In Chuxiong, Yunnan, Oxfam supports the building of water facilities and roads, helping villagers overcome obstacles to further development. In Kunming, we support migrant families from rural areas by providing a safe place and activities for their children, as well as livelihoods development.

Clean water brings change

Dear Oxfam Supporters, In March, Yunnan, Japan and Myanmar were hit by devastating earthquakes. The successive disasters brought suffering to tens of thousands of people in the affected areas, depriving them of homes, safe water and ways to make a living. When the disasters struck, people in Hong Kong and around the world responded quickly. Oxfam Hong Kong took immediate action to assist survivors in Yunnan and Japan. By making a donation to support Oxfam’s relief and recovery work, you have shown people hit by these disasters that you care in their time of need. The road to rebuilding is long and will surely be beset with various challenges, but I am convinced that Oxfam friends like you will always be there to offer a helping hand. Oxfam will always do what it can to bring relief to people affected by unforeseen disasters. At the same time, work continues on long-term development programmes designed to strengthen the lives of poor people and make them less vulnerable to natural disasters or economic shocks. In May, Oxfam is launching the China Development Fund Campaign 2011. The theme of this year is “Smile! We are working towards a positive future!” As usual, we will be selling small bags of Oxfam Rice around town during the weekends of the 7th, 8th, 14th and 15th. Please visit our booths and buy a bag or two to support our anti-poverty work across China. Oxfam Hong Kong has been working in China since 1987, one of very few international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to do so. Over the years, we have been assisting the poorest and most vulnerable people to improve their lives with development projects that emphasise the importance of community members’ involvement and commitment. We work with communities to understand their views on the causes of poverty and possible solutions, then together we implement projects that suit local conditions so as to achieve lasting improvements. Let’s continue to join hands to help more and more people on the path towards a more secure future with a full sense of wellbeing. With best wishes,

Smile! Oxfam works with local people in our poverty alleviation and development work. Through their own efforts, with our assistance, people are tackling the causes of poverty in their areas and shaping the positive future they envision.

In 2009, Oxfam allocated funds to enable the residents to build much-needed water supply facilities and roads. All households participated in the construction work. Now people have clean and safe water available from taps in their own homes, and their health and hygiene have improved. They also have water to irrigate their rice paddies and broad bean fields, and for raising livestock; the time and effort they used to spend on getting water are now spent on improving their livelihoods. Oxfam further supported them by providing micro-credit as capital for growing konjac, which is used to make gelatin and is a good cash crop in the area.

“I have waited for this day for more than 20 years!” Li Hui-ying, 50, said with a thankful smile as she tasted water from her new tap. Since she married and moved to Candoutian village, in the remote mountainous area of Chuxiong, Yunnan Province, Hui-ying has had to use the yellowish muddy water from a small pond that collects rainwater, the village’s only water source. “It took us about an hour to get the water each time. We had to go to the pond four to five times a day and barely had enough water for daily use. To save water, we only bathed a few times a month, and had to rely on rain water for farming.” The poor water supply and limited road access restricted development in Candoutian village; in 2008, residents earned an average cash income of only 354 yuan for the year.

Hui-ying is happy about the progress her family has made – they now raise cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens. They also took out a loan from the micro-credit fund and started growing konjac. Hui-ying said if she earns 4,000 yuan this year she will take her son to a hospital, as he suffers from a leg problem, and repair her house.

Oxfam Ambassador Joey Yung

Hong Kong’s well-known singer Joey Yung visited Oxfam’s rural and urban livelihood projects in Yunnan for the first time with Oxfam Hong Kong. During the trip, she met and talked with community members to gain a better understanding of how Oxfam works alongside villagers to improve their lives. Joey also used her music to break the language barrier.

"It feels like drinking mineral water!" Hui-ying has waited for twenty years for clean drinking water.

For many years, people in Candoutian village had only muddy water for drinking and daily use.

Residents contribute their time and effort to building their own water facilities.

Children from a rural-urban migrant community enjoy reading in a small park. Every weekend, the outreach team of Heart-to-Heart brings toys and books to the park.

Hui-ying, a resident of Candoutian village in rural Yunnan, has a tap at her home now, and a much cleaner water supply than she had before – as Oxfam Ambassador Joey Yung shows.

Joey holds two konjac roots, which local villagers have begun growing and selling to food-processing companies to earn some income.

Hung-ling (right) and her sister (left) enjoy their playtime free of risk at the service centre of Heart-to-Heart.

It is common for children of rural-urban migrant families in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, to play in the streets. Hung-ling, 11, used to do the same. Lacking local residence under China’s Household Registration System, rural-urban migrant families enjoy very few social welfare benefits or resources in cities. Family breadwinners are often low-income earners who work very long hours to make ends meet and save money to send back to their rural homes, where their parents or other family members live. If their children accompany them to

Enjoying safe play

Konjac, which grows well with little water, brings cash income to the residents.

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Hug

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Women from the rural-urban migrant community join Oxfam's livelihood project and use their sewing skills to earn a living.

John SayerDirector GeneralOxfam Hong Kong

ProjectsagainstPoverty

ProjectsagainstPoverty

43Issue

May 2011

Oxfam Ambassador Joey Yung Visits Communities in Yunnan, ChinaOxfam Ambassador Joey Yung Visits Communities in Yunnan, China

the city, they are often left to wander around without care. In the summer of 2009, Hung-ling was hit by a car when she was playing in the street. To pay for her medical treatment, Hung-ling’s parents had to work harder than ever. With no time and no pocket money for her, their relationship with their daughter grew tense.

In view of the hardships faced by migrant families, Oxfam works with a local partner in Kunming, the Yunnan Heart-to-Heart Community Care Service Centre, to provide facilities and services for children, including an activity centre equipped with toys and books, with learning and interest groups and family outing activities. We also support a livelihoods programme called “Green Platform” – which includes a second-hand shop, a sewing studio and a recycling team – for migrant women, who can bring their children to the activity centre while they work nearby. As they work together, the women also become friends and their community network is enhanced.

We are workingtowards a positive future!

Tune into Hong Kong Broadband Network Channel 201 on Saturday, 14 May at 7:30 pm & 8:30 pm (Chinese language only)

and TVB Jade on Saturday, 28 May, at 11:55 pm (Chinese language only).

Working with people against poverty

www.oxfam.org.hk | 2520 2525

Oxfam’s rehabilitation project sites

Lizhou, GuangyuanNanjiang

Wangcang

Qingchuan

Jiange

Cangxi

Yuanba

Chaotian

Zitong

YantingSantai

Langzhong

Longnan

ChengxianXihe

Wudu KangxianHuixianLiangdang

Wenxian

Qinzhou District, Tianshui

Kongtong District, Pingliang

Anding District, Dingxi

Qingyang

Zhenyuan

Huating

HanzhongLueyang

Ningqiang

Chencang District,Baoji

Mianxian

Bazhong

Mianyang

Beichuan

Anxian Youxian

Mianzhu

Chengdu

PengzhouDujiangyan

Nanchong

Yaan

BaoxingLushan

LixianWenchuan

Maoxian

Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture

Luojiang

Zhongjiang

Deyang

This was my first time to visit Cambodia, and I was surprised to see how the civil war in the 1970s seriously hindered the development of the country. Thirty years on, the government still has not tried its best to lift people out of poverty. It occurs to me that people in Cambodia need to count on themselves to improve their lives.

The role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is crucial if we are to develop communities and empower disadvantaged people. From the Oxfam project visit, I saw how NGOs are filling the gap. Politics remain a very sensitive issue in every corner of the country, so only impartial NGOs can work effectively here. Oxfam is one of them. I especially appreciate Oxfam’s way of conducting its projects – by working closely with local NGOs. This is a perfect demonstration of Oxfam’s value – helping the most neglected and helping people to help themselves.

We visited Oxfam Hong Kong’s projects in Mondulkiri Province, which is one of the poorest provinces in Cambodia. The bright side is that it has no lack of natural resources. Villagers can grow cassava and collect resin and honey in the forest. The problem they face is that merchants and foreign companies are exploiting their products and even their lands. Through local partners, Oxfam motivates villagers to join together and increase

their bargaining power, teaching them skills to improve their productivity and their legal rights to fight against land grabbing. From meeting members of a few households, we found that most of them have improved their lives since joining Oxfam’s projects in 2008. A community network is being built. It is not difficult to foresee that living standards will continue to improve in future. However, we were told that a villager’s land was taken by a private company and the village chief and the police ignored it, apparently because of bribery. This is actually not uncommon.

An earthquake of magnitude 7 hit Yushu in Qinghai Province in China on 14 April 2010, affecting tens of thousands of people – most of them poor. Oxfam immediately provided emergency assistance to more than 42,000 affected people.

Currently, Oxfam Hong Kong is implementing three-year rehabilitation projects with local governments and partners, universities and research institutions, volunteers and community-based organisations, to help restore the lives of people affected by the earthquake, improve health and basic infrastructure, strengthen community capacity and foster community development.

From 15 to 20 January 2011, eight donors travelled to northeast Cambodia to observe projects supported by Oxfam Hong Kong. One donor, Nicole Wong, shared her trip experience.

Three Years On: Sichuan Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Work

Gansu

ShaanxiSichuan

Gansu:Oxfam supported 44 rehabilitation projects including 10 primary school rebuilding projects in 14 counties.

Rebuilding schoolsThe Hua Xian-zi Primary School in Dingxi City was severely damaged in the earthquake, putting the lives of teachers and students at risk. In 2009, Oxfam supported the reconstruction of classrooms and the school’s staff office. We also coordinated with the local education department the rebuilding of latrines and the outer wall surrounding the school.

The new school provides a safe learning environment for 220 students. One student said to Oxfam, “The old school was built by bricks. The

new one is safe and beautiful, making our studies more enjoyable.” The vice headmaster said, “With the new

dormitory for teachers, I am confident that they will continue to stay here to teach our students.”

Following the massive earthquake that struck southwest China on 12 May 2008, Oxfam Hong Kong immediately began providing emergency supplies for hundreds of thousands of people in Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces.

Three years on, Oxfam continues to work with government units at all levels and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to implement rehabilitation projects in remote and impoverished areas that have received little or no assistance.

The current focus is on livelihoods recovery and basic rural infrastructure, such as enabling people to build their own new village roads, earthquake-resistant schools, and water supply systems for both irrigation and drinking water. Disaster preparedness training and community participation are also being integrated into the design and management of these projects.

As of 31 March 2011, Oxfam has received HK$168 million in donations and we have spent HK$122 million on relief and rehabilitation projects in the three provinces.

Sichuan:Oxfam supported 88 rehabilitation projects in 25 seriously affected counties in eight cities.

Rebuilding livelihoodsQiao Yi-hui, 43, and her family of seven live in a remote village in Mianzhu. The village was badly hit by the earthquake.

To help her and other villagers restore their lives, Oxfam supports a livelihood project in the village: Qiao and other project participants attended training in organic farming and built seven farm sheds where they grow organic vegetables such as peppers and cabbage. Oxfam also supported villagers to set up an organic vegetable cooperative and a cooperative management group. Members of the group received training in management skills. Qiao’s husband is a member of the management group, and he is responsible for teaching villagers techniques of organic farming. He said, “We established the cooperative because we want to work together to improve our lives in a fair way.”

Their harvest is expected in June. Villagers expect each shed can bring in about 8,800 yuan. “We will share the profit and will use the income to further develop our livelihoods,” Qiao said happily.

Shaanxi:Oxfam supported 19 rehabilitation projects in Ningqiang, Mianxian and Lueyang – the worst-hit areas in the province, which are impoverished.

Rebuilding basic infrastructureYaomuyuan is a remote mountainous village in Lueyang County, Hanzhong City. In 2008, villagers’ annual average income was 1,800 yuan. The 12 May Wenchuan earthquake made things worse: homes collapsed, farmland was

ruined and infrastructure damaged. Villagers agreed that rebuilding roads and bridges was the first step to rebuilding their lives.

Villager Liu Hong-wei said, “In the past, my wife and I had to carry

our son on our backs to cross the river and send him to school. During the rainy season we had to keep him at home, which affected his studies a lot. We also had to transport the crops from the uplands to the other side of the river to sell them in the market. Crossing the freezing river in winter caused many villagers to suffer frostbitten feet or varicose veins.”

In 2010, Oxfam Hong Kong supported villagers to build four roads and a 50-metre-long bridge in the village. “The roads and bridge have greatly improved our transportation. Now, my son can go to

school every day. Also, the bridge is wide enough for motorbikes and cars to cross, so we can transport our crops to market conveniently now. ”

To encourage villagers to actively participate in decision-making for their community development, Oxfam assisted them in setting

up a project implementation and monitoring team and provided training in development and management skills.

“With the bridge, children can go to school safely,” Liu Hong-wei said.

During the rainy season, turbulent waters can rise as high as an adult’s waist, making it very dangerous for villagers, especially children, to cross the river. The building of the bridge solved this problem.Qiao Yi-hui takes part in Oxfam’s livelihood project.

Huanxian

Wushan

Nicole (third from left, front row) is glad to see villagers working together for a better life.

Photo: Benna Lo

Photo: Benna Lo

See the WorldSee the World

Donor TripCambodia

toQinghai YushuEarthquake One Year On

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Oxfam Hong Kong immediately began an emergency response after the earthquake. We were among the first international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) to do so.

An Oxfam volunteer visits a family in the affected area to see what kind of assistance is needed.

Oxfam Hong Kong learns that most earthquake survivors are not used to eating instant noodles, the most common food item they receive. Oxfam provides them with Tibetan food instead.

Oxfam works with a local partner to carry out a health project in temporary settlements in the affected area. We organise villagers to take care of waste disposal for proper sanitation.

Oxfam demonstrates to local residents how to set up a tent for temporary shelter.

‘Thank you very much for joining our special 30th Wedding Anniversary Dinner. We hope it can remind us to treasure our beloved ones and share what we have with people in need.’ The hosts of this special dinner were Oxfam’s long-time supporters, Kwan Sek Yiu and his wife. Kwan Sek Yiu has been supporting Oxfam Hong Kong since 1995 and participating in Oxfam Trailwalker since 1996. In 2010, he set a record of soliciting over 1,000 sponsors to support his participation in Oxfam Trailwalker. Besides, every April and May, he lines up his colleagues, friends and relatives to join our Oxfam Rice Sale. To commemorate their 30th wedding anniversary, the couple donated HK$100,000 to Oxfam Hong Kong. Not only did they want to make their anniversary a memorable one, they also wanted to influence their friends. ‘Eliminating poverty is a long and arduous journey. We need more people to support it,’ Kwan Sek Yiu said. Next time you celebrate an anniversary or a birthday, you can also join us in helping underprivileged people. Make a donation to Oxfam Hong Kong to share your precious moments with others, and make the day even more meaningful!

Should you wish to donate in this way, or have any enquiry, please contact Vicky Ng.Tel: 3120 5258 Email: vickyn@oxfam.org.hk

by Lesley Chau

I decided to become an Oxfam monthly donor after I got my first job in 2009. Making a donation is a good way to help people in need improve their lives. I see this as the first step towards poverty alleviation. I had been waiting for a chance to participate in an Oxfam donor trip to experience more, but unfortunately, there was always no vacancy on these trips.

When Oxfam launched the Oxfam Youth Speaker Training Programme in 2010, I decided to join it because I think this is another way to support Oxfam’s anti-poverty work, and I am interested in education work. The new programme aims at training young people to be speakers in primary and secondary schools to promote awareness on poverty issues and foster a sense of global citizenship through development education. I really enjoy being part of this meaningful activity, as I believe that education plays a crucial role in ending poverty. Besides, I have learned more about issues on poverty through a series of training sessions, workshops and school talks.

Everyone can be a change maker and everyone can play a part in making the world more beautiful – whether by making a donation or by participating in development education work. I hope more young people will join hands with me to support Oxfam’s poverty alleviation and education work.

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, by joining Oxfam's workshop, Without a Home in the World, you will have a chance to experience how children's lives are affected.

We have also invited a youngster who lived in a refugee camp in Myanmar to share his experiences with workshop participants.

Date : 25 June 2011 (Saturday)Venue : Interactive Education Centre, Oxfam Hong Kong 9th Floor, China United Centre, 28 Marble Road, North PointTime : 2:30 –5:30 pmLanguage : Cantonese (English translation provided)

· For parents and their children aged 9 and over · Please arrive at 2:20pm· Participants will be asked to sit on the floor, please remove your shoes before entering the Centre

For enquiries, please contact Cara Lin. (Tel: 3120 5245 Fax: 2590 6880 Email: caral@oxfam.org.hk )

More than 1,700 people performed at the 21st Oxfam Musical Marathon on 12 and 13 March at four shopping centres in Hong Kong: Cityplaza, Telford Plaza Phase I, Ma On Shan Plaza and The Edge. For over 70 hours, students, professional singers, and other performers took to the stage. Oxfam Hong Kong aimed to raise HK$1 million from this annual fundraising (and fun-raising) event. 

Oxfam Music Ambassador Nancy Loo; Mok Hoi Him, teenage singer and artist; Peco Tsui, singer-songwriter; Mozar Tsang, the Hong Kong Young Musician of the Year 2010; and Leung Yiu Yeung, 10-year-old son of Leung Kin Fung, the First Associate Concertmaster of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, were the performing guests.

Hong Kong Unit Director of Oxfam Hong Kong, Kanie Siu, said, ‘This is the 21st year of Oxfam Musical Marathon; with your support and donations, more poor people can improve their lives.”

A Double Happiness for the Anniversary

Interactive Parent-Child Activity: Without a Home in the World – Exploring War and Conflict

Oxfam Musical Marathon 2011

Meeting Organisations in Hong Kong: St. James’ Settlement

Donor Trip to Gansu, China – 11-16 July 2011

Oxfam Hong Kong has worked in 70 countries, including Hong Kong. We invite you to visit St. James’ Settlement (SJS), one of many local organisations we support.

SJS was established in 1949. It has provided diversified services to children, youths and elderly people, as well as rehabilitation services to the needy, since 1963. SJS has been paying close attention to the housing needs of low-income families and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance households for many years.

Many low-income families that have been waiting a few years for the allocation of public housing are suffering from the recent upsurge in private housing rental prices. The cost of private housing has soared in recent years, with monthly per-square-foot rents for small flats often higher than those for luxurious residential units. Thus, SJS and other community groups have proposed that the government provide rental allowances to applicants on the waiting list who have fulfilled the eligibility criteria for public rental housing and have been waiting for flat allocations for more than three years.

Date : 16 July 2011 (Saturday)Time : 2:30-5:00pmPlace to visit : Cubicle apartments in Wan Chai DistrictMeeting Point : 2:15pm, Wan Chai MTR Station Exit A3

You and your friends are invited. For enquiries, please contact 3020 5000 / Fax: 2590 6880

Kwan Sek Yiu and his wife (left) are long-time supporters of Oxfam’s poverty alleviation work.

We invite you, our valued monthly donor, to travel to Gansu – a great opportunity to see changes in people’s lives and to deepen your understanding of Oxfam’s work. We will take you to some of our development projects where you will learn about our work first-hand and be able to talk directly with project participants.

Date : 11-16 July 2011Number of Partners : 8Price : About HK$5,500 (including transport and accommodations; any refund will be

made after deducting the actual charges)Requirements : Oxfam Partners aged 18 or above and willing to share trip observations with Oxfam

supporters and the general public

Please return the form below to us by 25 May 2011. We will contact successful applicants by 10 June 2011.

For more information, please contact Pinky Chiu at 3120 5120. Fax: 2590 6880 Email: pinkyc@oxfam.org.hk

Oxfam ActivitiesOxfam Activities

Please tick :

Full Name: Age:

Oxfam Partner No. (if any): MD Occupation:

Telephone (Day): (Night):

Email:

Name of participant: Age:

Name of participant: Age:

Name of participant: Age:

Parent-child Exploration Workshop: Without a Home in the World (25 June)

Oxfam Donor Activities – Reply Form

Name of participant:

Meeting Organisations in Hong Kong: St. James’ Settlement (16 July)

Donor Trip to Gansu, China (11-16 July)

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

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

What do you expect from this trip?

Another way of helping fight poverty

Lesley (front row, third from right) with other members of the 2010 Oxfam Youth Speaker Training Programme

Oxfam on the Web

Oxfam Rice Sale on 7, 8, 14 and 15 MayOxfam’s annual Oxfam Rice Sale – our main fundraiser for projects in China – will be held over two weekends in May across Hong Kong. Please join the fun by buying our little 100g bags of rice for your friends, colleagues and family. Each grain helps.

For enquiries: 2520 2525

Visit www.oxfam.org.hk/en/ambassadorfuture.aspx to learn more about Oxfam’s projects in mainland China and how donations can help. Photographs and video clips of Oxfam Ambassador Joey Yung’s trips to projects in China are uploaded there.

Hong Kong, China Rowing Association organised a Charity Rowathon to make a donation to Oxfam Hong Kong. President of Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Timothy T.T. Fok, GBS, JP (fourth from left), President of the Hong Kong, China Rowing Association, Robert Wilson (centre) and our Hong Kong Unit Director, Kanie Siu (fourth from right) attended the prize presentation.

3%

12%

13%4%

11%

13%

44%

Oxfam Lai See 2011

2011 Oxfam Musical Marathon

Companies that organised beneficiary events to support Oxfam’s work

Corporate / Association support – Japan Earthquake (self-initiated activities)

Corporate / Association support – Yunnan Earthquake (self-initiated activities)

Other Participating Schools:

Oxfam Partners Recruitment Campaign - Exhibition Area Sponsorship(December 2010 to March 2011):

Other(North Korea & global)

South Asia(Bangladesh, Pakistan, India & Nepal)The Mekong

(Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam)

Archipelagic Southeast Asia

(Indonesia, the Philippines & Timor Leste)

China(the Mainland & Hong Kong)

Africa(Zambia, Chad, Niger & Somalia)

Central America(Haiti)

The prizes are as follows:

Sponsored by: Tom Lee Music

4M industrial Development LtdBDO LimitedCountry House Property Management Ltd.

Buzz Concepts Holdings LtdDSCExtravaganzaFLY (GRAND DIAMOND LTD)Grand Diamond Ltd Hero Corporation Limited

Hokkaido Dairy FarmKai Shing Management Services LimitedLes SaisonsPackage Tour LtdPomelo Leaf (HK) LimitedRamen & Bar Ippei-an

RBC Dexia Trust Services Hong Kong LimitedRegeneStandard Life Asia LimitedThe NielsenToyWatch Fareast Limited UBM Asia Limited 

Henderson Land Development Company LimitedJohnson Group Pest Specialist LtdMars Technologies (Asia) Ltd.

Quamnet.comREGENESun Hung Kai Properties Limited

Jetronic Technology Ltd

Venue Sponsors: Swire Properties Management Ltd.Telford PlazaThe Edge

CityplazaGoodwell – Fortune Property Services LimitedMa On Shan PlazaMTR Corporation Limited

Oxfam’s Lai See Donation campaign had come to an end. Thank you for your participation. Altogether, 95 kindergartens, primary and secondary schools joined the event this year. They donated over HK$820,000. Your participation and every penny that you donated will be used to help poor families throughout the world to flight against poverty.

Donation Award (Kindergarten group):Champion: Keen Mind Kindergarten & Nursery1st runner-up: Hop Yat Church Chan Pak Wang Memorial Kindergarten2nd runner-up: Kowloon Rhenish School (Kindergarten Section)Donation Award (Primary group):Champion: Sacred Heart Canossian School Private Section1st runner-up: Maryknoll Fathers' School (Primary Section)2nd runner-up: SKH Tin Wan Chi Nam Primary School

Donation Award (Secondary group):Champion: Ying Wa College1st runner-up: St. Rose o Lima's College2nd runner-up: Canossa College

Highest rates of Participation Award:Kindergarten Group: Yuen Long San Yuk KindergartenPrimary Group: St. Anthony's SchoolSecondary Group: Shun Tak Fraternal Association Cheng Yu Tung Secondary School

Programme Manager - Urban Livelihoods, China Programme UnitWong Ying Yu

Q: Why do you choose to work in a non-governmental organisation (NGO)?

I was once a new immigrant to Hong Kong. My father emigrated from Fujian Province to Hong Kong in the 1970s while my mother, brother and I came to Hong Kong to reunite our family in the early 1980s. There are two driving forces for people to emigrate to other countries: to escape poor living conditions and to pursue a better life. Due to my personal experience, I have always felt a sense of connection to workers and marginal groups, and have developed a sense of obligation to help them improve their lives. During my university years, I participated in a student organisation and was a volunteer for three local NGOs. The experiences made me realise that if we are to improve the lives of deprived workers or disadvantaged groups, we have to advocate for more just and fair social and economic policies. For me, it is very meaningful to be able to work in an NGO and to play a part in improving the living conditions of poor people.

Q: What is the current situation of migrant workers in mainland China? What problems are they encountering?

Currently, there are over 200 million rural workers in China engaged in non-agricultural work. Due to the lack of land for cultivation and job opportunities, they earn low incomes. Since the 1990s, working as a migrant worker has become the main source of income for farmers. For many rural families, more than half of the total family income comes from working in the cities.

Migrant workers make up a major part of the workforce in China, the so-called “factory of the world” and they can be found throughout the service and construction industries. They encounter all kinds of difficulties and challenges, including infringements of labour rights, unfair wages, lack of social and labour protections, and discrimination.

The meagre incomes they earn are barely enough to support their expenses in the cities and their families back home, let alone settling the whole family in the city. Even if they manage to do so, it is too costly for their children to receive education in the cities. However, if they leave their children at home in their villages, the family will be broken.

Q: Why does Oxfam support urban livelihood projects? Where are the project areas?

Migrant workers are the largest minority group in cities. They are responsible for improving the lives of family members who remain behind in rural areas. Therefore, improving the situation of migrant workers would have a direct impact on ending poverty in rural China.

Currently, Oxfam is supporting 35 urban livelihood projects in major cities and coastal regions including Beijing, Tianjin, the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta, as well as in big cities in the mid-west.

Q: What are these projects? Our projects cover several aspects, which include: 1) Setting up service centres in communities where migrant

workers are clustered. We aim to facilitate mutual support and participation among migrant workers through different kinds of activities.

2) Setting up hotlines for legal advice and providing legal assistance for migrant workers on wage arrears, injury compensation, overtime pay, resignation settlements, etc. Every year, we provide counselling services to tens of thousands of workers and legal assistance to another 2,000.

3) Education on occupational safety, labour law and health to help migrant workers strengthen their knowledge in these areas and enhance their ability to protect themselves.

4) Conducting advocacy and research with universities, government departments, research institutions and local NGOs in China on improving the legal system and policies.

5) Urban AIDS prevention. We promote awareness of AIDS prevention through health education and training. We also provide information on affordable health services to low-income sex workers in the cities.

Q: Chin’s economy is developing rapidly in recent years. Is this helping to improve migrant workers’ lives? Will the role of NGOs become less and less important?

A: As China becomes richer, it has more resources to improve the conditions of workers and farmers. However, the importance of NGOs is not going to diminish. In fact, China still has a large group of low-income workers. NGOs can push the government to allocate more resources to improving the lives of workers and farmers; we can also provide direct services to migrant workers. Lastly, the voices of disadvantaged groups can be heard through our work, which helps eliminate social and policy-related discrimination and promote social justice.

Q: Where do you find job satisfaction?A: My job satisfaction comes from seeing workers being able

to establish a support system among themselves through participating in our community-based activities. I am happy to see that workers are becoming more aware of their rights and gaining more knowledge on occupational safety and health. I am also pleased to see that our legal services have helped injured workers gain compensation, the substantial progress being made in our advocacy work and the contribution we have made in improving the living environment of workers as a whole. Last but not least, I am pleased to see that our local partners, including local NGOs and academic institutions, have built up their capacity and gained more recognition after working with Oxfam for a few years.

Ying-yu is committed to poverty alleviation work in China.

Ying-yu (centre) visits projects in different cities every one or two months, meeting with project participants and local partners to see how Oxfam’s projects help improve their lives.

Ying Yu joined Oxfam Hong Kong in 2005 and is currently based in Beijing, coordinating Oxfam’s urban livelihood projects in China. What is the current situation of hundreds of millions of migrant workers in China? How can Oxfam’s projects help improve their lives? Let Ying Yu explain.

ChinaHong Kong:Campaign on the implementation and review of minimum wageAdvocacy on basic labour protections for grass-roots casual workers under Employment Ordinance

Sichuan:Road construction in Dayuan village, Longdong Township, Cangxi County, Guangyuan

Yunnan:Improvement of goat breeds and breeding methods in Ma An Shan community of Wayao Township, Longyang District, Baoshan City

Guizhou:Emergency response to hailstorms in Guiding County

Beijing:HIV/AIDS prevention and intervention on male sex workers (phase IV)

Africa:Malawi:Food security response in Blantyre district, Malawi

Archipelagic Southeast Asia:Philippines:Emergency response to Typhoon Juan in the Philippines

The Mekong:Vietnam:Joint Oxfam project on improving quality basic education and social accountability in Dak Nong Province, Vietnam

Improving livelihoods and security of poor ethnic minorities in Dak Nong Province, Vietnam

Highlights of New Projects(From 1 December 2010 – 31 March 2011, Oxfam approved 73 new projects)

Creative KidsEugene GroupKorea Garden Restaurant 

Reports / Acknowledgements Reports / Acknowledgements

info@oxfam.org.hkwww.oxfam.org.hk

2590 68803120 5000

Printed on100% recycled paper using soy oil-based ink

Editorial Committee: Kanie Siu, Karen Chung, Maranda Wong, Brenda Lee, Kathleen HwangOXFAM HONG KONG: 17/F China United Centre, 28 Marble Road, North Point, Hong KongOxfam Hong Kong Interactive Education Centre: 9/F China United Centre, 28 Marble Road, North Point, Hong KongThe Oxfam Shop: LG 8, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central (Tel: 2522 1765)

890 on-going projects (as of 28 February 2011)* The programme expenditure is subject to audit and will be published in the Annual Review 2010/2011

Projects by RegionTotal Programme Expenditure: HK$79 million (1 December 2010 - 28 February 2011)

LKW Prince Café & Bakery  Lucullus Food & Wines Co LtdMyBB.com.hk

SulanThe Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong KongThreeSixty

Kwong Lam Baptist Lui Kwok Pat Fong Kindergarten Lingnan Dr. Chung Wing Kwong Memorial Secondary SchoolLions College N.T. Heung Yee Kuk Tai Po Dist. Secondary School Our Lady of China Catholic Primary School Pentecostal Lam Hon Kwong School Ping Shek Estate Catholic Primary School Po Leung Kuk Grandmont Primary School Po Leung Kuk HK Taoist Assn. Yuen Yuen Primary SchoolPo Leung Kuk Mrs Chan Nam Chong Memorial Primary SchoolPOCA Wong Siu Ching Secondary School Pui Kiu College QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School S.K.H.Holy Trinity Church Secondary School Salem-Immanuel Lutheran College Salesian English School Sacred Heart Canossian School Private Section Shataukok Central Primary School Shatin Pui Ying College Shau Kei Wan East Government Secondary School SKH St. Michael's Primary School SRNCEPSA Ho Sau Ki School St. Edward's Catholic Primary School St. James Catholic Kindergarten St. Joseph's College St. Mark's School St. Paul College Primary School STTA Leung Kit Wah Primary School T.I.A.C.C. Woo Hon Fai Secondary School T.K.D.S. Fong Shu Chuen School T.W.G.Hs Chang Ming Thien College T.W.G.Hs Sin Chu Wan Primary School The Hong Kong Management Association K S Lo CollegeTin Shui Wai Government Secondary School Truth Baptist Church Ho Yuen Wai King Kindergarten Truth Baptist Church Kindergarten Tsung Tsin Christian Academy Tung Koon School TWGHs. C.Y. Ma Memorial College Yuen Long Merchants Association Kindergarten Yuen Long Public Secondary School

Assembly of God Union Church KindergartenBGCA Cheerland Nursery School cum Kindergarten (Wanchai)Bo Bo Nursery SchoolBuddhist Tai Kwong Chi Hong CollegeBuddhist Yip Kei Nam Memorial CollegeBuddhist Lam Bing Yim Memorial School (Sponsored By THKBA)Bui O Public SchoolC. C. C. Ming Yin CollegeC. Y. M. C. A. Primary SchoolC.C.C. Chuen Yuen CollegeC.C.C. Kei Wa Primary School (Kowloon Tong)C.C.C. Kei Wan Primary SchoolCarbo Anglo-Chinese Kindergarten (Fanling)Carmel Alison Lam Foundation Secondary SchoolCarmel Bunnan Tong Memorial Secondary SchoolCarmel Divine Grace Foundation Secondary SchoolCatholic Ming Yuen Secondary SchoolCCC Wanchai Church Kei To Primary School (Kowloon City)Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary SchoolChi Lin Buddhist Secondary SchoolChina Holiness Church Living Spirit CollegeChing Chung Hau Po Woon Primary SchoolCPC Yao Dao Primary SchoolCUHKFAA Chan Chun Ha Secondary School Parent-Teacher AssociationF.D.B.W.A. Chow Chin Yau SchoolGCEPSA Whampoa SchoolH.K.S.Y.C.I.A. Wong Tai Shan Memorial CollegeHeung To Secondary School (TKO)HKSKH Lady Maclehose Center (Shek Yam) KindergartenHKTA The Yuen Yuen Ins. No.2 Secondary SchoolHo Lap Primary SchoolHo Shun Primary SchoolHoly Family SchoolHong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai

Secondary an Primary SchoolKarlam Kindergarten (Tuen Mun Branch)Kowloon Rhenish SchoolKowloon Technical SchoolKwok Tak Seng Catholic Secondary School

Cheung Kong (Holdings) LimitedFisherman’s Wharf

Chinachem GroupHilton Plaza

Goodwell-Fortune Property Services LimitedCity One Plaza

Hang Lung PropertiesKornhill Plaza

Henderson Property Agency LimitedShatin Centre Shopping Arcade

Henderson Real Estate Agency LimitedMetro City Plaza

Hong Kong Housing AuthorityLei Muk Shue Shopping CentreLung Poon Court Commercial CentreOn Kay Court Shopping CentreWah Fu Commercial Complex II

Hopewell Real Estate Agency LimitedHopewell Centre

The Link Management LimitedCheung Hang Shopping CentreHing Tung Shopping CentreHo Man Tin PlazaHoi Fu Shopping CentreKai Yip Commercial CentreKam Ying Court Shopping CentreKing Lam Shopping CentreLei Tung Shopping CentreLei Yue Mun PlazaLok Wah North Shopping CentreOi Man Shopping CentreOi Tung Shopping CentreOn Ting Shopping CentreShek Lei Shopping Centre Sheung Tak Shopping CentreShun Lee Shopping CentreSiu Lun Shopping CentreTin Shing shopping centreTin Yiu Shopping CentreWan Tau Tong Shopping Centre

Whampoa Garden Management LimitedWonderful Worlds of Whampoa

Kowloon City Plaza

Lands Department

Leisure and Cultural Services DepartmentUrban Council Centenary Garden

Optative Company LimitedC C Wu Building

Sino GroupAvon MallMaritime Bay Shopping MallRegentville MallShatin GalleriaOlympian City

Sun Hung Kai Properties LimitedHong Kong PlazaSun Kwai Hing PlazaSun Yuen Long CentreYuen Long Plaza