Refugees and asylum seekers, especially single parent families, people experiencing physical and mental health challenges and survivors of war, violence and harm, face enormous challenges. They experienced severe traumatic events, such as being subjected to witnessing violence, family loss or separation, sudden displacement and are now in the process of applying for non-refoulment protection and refugee status. The number of refugees and asylum seekers according to Immigration Department in 2024 are approximately 15,000, with many from Asian, Middle Eastern and African countries. They barely survive on a stipend of $3,500 per month and suffer severe economic hardship, social isolation and disempowerment due to restrictions on their rights to work and the minimal support available.
In Hong Kong, each refugee is given HK$1,200 per month for food in the form of supermarket vouchers – that’s $40 a day.
The monthly assistance for a refugee includes:
- Housing allowance of HK$1,500 paid directly to the landlord
- Food allowance in the form of pre-paid supermarket cards of HK$ 1,200 (HK$40 per day)
- HK$300 for utilities,
- a toiletry bag with personal hygiene items,
- and some petty cash for transportation to appointments.
We are dedicated to addressing the unique legal precarity faced by refugees, asylum seekers, and other displaced people in Hong Kong, by offering support with their protection claims. By ensuring that their stories are heard we aim to achieve a safer, more secure future for them.
We recognise that the path to safety relies on more than legal processes. Our programmes are designed to address immediate and pressing psychological and welfare needs ensuring that our clients can live with dignity as they pursue their legal journeys.
Our Emergency Welfare Fund allows us to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies that cannot be solved through NGOs or other means, providing short-term relief for accommodation, medical needs, food, and other basic essentials.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
JOIN THE #$40 CHALLENGE TO:
- Walk with them
For 7 days of your choice from 29 May until 12 June live just one of the limitations that refugees face in Hong Kong. Budget to spend $40 a day on food to walk in their shoes
- Fundraise for them
Donate the balance of what you usually spend on meals over seven days to help refugees and asylum seekers; or ask your friends to sponsor you. Justice Centre receives no government funding. Every dollar raised by the $40 Challenge will be directly allocated to sustain our essential legal and welfare services, including replenishing our Emergency Welfare Fund, which provides immediate assistance to refugees in dire situations in Hong Kong.
Your organization may also choose to match funds raised by participating staff, or offer prizes or incentives for staff donating above a certain amount. We will be happy to provide e-posters to help you publicize your organization’s support, or to schedule a talk at your office.
Help us reach our goal of raising HK$200,000 to replenish our emergency fund for one year and help more refugees receive urgent legal and welfare support.
- Recently our Emergency Welfare Fund: Provided a refugee with severe tooth ache with urgent dental treatment, alleviating unbearable pain and restoring their ability to eat and smile without suffering
- Secured temporary accommodation for a man facing homelessness when his savings ran out, offering him a safe place to stay until he could receive further assistance. This support was a lifeline during his most vulnerable moments.
- Helped a single mother and her two boys, who struggled to pay her utility bill after her husband’s departure. The Emergency Welfare Fund stepped in, ensuring her family had electricity, warmth, and light in their home during a challenging time.
If you prefer to give directly to our works and services, please gift by visiting our donation page.
#$40 CHALLENGE IN BRIEF
Can’t wait to join us in this journey of making a difference?
Sign up and get the meals plan, social media pack and other important information through the participant pack here !
If you represent a school, company or organization, start recruiting participants with the $40 Challenge posters or e-flyers. Set up a matching donation scheme or incentives to encourage more to join!
Let your family and friends know that you are walking alongside refugees who get by with just $40 a day on food. Ask for their support and encouraging by donating towards your cause. It’s easy, simply create a profile for yourself on Give.Asia so that people can sponsor you, or share Justice Centre’s official $40 Challenge fundraising page.
To live on $40 per day for 7 days, some prior arrangement will be useful. Refer to our suggested meal plans or even more fun, make your own meal menu that fits the $40 daily budget. Then head to the store and shop for your recipes. Make the experience more real by shopping around for the lowest prices.
Is there a day or obligation that week that you have to step out of the Challenge? That’s okay. These moments offer a valuable reflection on the privilege of choice.
Document your journey living on $40 a day for food for five days. Share your experience and tag us on your post @justicecentrehk / #$40challenge.
The challenge ends on June 12. Organizational participants and individuals who raise over $2,000 will be invited to join us at the closing event and World Refugee Day celebration.
While the $40 Challenge aims to mirror the constraints refugees face, it’s a mere snapshot of their struggles. It doesn’t capture the entirety of their experiences — the loss, rejection, and uncertainty that define their lives. Our goal isn’t to replicate every aspect of refugee life but to open our eyes to their challenges, fostering empathy, solidarity, and action.
Questions or want to learn more? Request the Participant Pack through the sign-up form or email us on info@justicecentre.org.hk .
While the $40 Challenge aims to mirror the constraints refugees face, it’s a mere snapshot of their struggles. It doesn’t capture the entirety of their experiences — the loss, rejection, and uncertainty that define their lives. Our goal isn’t to replicate every aspect of refugee life but to open our eyes to their challenges, fostering empathy, solidarity, and action.
Questions or want to learn more? Request the Participant Pack through the sign up form or email us on info@justicecentre.org.hk