The Bethune House
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Home for Women Migrant Workers in Need
“Do not mistreat foreigners living in your
country,34 but treat them just as you treat
your own citizens. Love foreigners as you
love yourselves, because you were
foreigners one time in Egypt. I am the Lord
your God.”
33
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Leviticus 19:33-34
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Hong Kong law stipulates that a foreign domestic
worker CANNOT work if s/he has a pending
court case.
To wit the question arises: how will she pursue
her case, assert her rights and demand justice if
she has no money to pay for her lodging, food,
extension of visa, among other needs?
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Set up within the auspices of the
Kowloon Union Church in 1986, the
Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge
was established to respond to this need.
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For 24 years, it has been home to
hundreds, nine thousands of women
migrant workers in distress.
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Filipinos. Indonesians. Thais. Nepalis.
Africans. Indians. Regardless of
nationality or religion, the BH has
opened its doors to any woman who
needed help.
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For 24 years, it has helped empower women:
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They learned about their rights
They have established their own organizations
(FBH, ATKI)
They gave back to the shelter by counseling and
volunteerism.
They encouraged their fellow migrants and even
their employers to help make BH a home for the
marginalized, deprived, abandoned and ostracized
women of Hong Kong.

Today, many domestic workers
continue experiencing violations: rape,
verbal and physical assault, nonpayment of wages, slave-work. In fact,
such cases increase year by year.
Space.
 Finances.
 Food.
 Volunteers.
 Other materials.

What are the needs of the BH?
The funds the shelter raise goes to:
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payment of the space and utilities in KUC
everyday meals of the residents
maintenance of the shelter
procurement of basic needs
salary of the staff
While fund-raising is a challenge,
finding a space in Hong Kong for
BHMWR is even more daunting.
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Kowloon Union Church, by opening up and
providing space for the shelter, has contributed
a lot in helping the displaced and deprived
women migrants in Hong Kong.
It has lived up to God’s call to simply give the
best for one of the most distraught sectors here.
The Importance of KUC
In the short-term, the BHMWR aims to
raise more funds which can be used for:
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Cost of the renovation of the No.2 Manse
Payment of a temporary space in the next six
months while the manse is being renovated
Other needs of the shelter
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Hence, despite the odds, BHMWR continues to be
relevant. For as long conditions back home force
these women to migrate, and with that the
problems they face here, our migrant women
workers in Hong Kong will need a Bethune House.
For God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16)