研究可讓 我們發表青少女對網上交友的看法,引起討論」 是項活動令一班青少女意識到自 己獨立自主的一面,也是建立自 信的過程。她們發聲表達意見, 更把經歷和體會與其他青年人 分享。 must shoulder more responsibility in educating teenagers about the potential pitfalls of cyber friendships.
with the media as well as took part in education programs in the community. “We played a leading role in these activities,” says Ka Ka. “(Net relationships) are relevant to our daily lives but I think there are many misconceptions about the issue.”
Taking part in the project also allowed Ka Ka and Ah Bo to realize their potential as independent and competent individuals. It was an empowering process through which the girls realize that they “In our generation, making a new friend means adding someone to our Facebook or msn. It is very convenient as could take charge of a situation and influence social discourse on issues relevant to their lives. an additional channel for us to make more friends in our busy lives,” says Ah Bo. Contrary to the image of teenag- “With this action research, we were able to express our views, which differed from public opinion, and ers as reckless thrill-seekers, safety is at the top of the spurred discussion so that the problem would not girls’ concerns. Learning from experiences and informabecome worse,” says Ka Ka. tion they gathered during the research, Ah Bo and Ka Ka have become well aware of internet con artists and HER Fund funded YMCA Kornhill Centre Integrated crimes. As a result, they penned a pamphlet, “10 Tips for Service Centre in 2009-2010 to conduct research Accessing the Internet Safely”, as a self-protection guide on cyber dating. The project aimed to find out young for other teenagers who have cyber friendships. girls’ real-life stories and perspectives on cyber dating and friendships. It also provided a platform “Of course we must pick our internet friends carefully, for participants to speak out and, in the process, exploring whether they are really trustworthy. The most important issue is to develop safe net relationships,” says become empowered to safeguard their social and cultural rights. Ah Bo, who adds that both schools and the government
Support.支持 因
此,嘉嘉和阿寶根據個人經驗和調查結果製作了一 批宣傳小錦囊以和其他年輕人分享心得。
「…我能認識到一班與我背景相似 尋求政治庇護 的婦女和家庭,這更是支持我繼續前行的力量!」
護婦女繪畫及美勞。在互助聚會內,她認識到不少 情況與她相近的婦女。由於這些婦女及其家庭都在 等候被確認難民身份,她們的想法都比較負面,而 Sabrina的出現,為她們帶來積極的想法。
「在這些班組和聚會中,我學到很多新的知識 技能,建立自信。我更認識到一班背景相似的婦 女和家庭,這更是支持我繼續前行的力量!」 Sabrina說。 婦女動力基金在2010-2011年向基督教勵行會撥 款港幣$30,000,資助難民及政治庇護婦女的互 助聚會,讓她們建立社交網絡,重建自信,以積 極態度面對困難。同時婦女亦從中認識自己的權 利和保障。
她和丈夫不能在港工作,這些年來只靠社福 機構提供微薄的租金津貼,每十日提供一次 的食物,以至交通支出、女兒校服及書簿費 等。 Sabrina在身無分文的情況下過了4年。現時 Sabrina每星期都到勵行會重慶服務中心學英 語、結他,以及當義工,教授其他尋求政治庇 Executive Committee Members MaryAnn KING (Chair from September 2010) FONG Man-ying (Vice Chairperson cum Hon. Secretary from November 2010) LAM Ying-hing (Hon. Treasurer) CHUNG Yuen Yi (Chair to September 2010; ExCo membership from September 2010) CHOW Choo-lin (ExCo member ) YIP Yan Yan (ExCo membership to September,2010 ) Hazel WONG (ExCo membership to September, 2010)
Members of Staff Linda TO - Executive Director Venus HUNG - Communication Officer (from August 2010 to February 2011) Jacky HUI - Fundraising Officer (from November 2010) Judy KAN - Programme Officer TANG Shuk On - Part-time Accounting Officer 職員 杜潔麗 - 行政總監 孔敏婷 – 傳訊主任 (由2010年8月至2011年2月) 許為昇 – 籌款主任 (由2010年11月起) 簡佩坤 - 項目幹事 鄧淑安 - 兼職會計文員
執行委員會成員 金佩瑋 (主席由2010年9月) 方旻煐 (副主席暨秘書由2010年11月) 林英卿 (榮譽財政) 鍾婉儀 (主席至2010年9月;委員由2010年9月) 周珠玲 (委員) 葉溵溵 (副主席暨秘書至2010年9月) 王佐芳 (委員至2010年9月) Address 地址︰Flat D, 6/F, Kingland Apartments, 739 Nathan Road, Prince Edward, Kowloon, Hong Kong 香港九龍彌敦道739號金輪大廈6字樓D室 Tel 電話︰(852) 2794-1100 / 2396-1088 Fax 傳真︰(852) 2396-7488 Email 電郵︰info@herfund.org.hk Website 網址︰www.herfund.org.hk
我們致力改善社會環境及消除性別歧視,維護 婦女的基本權利。 透過籌款、撥款及性別教育 工作,促進婦女和青少女的權益,尤其是支持 被忽略及資源緊絀的婦女團體及項目。 HER Fund mobilizes resources and invests in empowering women and girls to create change in communities for gender equality. We advances women and girls’ rights through fundraising, grant-making and philanthropic education. We give financial grants to the neglected and less-funded women’s groups and projects in the community.
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ew people are willing to abandon their home country. But for Sabrina and her family, there was no alternative. For political reasons, Sabrina and her family stowed away from Sri Lanka to Hong Kong and applied to the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to be recognized as refugees. When the family arrived in Hong Kong, they had just HK$1,000. Fortunately, a friend introduced Sabrina to Christian Action, which was able to help with temporary accommodation and basic necessities. Sabina and her family’s application is still pending, having been submitted more than 4 years ago. Since Sabina and her husband are seeking political asylum, they are not permitted by law to earn a living in Hong Kong, and as a result,
have not had any income during this period. Every week, Sabrina goes to Christian Action’s Chungking Mansion Service Centre to learn English and play guitar. She also teaches other female asylum seekers to paint and create other artworks. She makes friends with other women who are in similar situations. Together, they share their feelings and support one another. Sabrina learns not only English and guitar, but also gains a supportive network in the form of a group of friends who can share joy and sadness. “In every class or programme that I join, I always learn a new skill or improve myself each time. It develops my self-confidence. It also allows me to socialize with other
women and families facing similar conditions here in HK.” Sabrina said. HER Fund funded Christian Action in 2010-2011 for creating a platform for female asylum seekers to learn and to appreciate each other’s strength, to know more about their rights, and to be empowered to help others.