基督教勵行會是一個在香港相當有名的組織，特別是它對難民的影響，過去，從越南抵達香港的船民被安置在香港各地的難民營，一些在舊啟德機場附近。這就是我們卑微的開端，為逃離戰爭、迫害和悲劇的最脆弱群體開辦課程，提供救濟和支持。
隨著越南難民最終重新安置到其他國家，危機結束後，基督教勵行會的工作逐漸發展。它的重點轉向幫助來自中國大陸的新移民。我們還為香港的少數族裔社區提供服務，例如在佐敦和屯門開設了兩個社區救助中心。這些社區的居民包括巴基斯坦人、印度人和尼泊爾人，他們面對的障礙有很多，如不明白本地的語言、面對缺乏就業機會和感到孤單等等。我們的中心為他們提供了許多積極變化和影響的平台，我們今天仍然看到這些驚人的影響，如許多使用我們服務的青年進入大學，找到主流工作，如警察、教師和其他高薪職位。我們還為家庭移民工人建立了一個中心，在那裡我們協助了許多脆弱的工人，他們如此勤奮和專業地服務香港家庭，卻被虐待或非法解僱。在我們的中心，他們可以找到專門的個案工作者，為他們的索賠提供法律支援，提供一個安全和保密的庇護所，最重要的是尊嚴和一個支持他們的地方。
二〇〇四年，本會總幹事張洪秀美看見難民這個人數不多但卻充滿苦難的群體。早期，香港人對難民不是忽略，就只知道越南難民。但是，這些非洲人、南亞人因戰爭、宗教迫害和更多的事，來到香港尋找安居之處，卻沒有基本的支援，如住房和食物。總幹事隨後與一些教會團體一起，在香港最惡名昭著和最具挑戰性的地方重慶大廈建立難民中心，那裡是大多數香港人從未涉足，或對其有負面印象的標誌之處。
我們從提供一些早餐和基本的捐贈開始。那時，機構只租了一個小單位，到現在，我們有兩層樓共三個單位，一個廚房提供每日膳食、英語和粵語課程。還有婦女賦權計劃、體育、音樂和藝術活動，最重要的，是每週六天開放的救助中心。我們為超過六百個有孩子的家庭和來自七十多個城鎮、宗教和文化團體的成人提供服務。
我們已經見證了二百多名受助者重新安置到美國和加拿大，透過我們的支持，許多人正過著非常成功的生活。我們有一個了不起的年輕人，他在二〇〇八年作為一個無人陪伴的未成年人來到南亞，最終來到我們的門前，我們幫助他發展IT技能，他被重新安置到美國，在微軟獲得了一個高級職位，現在於美國銀行擔任副總裁。
另一位傑出的受助者是埃及基督教頻道的記者，他因為工作而受到迫害，甚至他的攝影師也被槍殺，他設法逃了出來，八年前來到我們這裡，今天他是我們的社區領袖，我們與香港的大眾交流難民的情況，許多香港人都來參觀我們的中心，他的分享讓大家深受感動、啟發和激勵。
我們一直是一個服務未被服務者的組織，即香港最邊緣化、最弱勢和最孤立的社群。我們相信，神給了我們這個社會角色，讓我們成為改變的容器，向人展示神的憐憫和人應有的尊嚴。我們經常被問及，我們是怎樣的基督徒，但事實上，我們機構的名字Christian Action就有這個意思，我們是──「基督徒・在行動」。
「與難民同行．社群關愛」系列，文章由難民事工小組提供。
英文原文：
Christian’s in action
Christian action is an organisation that’s quite well known all over HK especially its impact with refugees from the times of Vietnamese boat refugees arriving in HK shores to being placed into refugee camps all over HK and some near our iconic old airport at Kai Tak.
That’s where our humble beginnings take place running classes, proving relief and support to the most vulnerable of communities fleeing war, persecution and tragedy.
Christian actions work evolved to after the handover as the Vietnamese refugee population eventually resettled to other countries and the crisis ended.
It’s focus moved towards new arrivals from mainland China who many families struggled with integration and poverty, we proved after school care, programmes and many relief initiatives to this often struggling community.
We also served Hong kings ethnic minority community by opening two drop in community centres in Jordan and tuen mun which were populated by Pakistani, Indians and Nepalese groups also growing community where their grasp of Cantonese language, lack of opportunities and isolation caused many barriers for their integration to local society. Our centres gave them many platforms for positive change and impact which we still see the amazing impacts today such as many who young youths who used our services getting into universities, finding mainstream jobs such as policemen, teachers and other high flying positions.
We also started a center for domestic migrant workers where we have intervened on many vulnerable helpers who served Hong Kong families so diligently and professionally have been abused, unlawfully terminated or illl treated. Here in our centre they can find dedicated case workers belong them navigate legal systems in their claims, provide a safe and confidential shelter and most importantly dignity and a place where they are supported.
Then in 2004, our ceo Mrs cheung siu Mei saw and heard the plight of a small but destitute community of asylum seekers and refugees. Early days when most of HK’s memory of refugees were either forgotten or of Vietnamese refugees. But these were Africans, south Asians feeling war, religious persecution and much more to land and find safety in Hk bug without even basic support if shelter and food. Our ceo then got together with some church groups and imitated the centre for refugees in the most infamous and challenging places in Hk, the icnomic Chungking mansions where most Hk people have never set foot in or have negative image of their place. But regardless if this our Ceo and Ca felt we needed to be there to provide refugee and a home away from home. We started with some breakfast and basic donations renting just one small unit to now in 2022, 2 floors covering 3 units, a kitchen providing daily meals, English and Cantonese classes. Womens empowerment programs, sports, music and arts and most crucially a drop in centre opened 6 days a week.
We serve over 600 clients of families with children, adults from over 70nqtiown, religious and cultural groups.
We have witnessed over 200 clients resettled to the US and Canada and many are leading very successful lives thanks to our support. We have one remarkable youngster who came in 2008 as an Unaccompanied minor who fed civil war in South Asia who eventually came to our doors and we helped him develop his IT skills and he was resettled to the US and got a high level position at Microsoft and now works at Bank of America in Vice President role.
Another remarkable client of ours was a journalist for a Christian channel in Egypt and was persecuted due to his work, even his camera man was shot dead, he managed to escape and came to us 8 years ago, today he is our community leader where we engages with The local public about the refugee situation, many local Hong Konger’s have come and visited our centre and were touched, inspired and motivated by his sharing.
We are an organisation that’s always served the unserved, Hong Kong’s most marginalised, disadvantaged and isolated communities. We believe that God has given us this role in society to be a vessel for change, for showing gods mercy and dignity. We often get asked how Christian we are, but the truth is it’s in our name, we are Christians in Action.
