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Supporting women during COVID-19
Habitat for Humanity has a long history of supporting women during times of crisis. Habitat’s Women Build, is our international campaign that has been engaging volunteers around the world since 1991 to support projects that empower women, children and the disadvantaged living in poverty across the globe. According to a recent UN Report, women and girls are being more adversely affected by the COVID-19 crisis than boys and men.
- Women make up 70% of the global health sector, so as front line workers they are more at risk.
- Women are disproportionately affected by job cuts and lay-offs, so the longer term economic impact is more strongly felt by women.
- Girls are often expected to take on more of the household chores and with more teenagers receiving online classes in their homes, girls' education is more likely to suffer.
- With crowded homes and an already stressful environment, gender-based violence in the home is exponentially increasing.
- Women are more likely to carry out the bulk of unpaid care work in the home which in turn leads to higher levels of stress and anxiety.
At Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong, we are committed to an inclusive world where everyone has a safe and healthy place to live. We know that COVID has exacerbated many of the heath and economic issues related to substandard housing. In Hong Kong, many women working as local domestic workers have found themselves unemployed and unable to support their families.
In response to the crisis and to address these emerging and growing needs, we recently launched a new COVID-19 response deep-cleaning programme. Through the programme, we are providing both deep cleaning services for vulnerable elderly families living in substandard housing whilst also providing employment opportunities for local domestic workers. We have already provided this deep cleaning service to 43 low-income families and once it’s safe to resume, we plan to clean the homes of another 250 families by the end of this year.
With your support, we can continue to help those most at risk from COVID-19 and ensure everyone has a healthy and safe place to live.
Thank you and stay safe,
Jo Hayes
CEO, Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong
“When I became a licensed architect more than ten years ago, I pledged to provide shelter for those in need. As the Global Village personnel at Habitat Hong Kong, I work with our overseas colleagues to provide opportunities for volunteers to travel and work together to build homes for families in need of decent housing.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to many parts of the world. While we cannot physically build at the moment, it is important not to forget about the growing needs of those we serve. In the meantime, what we can do is to broaden our reach, raise funds and prepare for our future programmes.”
- Sita Ng / Volunteer Engagement Senior Officer
“I started my career during (the onslaught of) SARS. As domestic workers, we can really help the community. A better hygienic living environment is not only good for the habitants but also for their neighbours!”
Foon has been working as a local domestic worker in Hong Kong for 17 years. She reveals that the most memorable experience during the deep cleaning service was helping a 108-year-old elderly who lives alone. She thinks that it is already challenging enough for seniors living alone, more so to clean alone.
- Foon / Local domestic worker
“We have been self-sufficient on this property and we've lived that life for 50 years and consequently, as one can imagine, our whole lifestyle has been destroyed. Not just a house, but all the sheds, all the tools, all the animals died in the fire. It's been a real tragedy. But we look at it with our glass half full because we've been supported by charities such as Habitat for Humanity.”
Judith, who is nearly 80, and her husband Paul living in New South Wales lost almost everything they owned during the 2019 Bush fires.
Together, we build a better future
We would like to say a huge thank you to Brown Brothers Harriman for donating to our COVID-19 Response Programme and helping us to sustain our operations during the uncertainties of the pandemic. As part of the donation, Brown Brothers Harriman will support 60 vulnerable families to have cleaner and more hygienic living conditions, through the distribution of home hygiene kits. We would also like to say a massive thank you to Pinsent Masons for providing critical funding towards sustaining our operations and enabling us to continue to support the local community.
In Hong Kong
In Asia
- How Modulus Housing is solving India’s hospital bed problem amidst COVID-19 pandemic (YourStory)
- Victor: A Guiding Light for Youths with a Heart for Community Service (The Everyday People)
Around the world
Your monthly donation will help families in need of a decent place to build long-term financial security. With an affordable, stable home, families have more to spend on food, medicine, childcare, education and other essentials.
We appreciate the support of all our volunteers! Together, we can build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. Join hands and be our volunteer today! We have openings for skills-based volunteers, so please get in touch.
COVID-19 has not held us back. Just in the last few weeks, we have distributed 1,000 home hygiene kits to vulnerable families in Sham Shui Po, Kwai Chung, Yuen Long and Tuen Mun. Follow our Facebook page to receive more updates from us!
Contact us:
Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong
9/F, V-Point, 18 Tang Lung Street
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
enquiry@habitat.org.hk
+852 2520 4000
Copyright ©2020 Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong. All rights reserved.
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