Express 2014may eng by Oxfam Hong Kong

攝影：何兆南

Oxfam Express

51 Issue

MAY 2014

See without seeing? Migrant workers and their needs

More than 200 million migrant workers struggle on the outskirts of prosperous cities. Their needs are often neglected. Oxfam works with them so they can develop sustainable livelihoods, gain better access to education, and assert their labour rights. Support Oxfam. Support migrant workers in breaking free from poverty. Message from the Director General Dear Oxfam Friends, The Chinese economy has been growing at a rapid pace for the last two decades. Beneath the prosperity, however, poverty in China is still prevalent. Impoverished people in China are growing poorer, the country’s rural-urban gap and income disparity are getting wider, and devastating disasters are becoming more frequent. Currently, there are more than 200 million rural-urban migrant workers in China. Many of them are exploited, their labour rights denied. They may feel isolated away from their home communities and develop occupational diseases. Their children, whether staying in their hometowns as “left behind children” or joining cities as “migrant children”, are marginalised and lack education resources. By helping migrant workers to protect their incomes and labour rights and by improving their children’s basic education, we are doing our part in reducing poverty in rural China and narrowing economic inequality in urban China.

www.oxfam.org.hk

(852) 3120 5000

Oxfam Hong Kong has been working in China since 1987. We set up a China Development Fund in 1992 and have been supporting urban livelihood projects in many cities across the country. This year, the theme of the Oxfam China Development Fund campaign is: “See without seeing? Migrant workers and their needs”. I sincerely hope you will buy a bag of Oxfam Rice to support our work in China.

to reduce people’s vulnerability in future disasters. In this issue of Oxfam Express, we present a summary of some of the major items in our humanitarian work in the past year. Again, thank you for your continuous support for Oxfam. With warm wishes,

Apart from long-term, community-driven development programmes, Oxfam also engages in humanitarian response work. We focus our emergency resources on poor communities in developing countries – specifically places which are remote, and where government resources are limited. When a disaster strikes, Oxfam immediately conducts a needs assessment, formulates a relief plan, and provides supplies directly to the affected communities. We work against the clock because time is of the essence when it comes to saving lives. We also integrate disaster management into our everyday community development work

(852) 2590 6880

info@oxfam.org.hk

Stephen Fisher Director General

Focus

Small-scale farmers leave home for work and struggle on city outskirts Wangjiaqiao, a district in northwest Kunming, is home to many migrant families who left their villages in Guizhou with hopes of building better livelihoods. Unlike cities in the Pearl River and Yangtze River deltas where factories employ migrants for production, Kunming has no major industry. Most of the migrant workers here find odd jobs doing manual labour or scavenge for a living. In spite of how hard their work is, they still feel that earning a living in the city is a little easier than on their farms.

Bo Lianqin: Making a living with handicrafts Like many other Buyi aboriginal people from Guizhou, Bo Lianqin came to Kunming with her family to make a living more than 10 years ago. They live with other Buyi families on a peach and pear orchard in Wangjiaqiao. Although there are beautiful peach and pear trees growing in the garden, the plot is covered with broken computers, electrical appliances and wiring, plastic bottles and water barrels. To make a living, the families in this orchard collect and sell this urban waste to merchants who deal in it. Lianqin is the only one who supports her family through traditional handicrafts and quilting. A few years earlier, Lianqin’s home, like those of her neighbours, was also filled with discarded items. Then she met social workers from the Heart to Heart Community Care Service Centre, a social services group in Yunnan supported by Oxfam. She joined a women’s livelihood group under the organisation called Lugongfang, meaning green handicrafts, and worked with other women from migrant families to make a living creating bags and household goods from recycled clothes. Women can also bring their young children to work so they do not have to be left at home alone.

Little Zhu Qin: Growing up with scarcity

Chen Zihua: Claiming compensation is mission impossible

Zhu Qin and her father live in a small room with an area of only about 30 square feet. With a bed occupying the rear part of the room, there is barely enough space for one person to pass through. There is no kitchen or toilet. They have to cook outside and use a public toilet, and wash themselves using a bucket of water. Nine-year-old Qin has one wish, not for a larger room or a toy, but for her father to be well and healthy. When Qin was two years old, her mother fell ill and died. Her father managed to find a night job as a watchman at a parking lot. Qin’s father has been working very hard, taking care of her by day and going to work by night. As they have no urban household registration, enrolling in a public school is very difficult. Qin’s father is willing to give half his monthly salary — 1,500 yuan — for her to study at a private school. Yet they have to live on a very tight budget and have no money for many other needs. When Qin’s father does not get his pay on time, they need to borrow money for their daily living expenses.

With the first rays of sunlight every day, hundreds of migrant workers arrive at an open space next to Wangjiaqiao’s Puji Road to attend what is known as a day-labour market. They rush to every car that stops, hoping to get hired for the day to do manual labour. Upon agreeing on a wage, they start working right away. Wages are received when the hard day of work is done. This temporary employment arrangement is entirely based on trust. Without any legal contract, it is very difficult for the workers to get compensation when disputes occur. Many of them do not even know the identities of their employers.

Qin’s situation reflects that of many children of migrant workers. They all face many kinds of difficulties: There are barriers to schooling, financial burdens, limited space for daily life and activities, insufficient care and companionship and a lack of cultural education. A severe lack of resources seriously affects the growth of children and may even lead to fatal results. Some children in Wangjiaqiao and its neighbouring towns have lost their lives while playing at construction sites or on streets. In order to support and safeguard these children, Heart to Heart opened an activity centre in Wangjiqqiao where they can go any time. Interest groups meet and various kinds of activities are held at the centre on weekends. Qin enjoys playing and reading there. Heart to Heart also does outreach work. For example, they tell children where potentially dangerous places are in the community and set up social worker stations at schools.

Encouraged by the staff of Heart to Heart, Lianqin once again picked up traditional Buyi embroidery, which she had stopped doing in order to earn a living. She also started designing ethnic patterns for Lugongfang’s handicrafts and taught other women to sew. Lianqin even managed to receive orders from local organisations to make cloth book covers. Now she can make about 2,000 yuan a month with her embroidery and by sewing. She feels much more confident and satisfied because she is relying on her own skills to make a living and her life has finally become more stable.

Once, Chen Zihua, 50, got some casual employment at the day-labour market. It was a job at a construction site. While working, she was hit by a falling metal pipe and fainted. Zihua was subsequently admitted to a hospital for examination and treatment, but was found with no apparent injury. Nonetheless, she often feels unwell, to the extent that she has not been able to work since she was discharged from the hospital. Consequently, she tried to claim compensation from her “employer”. Even though she reported the case to the police, the employer refused to give compensation except the hospital fees charged when she was first admitted. For many migrant workers like Zihua who are illiterate and work as day labourers with no contract, claiming work-injury compensation is mission impossible. Heart to Heart assists these workers in handling the complicated legal procedures. The organisation also provides cash assistance in cases of emergency. More importantly, the organisation works to promote a better understanding of labour laws by both workers and employers so as to reduce the number of disputes and work accidents. Heart to Heart regularly runs activities that raise awareness about labour laws and provides legal advice to workers at the day-labour market. They set up a support group for the workers. It serves as a platform through which they can support each other and socialise. This social network helps provide the human connections that the workers have lost in the course of moving.

Oxfam Rice Event Hong Kong

May

10 11 17 18 (Saturday & Sunday)

Macau

May Jun

(Saturday & Sunday)

Zihua points to the construction site where she was injured. Migrant workers often encounter serious difficulties in asserting their labour rights.

Zhu Qi and her father in their tiny home.

“Heart to Heart helps me go a long way,” Lianqin says, smiling.

With no playing space and toys, children play outside on streets.

Heart to Heart holds activities to raise awareness about workers’ rights at day-labour markets regularly.

See the

World In 2013, Oxfam Hong Kong spent HK$43,173,785 to implement 135 emergency and rehabilitation projects around the globe. These included disaster prevention work, humanitarian response, and reconstruction efforts. Thank you for your support. In any disaster, impoverished people are affected the most, because they are the most vulnerable and lack the resources to start over. Disasters are unavoidable, but with support and understanding from each other, survivors can get through them. For emergency projects, Oxfam provides relief directly to beneficiaries, the whole process is open, fair and transparent. Here is a brief report of five major humanitarian projects in 2013.

Gansu earthquake

(22 July 2013)

(As of 31 December 2013, we have raised HK$614,404. We have spent HK$1,418,894.) A 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck southeast Gansu Province, affecting more than 900,000 people in 417 townships across 29 counties. Survivors had to take shelter under tents made with plastic sheeting. Oxfam immediately mobilised relief from an emergency warehouse in Lanzhou to assist affected communities. As of March 2014, we had provided those affected with:

Syria crisis (As of 31 December 2013, we have raised HK$673,666. We have spent HK$858,000.) Three years have passed since the Syria crisis. More than 2.5 million people have now fled to neighbouring countries to escape the violence. They are in desperate need of shelter, food and water. As of March 2014, Oxfam has reached more than 1.17 million people in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. Oxfam has done the following in these countries:

• 120 tents, 500 blankets, 500 bed quilts, 2,500 folding beds, and 1,000 plastic sheets for waterproofing

In Syria

• installed 18 generators; constructed and repaired damaged water supply systems to provide clean water to more than 760,000 people • provided food relief, hygiene kits and other household items to civilians and host communities

In Lebanon

• provided cash assistance to at least 2,000 families so they can afford safe housing and buy items to meet their basic needs • improved water supply and hygiene conditions • provided vouchers for food and hygiene products in local shops to 1,400 families • provided warm clothes to 1,490 families, and heaters and tarpaulin to 778 families to protect their tents

Villagers of Min County are setting up a tent for emergency shelter. Earthquake survivors receive tents from Oxfam.

Photo: Simon Rawles/Oxfam

The World Health Organization estimates that more than half of all refugees have mental health problems. Children, having witnessed violence and displacement so early in their development, are particularly at risk from the effects of trauma and distress. As part of its hygiene promotion work, Oxfam is running an art project for children aged four to 14. They paint tiles which will be used in communal washing blocks. One of the big difficulties for children in refugee camps is boredom.

In Jordan (Zaatari refugee camp)

Floods in Mainland China (As of 31 December 2013, we have raised HK$435,350 and have spent HK$2,377,156.) Serious floods triggered by torrential rains ravaged many provinces in Mainland China, including Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi last year. The floods have affected more than 5.69 million, and forced 450,000 to evacuate in the three provinces. As of March 2014, Oxfam had provided emergency relief supplies to 24,551 people with:

• improved access to safe drinking water • provided shower facilities and laundry blocks to 8,000 refugees to improve public health • provided public health training and waste-management services to prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases • provided emergency latrines for 20,000 people • provided cash assistance to refugees in the camp so they can afford safe housing and buy items to meet their basic needs

• flour and cooking oil • family hygiene kits, quilts, tents and waterproof fabric for temporary shelter

The United Nations has appealed for a record HK$50.7 billion in response to the crisis in Syria, but so far, donor countries have delivered just HK$6 billion. Oxfam fears that unless the donor countries send the money desperately needed to fund the humanitarian response, then Syrians will not have the food, water, shelter, health care and education they need.

(As of 31 December 2013, we have raised HK$4,728,191. As this emergency happened at the end of the year, we will report the programme expenditure in our emergency work report for 2014 in early 2015.)

To mark the third anniversary of the Syria crisis on 13 March 2014, Oxfam launched an online campaign on its Facebook page, inviting the public to participate in the #WithSyria campaign by posting photos of themselves with a candle and using the #WithSyria hashtag.

Ya’an Earthquake

(20 April 2013)

Typhoon in the Philippines Photo: Simon Rawles/Oxfam

Amani Abd Latif, 13, and her family are refugees from Syria. The family is living in Jordan's Zaatari camp, where Oxfam is providing clean water and sanitation facilities to thousands of Syrian refugees and organising hygiene training sessions to prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases. “There is limited water available in the camp, and the supply is sporadic and can be unclean. Thanks to Oxfam, we now have clean water.” she said.

(As of 31 December 2013, we have raised HK$12,832,707, of which HK$2,064,000 comes from the Hong Kong government’s Disaster Relief Fund. We have spent HK$4,861,585.) A 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Lushan County in Sichuan Province’s Ya’an Prefecture, affecting 2.3 million people. Many buildings in the quake-hit area collapsed or were damaged. The day after the quake, a team of programme staff from our Chengdu office arrived in Lushan County, the worst-hit area, to assess the situation and determine the immediate needs of people there.

Recovery initiatives:

Oxfam supports villagers in the worst-hit county of Lushan in rebuilding water supply networks.

After villagers receive their relief items, we make sure that they sign their names on a roster listing each relief item that they have received. We then post a public notice showing villagers the total number and different categories of supplies distributed. The whole process is open, fair and transparent.

Nicholas Baclea-an, 54, grows rice and vegetables on about six hectares of land. He is a tenant farmer so the landlord receives about a quarter of his crops.

Typhoon Haiyan ripped through several islands in the central Philippines, affecting 14 million and leaving more than 4 million displaced. Six months on, Oxfam has reached more than 630,000 people on the islands of Cebu, Leyte and Samar, which were the worst-affected. With Oxfam’s support:

“During the typhoon, we hid under the table because everyone was so terrified at the strength of the winds. Our children and grandchildren were crying. The roof was blown away and a wall and a floor were cracked, but the building remained intact.

• • • • •

62,866 hygiene kits have been distributed 3,384 emergency toilets have been erected 200,000 people have received clean water 27,300 families have received water treatment kits 54,646 families have received emergency cash assistance to buy food and other necessities • 6,680 farmers have received rice seeds We are supporting families which have no means to start over by:

• We have provided relief to 46,786 people in Lushan and Baoxing. • We have arranged water provisions and sanitation facilities for 4,648 people. Currently, we are supporting rehabilitation projects, each of which lasts for two years, to assist about 30,000 people from 7,500 families in rebuilding their homes and restoring their livelihoods. These projects involve: • providing support for rebuilding livelihoods, and reconstructing roads and a bridge. • providing training on disaster preparedness and risk reduction, and on how to construct emergency shelters.

(8 November 2013)

Restoring livelihoods

Emergency response as of March 2014:

A flood-affected villager in Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province, receives relief items from Oxfam.

Photo: Caroline Gluck/Oxfam

• providing chainsaws, sawmills, protective clothing and training so they can turn fallen coconut trees into wood to rebuild houses or to sell the wood to small-scale merchants. • lobbying and working with the Philippine government to ensure homeless families get safe and comfortable accommodation with enough light and privacy. • working with local organisations and government agencies to ensure that survivors can access essential services such as health care and apply for government loans. One storm expert says climate change may have played a big role in the havoc that Typhoon Haiyan wreaked on the Philippines. Oxfam strives to assist poor people in adapting to climate change. It is also committed to helping communities become less vulnerable by developing their capacities and their ability to mitigate, predict, prepare and recover from disasters.

“We used to eat three meals a day before the typhoon and we still do, but we must rely on relief goods. I had some seeds to plant, but they got wet. I got two bags of seeds from Oxfam, which I planted on two hectares of land.”

Joel Vilamor, 26, lost his home to Typhoon Haiyan. He built a new house using wood salvaged from the storm wreckage and a tarpaulin provided by Oxfam. “I just want to say thank you, especially to Oxfam, which gave us this tarpaulin, and thank you to all the other agencies that have helped us,” he said.

Photo: Eleanor Farmer/Oxfam

Activities Exploration activity: without a home in the world — exploring war and conflict Every day, millions of people around the world experience war and conflict. How much do you know about the suffering and challenges faced by people living in countries plagued by war, about the loss of family, friends and home? Through different experiential and participatory activities, people joining Oxfam’s workshop, Without a Home in the World, will have a chance to experience how children’s lives are affected. Date Venue

: 28 June, 2014 (Saturday) : Oxfam Hong Kong Interactive Education Centre, 9/F China United Centre, 28 Marble Road, North Point Time : 2:30 – 5:30 pm Language: Cantonese • For parents and their children aged 9 to 12 • Please arrive at 2:20 pm. • Participants will be asked to sit on the floor. Please remove your shoes before entering the centre.

Meeting Fair Trade Hong Kong

Donor trip to Yunnan, China

We invite you to visit Fair Trade Hong Kong (FTHK), one of the many local organisations we support.

We invite you, our valued monthly donors, to travel to Yunnan — a great opportunity to see the changes in the lives of the people there and to deepen your understanding of Oxfam’s work, where you will learn about our work first-hand and be able to talk directly with project participants.

Under unfair international trade policies, farmers cannot even cover their own production costs. Oxfam believes that fair trade is one way for farmers in developing countries to escape from poverty. In 2002, Oxfam launched the Make Trade Fair campaign and cofounded FTHK with 11 groups. FTHK is committed to promoting fair trade in Hong Kong. FTHK organises the “Bring Fair Trade to Your School” campaign and Fair Trade Ambassador Programme as two of its key projects. Apart from schools, FTHK also targets offices to spread the fair trade message. FTHK organises the annual Fair Trade Fortnight, with booths selling fair trade products and offering games, as well as seminars and exhibitions. Date Time Venue

: 9 August 2014 (Saturday) : 2:30 – 5:00 pm : Oxfam Hong Kong Office, 17/F, China United Centre, 28 Marble Road, North Point, Hong Kong Activities : Blind tasting of fair trade and conventional chocolates, cookies and tea, with an introduction to the principle of fair trade, and a talk about its impact and development in Hong Kong by FTHK Meeting details: 2:15 pm at North Point MTR Station Exit A4 You and your friends are invited.

Oxfam Donor Activities – Reply Form

Please tick

Number of partners: 8 Price: HK$5,500 (This includes transport and accommodations. Refunds will be made if a balance remains after deducting the actual charges.) Requirements: Oxfam Partners aged 18 or above who are willing to share their observations from the trip with Oxfam supporters and the general public Please return the form below to us by 23 May 2014. We will contact successful applicants by 30 May 2014.

Please fax this form to (852) 2590 6880 or send it to Oxfam Hong Kong, 17/F China United Centre, 28 Marble Road, North Point, Hong Kong. Please mark the envelope “Donor Activities”

Full Name:

Age:

Telephone (Day):

Date: 23 – 28 June 2014

Oxfam Partner No. (if any): MD

Occupation: Email:

(Night):

Donor trip to Yunnan (23 – 28 June 2014) What do you expect from this trip?

We expect you to record your observations during the trip and share them with other donors and possibly the general public. What methods would you choose to do this?

Exploration activity: without a home in the world — exploring war and conflict (28 June 2014) Name of participant:

Age:

Name of participant:

Age:

Name of participant:

Age:

Name of participant:

Age:

Meeting Fair Trade Hong Kong (9 August, 2014) For enquiries, please contact us at (852) 3120 5000

No. of participants:

Macau toll free hotline: 0800 809 Fax: (852) 2590 6880

Fundraising Activities

Have you ever thought of giving yourself or your loved ones an unforgettable birthday? MyOxfam is a fundraising webpage that allows you to help poor people, while Oxfam Unwrapped lets you find a wonderful gift for your loved ones. Both ways add meaning and purpose to a birthday. Let’s share the joy of helping others!

3 easy steps to set up a myOxfam page:

Your birthday You just need to click into the myOxfam webpage (www.oxfam.org.hk/myoxfam), create your own myOxfam page, and ask your friends to donate to Oxfam instead of giving you gifts.

Birthdays of your family members and friends

Oxfam UNwrapped

If you want to find a wonderful birthday gift for a family member or friend, look no further. With Oxfam Unwrapped, you can find a great selection meaningful presents, for example, gift sets comprising 10 ducklings, and desks and chairs for schools in Mainland China. The gift you choose will be sent together with a birthday card. Click on Oxfam Unwrapped’s webpage (www.oxfamunwrapped.org.hk) now and give your loved ones a surprise!

www.oxfamunwrapped.org.hk

Set your fundraising target, then complete and submit the online application form.

Forward it to your friends and encourage them to support your event and Oxfam.

Check your page often and keep track of the donation amount.

十隻小鴨

10 Ducks

Rowing toward a brighter future Organised by the Hong Kong, China Rowing Association, the Hong Kong Open Indoor Rowing Championships and Charity Rowathon 2014 was successfully held in March. More than 1,000 participants from a range of Asian countries took part in the exciting sports event. Oxfam has been the rowathon’s beneficiary for four consecutive years. Part of the participation fee, proceeds from a charity sale, and donations collected in a box placed at the venue were given to Oxfam in support of its global poverty alleviation work. In fact, Oxfam’s projects and the rowathon share something in common: They both require passion and devotion. We are inviting more partners who share the same values to join hands to fight against poverty and injustice. We welcome events such as concerts, book fairs and exhibitions which raise funds for Oxfam. Together, we can change the world for the better. For enquiries, please contact Ashley Chan at (852) 3120 5145 or by email at ashley.chan@oxfam.org.hk

Robert Wilson (4th from left), President of Hong Kong, China Rowing Association; Mike Tanner, Chairman of Hong Kong, China Rowing Association (1st from right); and Wendy Liu, Representative of Oxfam Hong Kong (2nd from right) attended the prize presentation.

課室桌椅

Desk & Chair

Oxfam Snapshots The officiating guests at the opening ceremony included (from left): Kanie Siu, Director of Fundraising and Communications, Oxfam Hong Kong; Timothy Ma & Josephine Chesterton, Council members of Oxfam Hong Kong; Bernard Chan, vice chairman of the Oxfam Hong Kong Council; Lo Chi Kin, chairman of the Oxfam Hong Kong Council; Walter Chan, Council member of Oxfam Hong Kong, and Stephen Fisher, Director General of Oxfam Hong Kong. The cold weather and rain did not dampen the participants’ enthusiasm.

Oxfam Walkathon 2014

The Oxfam Walkathon 2014 met with great success on Sunday 9 February at The Peak. About 700 people, including monthly and corporate donors, registered to join the event. Together, they raised about HK$400,000 to support Oxfam’s global anti-poverty work. Bernard Chan, vice-chairman of the Oxfam Hong Kong council, made an opening speech, saying: “The event aims to raise awareness about poverty and the injustices that it causes, while raising funds to support Oxfam’s long-term development and public education programmes, and its humanitarian responses around the world.” The day of the event was cold and foggy, with intermittent showers, making the 2 km walk quite challenging. In spite of that, participants in both the individual and team categories remained in high spirits. They walked hand in hand and were greeted by enthusiastic volunteers at the three checkpoints. Oxfam thanks everyone who supported the event. See you again at Oxfam Walkathon 2015!

Oxfam Towerrun 2014 Oxfam Towerrun, the first fundraising sports event in Macau, concluded with great success on 15 March. About 100 participants took up the challenge of running up 1,298 steps from the ground floor of Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre to the main observation level on the 61st floor. Edward’s Team was crowned champion of the Team Challenge category, finishing in 8 minutes 40 seconds. For the men’s and women’s individual challenges, the champions were Lei I-ka and So Yan-yan, respectively, with times of 9 minutes 34 seconds and 13 minutes 27 seconds.

A runner crosses the finish line.

Participants celebrate after the first ever Oxfam Towerrun concludes in Macau.

Officiating guests at the opening ceremony included Soler, Hong Kong Amputees Sport Association Chair Fung Kam-hung, Oxfam Fundraising and Communications Committee member Henry Ho, and Oxfam Director of Fundraising and Communications Kanie Siu. Oxfam Towerrun aims to raise funds to support the agency’s work on poverty alleviation and emergency relief around the world. The event raised over HK$100,000.

Donor trip to Bangladesh From 21 to 28 February 2014, seven monthly donors travelled to Bangladesh to see some of Oxfam’s projects in the country. One of the participants, Gilbert Lee Man-lung, shares his experience. I always wanted to learn more about how international NGOs do their work. This donor trip to Bangladesh proved to be a very fruitful experience. Oxfam differentiates itself from other agencies and creates impact through its philosophy of development, which stresses Gilbert (second row, 4th from left) believes that Oxfam’s development programmes, the importance of building people’s capacities and uses a which focus on building people’s capacities and use a participatory approach, are participatory approach. It is encouraging to see communities are creating solid impacts. developing better livelihoods and more balanced social dynamics as a result. Many of the initiatives that Oxfam supports and funds have become self-sustaining. Oxfam also plants seeds for the future by developing young leaders. Schoolchildren learn about health, sanitation and values like gender equality and then help spread these messages to their communities. The young leaders try, in the words of Mahatma Gandhi, to “be the change that they wish to see in the world”. Actions speak louder than words. It takes tremendous leadership by Oxfam and its partners to change things step by step. I applaud the wisdom, courage and determination of the development workers in bringing dignity to the lives of those who are less privileged. Thus, I will continue to support Oxfam’s anti-poverty work. What touched me most during my time in Bangladesh were the joyful faces of the people I met. Their smiles showed the peace and hope they felt. The people we met in Bangladesh are friendly, grateful and hopeful. I wonder if Hong Kongers are as happy as our friends in Bangladesh. Perhaps we should reflect on whether wealth and economic development are still the only goals of our city. Happiness is simple.

Meet the Oxfamers

Development and women:

A Case study in Cuba

By Mayling Chan, International Programme Director, Oxfam Hong Kong It has been more than half a year since I returned to the Oxfam family. Eight years ago, I decided to leave my job at Oxfam after having worked at the organisation for 12 years, because I wanted to follow my heart to do something that I enjoyed and explore new ways to make a change in the world. Most importantly, I felt that it was time to improve my knowledge and skills, particularly in sustainable development and policy research. Therefore, I went to Cuba to further my studies. During the five years in Cuba, I acquired new knowledge and learned to speak Spanish. The language opened my mind to new perspectives. I have always believed that young people should not cling to job security or remain in their comfort zones. Instead, they should continue to improve their skills and strive to realise their dreams. As a woman, I believe that we are a driving force for positive change in the world. In Asia, urbanisation is rapidly changing the dynamics of rural communities. When women stay behind to take care of their children and aging parents while their husbands go away for work in the cities, life at home can become stressful. This is what I witnessed when I visited Oxfam’s projects in Nepal in December last year. I compared that to Cuba, which is so different from other developing countries. Cuba has a very high human development index. The government is active in building the capacity of its people, and its policies focus on health and education. Some people criticise Cuba for its backward social, political and economic systems. However, the life expectancy in Cuba is 80 years. Ten per cent of the population in the country has a university degree. I was so impressed by this. That’s why I decided to study the country’s policies on gender equality and its development strategies. Since 1959, Cuba has been concerned about gender equality. After the revolution, the Federation of Cuban Women was set up to coordinate and promote the emancipation of women, increase their political participation, improve their welfare, and empower them at the national level. Women in Cuba have benefited from various revolutionary policies on education, health, employment and social security. They enjoy a status equal to men, and can participate in politics. They also enjoy equal social benefits. They have developed a keen awareness of gender equality through training. Before 1959, women only comprised 12 per cent of total workforce, but by the 1990s, the figure had increased to 42 per cent.

Mayling poses with a group at a camp in Kachin State during a trip to visit Oxfam projects in Myanmar in March 2014. Oxfam supports livelihood projects in the area.

Studies show that in the 1990s, 72 and 67 per cent of education and health workers, respectively, were women. The Cuban National Office of Statistics reported that in 2006, 66 per cent of all its technical and professional workers were women. The Cuban Ministry of Agriculture has also raised awareness of the importance of women. A recent study of Cuban society revealed that rural women have benefited significantly from the country’s education and employment policies. Women have become the driving force of agricultural development, as well as leaders in their families, in the workplace, and among rural communities. For example, 67,576 women – 20 per cent of the total labour force – have taken part in urban agriculture programmes. So, what can Oxfam learn from Cuba? Oxfam Canada is working closely with women leaders in the country’s National Association of Small Farmers. They are also building women’s capacities in urban farming. The experience could be cross-fertilised with our programmes in North Korea, where women are living and working in a similar context, that is, among cooperative farms, which are all over the country. Women in North Korea are the main caretakers of kitchen gardens and engage in sustainable farming. The food grown in these gardens can enhance their families’ nutritional intake. In the long run, empowering these women to expand their kitchen gardens can help the country become more self-sufficient for food. Editor’s note: Mayling first worked at Oxfam Hong Kong from 1993 to 2005. During that time, she was responsible for designing and developing Oxfam’s programmes in China and around the globe. In 2013, Mayling returned, taking up the post of international programme director. Mayling stands with members of a self-help group in Nepal. She believes women are a driving force for positive change.

Reports / Acknowledgements Total Programme Expenditure: HK$67million

New Project Highlights

(November 2013 to February 2014)

(From 1 November 2013 to 31 March 2014, Oxfam Hong Kong approved 122 new projects.) • Advocacy project on reducing food waste and sharing food

(Mali & Zambia)

(Indonesia, DPR Korea, the Philippines & Timor-Leste)

(Lao DPR, Myanmar & Vietnam)

Mainland China Beijing

Other & global

The Mekong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong • Advocacy project on increasing child care supports for low-income families

Africa

Archipelagic Southeast Asia

16%

1% 3% 9%

54%

(including Mexico & Syria)

South Asia

(Bangladesh, India & Nepal)

Mainland China & Macau

580 on-going projects (as of 28 February 2014) * The programme expenditure is subject to audit and will be published in the Annual Review 2013/2014.

• Legal service and support network for domestic workers • Mutual help support network for migrant women Gansu • Livelihood development project in Huining County • The promotion of environmental hygiene and women’s health and education in Weiyuan County Guizhou • Emergency relief project in response to the 2013 drought in Tongzi County • Road construction project in Jiangkou County Jiangsu • Support for Nanjing University to promote labour legislation, education, consultations and legal aid Shaanxi • Post-flood rehabilitation project in Nanzheng County • Research on the technical and economic potential of mitigation measures in agriculture in poor areas Sichuan • Bridge construction projects in Beichuan County Yunnan • Drinking water project for people and livestock in Shidian County • Integrated development project in Chuxiong City

Archipelagic Southeast Asia DPR Korea

• Rehabilitation of agriculture for improved food security and more resilient livelihoods at Munsu farm The Philippines • Super Typhoon Haiyan Humanitarian Response

Central America Mexico • Humanitarian response for 10,000 people affected by Hurricane Manuel in Guerrero State

South Asia

Bangladesh • Development of Haor advocacy platform Nepal • Promotion of self-help initiatives in the rural areas of Kapilbastu

The Mekong Vietnam • Typhoon and flood response to assist 8,000 people in Ha Tinh Province

Acknowledgements Hong Kong, China rowing Association

Oxfam China Development Fund 2014

Oxfam Towerrun 2014

Oxfam Lai See 2014

Hong Kong Principal Sponsor: Wing Hang Bank

Venue Sponsor: Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre

Oxfam’s Lai See Donation campaign has come to an end. Thank you for your participation. Every penny that was donated will be used to help poor families throughout the world to fight against poverty. Special thanks to the volunteers from Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. for helping us count the donations and also thanks to Eaton Hotel for providing the venue for the prize presentation.

Sponsors: Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Hong Kong Health Check & Medical Diagnostic Group Limited Logistics Sponsor: TNT Express Worldwide (HK) Ltd. Oxfam Rice Sponsor: Dah Chong Hong Holdings Oxfam Rice Sale Venue Sponsors: Hang Lung Properties Hong Kong Housing Authority Hong Kong Housing Society MTR Corporation Limited The Link Oxfam Rice Stall Sponsors: Athena Best Financial Group Baker & Mckenzie CITIC Pacific Pro Office Tai Shing Group (Holdings) Co. Ltd. Participating Organisation: Hang Seng Bank Oxfam Ambassador: Ivana Wong Volunteer Photographers: Huisi Wang South Ho Acknowledgements: BKT Group Chocolate Rain Japan Home Centre Vitasoy International Holdings Limited

Macau Sponsors: Banco Weng Hang, S.A. Grand Emperor Hotel Seng Fung Jewellery Logistics Sponsor: Dah Chong Hong Macau Logistics Warehouse Co. Ltd.

Travel Partner: TurboJET Official Timekeeper: SEIKO - Thong Sia Watch Co., Ltd. Telecom Partner: CTM Logistics Partner: Dah Chong Hong Macau Logistics Warehouse Co. Ltd. Official Drink: Vitasoy (Macau) Limited Media Partners: New Gen. Monthly X Life Magazine Acknowledgements: Athletic Association of Macau China Banco Tai Fung Volunteer Team Choi Fung Hong Direcção dos Serviços de Protecção Ambiental Instituto do Desporto do Governo da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau Instituto para os Assuntos Cívicos e Municipais Macau Red Cross Pomelo Leaf (HK) Limited Shun Tak Holdings Limited (Macau) Volunteer Team Shun Tak Travel Services Ltd. Banco Weng Hang Volunteer Team Volunteer Photographers: Annie Ieong Antonio Leong Calvin Mo Jim Chim Sonic Chan Sunsun Leung Yo Leung Guests: Mr & Mrs Fung Kam Hung Soler

Storage Service Sponsor: Store Friendly Self Storage Group Telecom Partner: CTM Oxfam Ambassador: Ivana Wong Acknowledgements: Bank of China Macau Branch Instituto para os Assuntos Cívicos e Municipais Ricacorp (Macau) Properties Ltd. Royal Supermarket Tealicious Art House Vitasoy (Macau) Limited

Altogether, 99 kindergartens, primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong and Macau joined the event this year and donated over HKD1.07 million.

Hong Kong The prizes are as follow: Donation Awards (Kindergarten group): Champion : Keen Mind Kindergarten 1st runner-up : Kowloon Rhenish School (Kindergarten) 2nd runner-up : Yuen Long Sam Yuk Kindergarten Donation Awards (Primary group): Champion : St. Francis of Assisi's Eng. Primary School 1st runner-up : P.L.K. Choi Kai Yau School 2nd runner-up : Raimondi College Primary Section Other Participating Schools: Agnes English Kindergarten Bishop Paschang Catholic School Buddhist Lam Bing Yim Memorial School (Sponsored by the Hong Kong Buddhist Association) Buddhist Tai Kwong Chi Lam College C & Ma Sun Kei Primary School Canossa Primary School Caster Primary School Catholic Ming Yuen Secondary School CCC Kei Yuen College CFSC Cheerland Kindergarten / Child Care Centre Cheung Chuk Shan College Chi Hong Primary School Chi Lin Buddhist Secondary School Ching Chung Hau Po Woon Primary School Christian Alliance College Christian Alliance S. C. Chan Memorial College Christian Little Angel Kindergarten (Kam Fung Court) Creativity (Parkvale) Kindergarten & Nursury Fanling Public School FDBWA Chow Chin Yau School First Assembly of God Church Tin Chak Nursery GCE Past Students Association Whampoa Primary School Heung To Seoondary School (TKO) HHCKLA Buddhist Chan Shi Wan Primary School HK & KLN Chiu Chow Public Association Ma Chung Sum Seocndary School HKSTC & IA Wong Tai Shan Memorial College HKTA The Yuen Yuen Institute No.1 Secondary School HKUGA Primary School Ho Lap Primary School (Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen) Ho Ming Primary School (Sponsored By Sik Sik Yuen) Ho Shun Primary School (Sponsored By Sik Sik Yuen) Hong Kong Baptist University Kindergarten Hoyu College & Primary School (Sponored by Sik Sik Yuen) Jockey Club Government Secondary school Kowloon Rhenish School (Primary) Kowloon Tong School (Primary Section) Kowloon True Light School Kwong Lam Baptist Lui Kwok Pat Fong Kindergarten / Nursery Lai Chack Middle School

Donation Awards (Secondary group): Champion : Ying Wa Collage 1st runner-up : Good Hope School 2nd runner-up : St Rose of Lima's College

Highest rates of Participated Awards: Kindergarten: Assembly of God Union Church Kindergarten Primary school: Sung Tak Wong Kin Sheung Memorial School Secondary school: Ning Po College

Participating Schools in Macau Escola Secundária Luso-Chinesa de Luís Gonzaga Gomes Macao Conservatory - School of Music Sacred Heart Canossian College (English Section) Sheng Kung Hui Choikou School Macau The International School of Macao

Marymount Primary School Munsang College Kindergarten N.T. Heung Yee Kuk Tai Po District Secondary School Ning Po No. 2 College Pat Heung Central Primary School Pentecostal Lam Hon Kwong School Ping Shek Estate Catholic Primary School Salesian English School Sha Tin Government Secondary School Shan Tsui Public School Shataukok Centre Primary School Sheung Shui Pui Yau Kindergarten SKH Holy Trinity Church Tsang Shiu Tim Kindergarten SKH Holy Trinty Church Secondary School SKH Kei Hau Secondary School SKH Li Fook Hing Seocndary Schoiol SKH TTLSK Primary School SKH Yuen Chen Maun Chen Primary School SRBCEPSA Ho Sau Ki School St Matthew's Church Kindergarten St. Anthony's School St. Louis School (Primary Section) St. Mark's School St. Patrick's School Tak Sun Secondary School Taoist Ching Chung Primary School The HK Chinese Women's Club Kindergarten Nursery Tin Shui Wai Government Secondary School TKDS Fong Shu Chuen School Truth Baptist Church Kindergarten Tsung Tsin Christian Academcy TWGHs Chang Ming Thiem College TWGHs Hok Shan School TWGHs Lee Ching Dea Memerial College TWGHs Mrs Fung Wong Fung Ting College TWGHs Sin Chu Wan Primary School Wah Yan College Kowloon Wong Shiu Chi Secondary School Workers' Children Secondary School YCH Chiu Tsang Hok Wan Primary School Yuen Long Merchants Association Kindergarten Yuen Long Public Secondary School YWCA Hioe Tjo Yoeng College

Oxfam Ambassadors: Nancy Sit Sammy Leung Participating Organisation: English Excel Acknowledgement: Semk Products Limited

2014 Oxfam Musical Marathon

Oxfam Partners Recruitment Campaign - Exhibition Area Sponsorship (November 2013 to March 2014)