Bethune House hits $1M goal, and more

 

Bethune's Edwina Antonio thanks supporters at the Dara fundraiser

Hong Kong never fails to come across as a caring and compassionate society, especially at the most critical times. This was what the staff and clients of the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Shelter found out, after they sent out an SOS (Save our Shelter) appeal in September this year.

Bethune’s executive director Edwina Antonio said then that the shelter was on the brink of closing down because two funding grants failed to materialize as expected. In her appeal which was first published in The SUN, Antonio said Bethune House needed to raise $1 million before the end of the year, to ensure it remained afloat.

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Fast forward to last Thursday, Dec. 19, when Antonio happily announced during yet another fund-raiser for Bethune held at Dara Restaurant in Sai Ying Pun, that they managed to hit the $1 million target well ahead of time.

“There are many things to be thankful for; we already reached our $1M goal and you are all part of its success. Let us give ourselves a round of applause,” said Antonio, whose announcement was greeted with shouts of joy by some 100 guests at the charity event.

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By the end of the evening, the Dara fundraiser which was co-organized by its owner Jiramae and Bethune House volunteer Mara Arcilla, added more than $13,000 to the ongoing campaign to keep the 38-year-old shelter continue with its advocacy of providing a safe haven to distressed migrant workers.

The mostly young crowd happily drank their way to filling the kitty for the shelter’s benefit, while enjoying the outstanding performances by guest artists, including singers and dancers from Hong Kong Disneyland as well as the Drag Queens, who all performed gratis.

The Drag Queens who performed gratis, kept everyone happy 

Among those who laughed to their hearts’ content, or relived some of their miserable experiences in Hong Kong during the more solemn parts of the show, were about a dozen Bethune clients staying in its Sheung Wan shelter.

In her speech, Antonio said Bethune manages two shelters, the one in Sheung Wan and  another in Jordan. The two places have a combined bed capacity of 22, but most nights, she said they cater to more, averaging between 45 and 50 clients each month.

Apart from free food and lodging, the women at the shelter also get medical and emergency assistance, like when they are thrown out of their employers’ houses in the middle of the night, or they need help going to court or filing complaints.

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The shelter also adopts a comprehensive program that includes training on mental wellness, life and work balance, financial management, and additional skills like first aid, looking after the elderly or young children, computer lessons, as well as rights education.

“Our services are empowering; we transform victims into survivors so they can serve better once they resume their work,” said Antonio.

Antonio (in purple) with some of Bethune's lifelong supporters

One of their most recent success stories was a client who stayed at the shelter for more than a year while battling a criminal case. She went home on the day of the fundraiser, after she was cleared of all charges.

Antonio said that on the day the distraught worker sought their help in October 2023, she would have slept in the park if she was not taken in by Bethune House.

Yet, despite its sterling record of providing help to some of the most vulnerable sectors in Hong Kong society for nearly four decades, Bethune continues to struggle with finances.

“The reality is that there are not many funding opportunities available from foundations and agencies for causes like ours,” said Antonio.

Bethune House is not funded by the government or any financial institution, and relies solely on private donations to keep it going.

 “When we started the appeal in early September, we were worried as we only had two months to ensure that the shelter’s doors remained open. Yet, we were hopeful at the same time. We held on to our trust that the community would not abandon these distressed Asian migrant women,” said Antonio in her speech.

Luckily, big media groups like the South China Morning Post and Hong Kong Free Press took an interest in Bethune’s appeal for support, and in no time, various individuals and groups like the Kuok group of companies, came knocking at their door with offers of help.

Migrant organizations also rallied around Bethune House, organizing charity walks, dances and other activities to help raise funds for the shelter.

While the fresh infusion of funds helps ensure it remains open until at least the end of the year, Bethune House needs a steady stream of donation from the public to keep it running.

Thus, Antonio asked if it was possible for people to give regularly, be it monthly, quarterly or even yearly, to ensure Bethune House gets to pay for its institutional needs, such as rent, utilities, and provisions for both client and staff.

“By supporting Bethune House, you are supporting and caring for these women migrants who relieve more than 400 thousand families from household chores, (as well as)  elderly and child care, so we can improve our standard of living,” she said.

In the meantime, the shelter would like to show gratitude for the help it received widely and hastily, by throwing a Christmas and thanksgiving party at Kowloon Union Church on December 24. The event is open to the public, particularly to those who have lent a hand in keeping it afloat.

To donate to Bethune House, you may do the following:

• To support online: https://donorbox.org/bh-raise-the-roof

• By Direct Deposit to The Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge Limited account at Hang Seng Bank 284-8-241309 or HSBC 808-312649-292

• By cheque Payable to The Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, Ltd. All cash donations of HK$100 and above are tax deductible. (Donors are encouraged to give regularly through bank autopay)

*By transfer through Alipay using the QR Code below:

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