[Multiculturalism in Action Project 2016-17] FUN with Interculturalism – Experiential Learning Day at Valtorta College

The Multiculturalism in Action (MIA) Project is continuing its community outreach program, FUN with Interculturalism, in this academic year. On 30 September 2016, the MIA was invited to host intercultural activities for the Experiential Learning Day at Valtorta College.

An “Exhibition on South Asian Communities in Hong Kong” was displayed, more than 200 students joined the docent tour. They were divided into small groups and led by our docents for detailed explanations on the Indian, Nepali, and Pakistani communities in Hong Kong.

Our docents explaining the Exhibition content to students

Aside from learning the facts on the history and contribution of South Asians in Hong Kong, students were shown how to play cricket, a popular sport all over South Asia.

Students trying their hands on cricket

There were also kabaddi sessions held by our instructors, Dr. Wyman Tang and Mr. Alan Tse. Kabaddi is a traditional game played throughout South Asia which develops the physique, team work, and strategy. Today, kabaddi is an official event in the Asian Games. Both students and teachers enjoyed a lot.

Learning to play kabaddi

It was a fun and meaningful morning for students, teachers, and the MIA team, during which intercultural knowledge and activities were shared and discussed! 

[Multiculturalism in Action Project 2016-17] Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan Culture Workshop

On 20 August 2016, the MIA Workshop organized its sixth seminar. The topic was Bangladeshi food culture and gender issues. Ms. Sabina Sultana, a Bangladeshi nutritionist and medical interpreter, was the speaker.

Ms. Sultana told us that a typical Bangladeshi meal includes rice and fish. Although Bangladesh shares similar food culture with India and Pakistan, Bangladeshis in general cook with less spices and herbs. Unlike Northern India and Pakistan where people have naans, Bangladeshis prefer rice in their main meals. Besides, yogurt and tomatoes, which are commonly used in India and Pakistan, are not popular ingredients in Bangladeshi cuisines.

Ms. Sultana explaining Bangladeshi food culture

Ms. Sultana introduced to us that pitha, a cake-like snack, is common in Bangladesh as well as West Bengal in India. It is made from a batter of rice or wheat flour, and filled with sweet or savoury ingredients such as grated coconuts or gurh (condensed cane-sugar). It can be either steamed or fried. Ms. Sultana also told us that ilish is the national fish of Bangladesh, and it is popular in daily meals and festivals alike.  

Ilish (Photo source: Wikipedia)

Although there is no Bangladeshi grocery store in Hong Kong, Ms. Sultana said Bangladeshis get almost everything they need from other South Asian supplies stores and supermarkets. Those items that could not be found in Hong Kong, such as specific rice and vegetables, are brought by relatives or friends from Bangladesh occasionally. She mentioned that the eating habits of her family has been influenced by the Chinese cuisines since moving to Hong Kong nine years ago. For instance, they love to cook with vinegar now, which was very rare in the past.

During the short break, Workshop participants got a chance to taste some Bangladeshi food including a vegetable salad, dal puri (a fried puff bread with mung bean), piazu (a deep-fried snack made with lentils), chicken curry, ruhi (fish) curry, rice, and masala tea, all prepared by a home chef.

Piazu (red in colour) and dullpuri (yellow in colour)

In the second part of the seminar, Ms. Sultana explained to us the gender situation in Bangladesh. She said Bangladeshi women still suffer as an underprivileged group in terms of health services, education, and employment. For instance, there is a big gender earning gap in Bangladesh. According to Ms. Sultana, women only earns USD 0.12 per day, compare to USD 1 earned by man. In terms of politics, the Bangladeshi government is trying to engage more women in the political system such as reserving 50 seats for women in the Parliament. However, Ms. Sultana commented that the process for improving gender inequality is slow because of the lack of rule of law and corruptions in the government.

Lastly, Ms. Sultana pointed out that Islam teachings consider men and women equal and they will receive fair judgements from Allah. Besides, some may question why Muslim men are allowed to marry a maximum of four wives. Ms. Sultana explained that according to the Quran this is only allowed when the men can treat the wives justly and equally. And often people misunderstood and/or abused this teaching. She reminded us that we should consult the Iman or visit the mosques to learn the truth of Islam.

[Multiculturalism in Action 2016-17] Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan Culture Workshop

On 13 August 2016, Mr. Syed Ekram Elahi, President of the Bangladesh Association of Hong Kong (BAHK), was invited to give a talk on the religions and social life of Bangladeshis in Hong Kong.

According to Mr. Syed, most Bangladeshis in Hong Kong are Muslims, with a few Hindu and Buddhist families. Various Islamic and Hindu festivals are observed by the Bangladeshi community in Hong Kong.

In the Eid al-Fitr (Festival of breaking of the fast), Bangladeshi Muslims will gather at mosques for morning prayer, and then visit each other’s homes. People will say “Eid Mubarak”, to greet each other, which means “To wish you a happy Eid”, and it is a custom to hug each other one to three times.

Bangladeshi community gathering at Kowloon Mosque for the Eid prayer
Photo source: Syed Ekram Elahi

Eid al-Adha (Festival of the Sacrifice) is another important festival observed by Bangladeshi Muslims in Hong Kong. Animals such as cows and goats are sacrificed and distributed to relatives and people in need. In Bangladesh, there are cattle markets in every village, while in Hong Kong, they usually buy cows and goats from the Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse.

Mr. Syed explaining Eid al-Adha

Durga Puja, a Hindu festival of Bengali origin, is jointly celebrated by Bangladeshi Hindus and the West Bengalis from India.  It is organized at Henry G. Leong Community Centre in Yau Ma Tei every year.

Durga Puja celebrated at Henry G. Leong Community Centre

In terms of social life, Mr. Syed told us that the family structure in Bangladesh has changed from joint family to nuclear family. Most people opt to live with their parents rather than to live individually. Although arranged marriage is still common in Bangladesh, the role of parents has changed from making decisions to giving advice. According to Mr. Syed, Bangladeshi men usually get married at the age of 28, while women get married at the age of 22 to 25. Gaye holud is a ceremony observed in the Bengali wedding. Henna and turmeric paste are applied to the bride and groom respectively as a form of blessing.

As told by Mr. Syed, it is hard to conclude the marriage pattern of the second generation in Hong Kong as most youth have not reached marriage age yet. However, he believed that most of them will organize wedding activities in Bangladesh because the family’s social networks are there. It is also expected that intercultural marriage will be more popular among Bangladeshi youth who grow up in Hong Kong. 

[Multiculturalism in Action Project 2016-17] Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan Culture Workshop

On 6 August, 2016, the Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan Culture Workshop invited Mr. Dewan Saiful Alam, former President of the Bangladesh Association of Hong Kong, to give a talk on Bangladeshi Culture and the Bangladeshi Community in Hong Kong.

Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Over 90% of the population are Muslims, other are Hindus, Christians, and Buddhist. Geographically speaking, Bangladesh is a plain country and flooding is common during the monsoon season. In rush hours and festival times, Mr. Dewan said using waterways is more convenient and reliable than road transportation. 

Mr. Dewan presenting an overview on Bangladesh

One of the most important days in Bangladesh is the International Mother Language Day. It has been observed annually since 21 February 1952. At that time, Pakistan was planning to impose Urdu as state language in East Pakistan (later became Bangladesh after the independence in 1979). University students and politicians demonstrated for the recognition of Bengali and oppose the imposition of Urdu, and in the process some students were shot dead. Nowadays, it is still an important and emotional day for many Bangladeshis. 

Martyr Monument at the University of Dhaka, commemorates those who were killed in 1952.
Photo source: Essay and Paragraph

Since 2005, the economy in Bangladesh has been rapidly developing. The garment industry in Bangladesh ranks second in the world. Mr. Dewan told us that more than 70% of the businesses owned by Bangladeshis in Hong Kong are related to this field. Tea production is another essential industry in Bangladesh. It owns three of the world’s largest tea gardens, which are all located in the Sylhet Division in the eastern Bangladesh.

According to Mr. Dewan, there are around 2,000 Bangladeshis living in Hong Kong. Most of them have started their businesses in Hong Kong since 1985 as middle people between the textile factories in Bangladesh and the raw material suppliers in China. Nowadays, Bangladeshis are working in various occupations as well, such as bankers, editors, and mobile phone traders. 

The Bangladesh Association of Hong Kong was established in 2003 to support the Bangladeshis living in Hong Kong. Mr. Dewan felt that as the first generation in Hong Kong, it is his duty to help pass down Bengali traditions to the future generation. Every year, the Association organizes various activities, such as celebrations for the Bengali New Year and National Day, to keep their traditions alive in Hong Kong. Besides, there is a weekend school for children to learn Bengali.

Carnival for Bengali New Year
Photo credit: AFM Tariq

Dance performance on National Day
Photo credit: AFM Tariq

Mr. Dewan said language barriers and getting a job are the biggest challenges for Bangladeshis living in Hong Kong. It is not easy to get a job in Hong Kong due to the Chinese language requirement. Many Bangladeshis who have graduated from the universities in Hong Kong have chosen to work in other countries such as Singapore and the US. To Mr. Dewan, it is a loss of human capital for Hong Kong. He said the Association have been negotiating with the government to resolve these issues, and it is hoped that Bangladeshis can truly integrate in Hong Kong, which is home for them. 

[Multiculturalism in Action Project 2016-17] Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan Culture Workshop

On 30 July, 2016, the Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan Culture Workshop organized its weekly seminar at Pearl Lanka, a Sri Lankan grocery store in To Kwa Wan. The first session of the seminar was about food culture in Sri Lanka, presented by Mr. P.B. Thilakarathne, then followed by the second session on gender and family issues in Sri Lanka, presented by Ms. Girtie Jirasihna and Mr. Kanishka Samarasinghe.

The first speaker Mr. Thilakarathne explained that the food culture in Sri Lanka has been influenced by different cultures, especially the Islamic, Indian, and Western cultures. Rice and coconuts were the basics in ancient Sri Lankan cuisine. Later, spices and tea were added to Sri Lankan cuisines as these products were encouraged to be planted by the colonial governments. Nowadays, most foods in Sri Lanka include a touch of rice, coconut, and curry.

Mr. Thilakarathne explaining Sri Lankan food culture

Coconut is an essential ingredient in Sri Lankan cuisine. Unlike the Chinese who put coconut mostly in soup, Sri Lankans have different ways of using coconuts. For example, coconut milk is added to almost all types of curry. Grated coconuts are mixed with spices for coconut sambol, serving as an accompaniment for rice and string hoppers (rice-noodles). Virgin coconut oil can be used in cooking as well as massage.

Mr. Thilakarathne showed us some cooking utensils, such as string hopper mat and presser, clay plot, and puttu (steamed rice cake with coconut) cooker.

String hopper presser (left) and mats (right)

Before the establishment of the first Sri Lankan grocery store in Hong Kong in 2012, Sri Lankan products were brought to Hong Kong occasionally through friends and relatives. Yet, bulky and fresh products such as rice and coconuts could not be brought to Hong Kong. Although the Sri Lankans tried to use substitutes (such as Indian rice and Chinese vegetables), Mr. Thilakarathne said they could not find substitutes for coconuts and fish, the two essential components in Sri Lankan cuisine. Hence, he decided to open a grocery store to serve the needs of Sri Lankans in Hong Kong.

Serving a limited population in Hong Kong, Mr. Thilakarathne admitted that it was tough to run the business, especially due to the high rent in Hong Kong. Besides, not all Sri Lankans would go for Sri Lankan products. For example, some domestic workers have gotten used to the food culture of their employers, and they seldom have time to cook Sri Lankan dishes. Despite these challenges, Mr. Thilakarathne persisted in his import business on high quality and healthy products.  

During the break, participants had a chance to enjoy some great-tasting Sri Lankan dishes including kiribath, string hoppers, koththu, and Sri Lankan doughnuts.

Sri Lankan dishes we had during the break

In the second part of the seminar, Ms. Girtie Jirasihna and Mr. Kanishka Samarasinghe shared with us their views on gender and family issues of the Sri Lankan community.

Mr. Samarasinghe said in ancient Sri Lanka, a family used to have eight to ten children because of the demand for labour in agricultural work.  Nowadays, a family usually has a maximum of four children.

In Sri Lanka, males are usually the breadwinners while females control the house keeping. It is a usual practice to wait for father to start dinner, and the mother will eat only after serving her husband and children. Mr. Samarasinghe said the situation has changed nowadays, as females also receive higher education and work as administrators in companies. Housework is shared by both husband and wife. Ms. Jirasihna told us that the Sri Lankan family expects the first child to be a daughter, as it is believed that the daughter can help to take care of the younger siblings, and to assist mother in housework.

According to Mr. Samarasinghe, arranged marriage is still practiced today but young adults will not be forced to marry someone he/she doesn’t like. It is a common practice for parents to match the horoscopes of the potential bride and groom to judge whether it will be a good or bad marriage. Moreover, parents identify a potential spouse for their children through advertisements in the newspaper. Mr. Thilakarathne said he also got to know his wife this way. Caste system was once a tradition in Sri Lanka, in which people believed that people cannot get married with those from a different caste. However, the speakers said the caste system is no longer a main concern in marriage nowadays, especially for families living in cities.

Mr. Samarasinghe (left) and Ms. Jirasinha (right)

[Multiculturalism in Action Project 2016-17] Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan Culture Workshop

On 16 July, 2016, the Multiculturalism in Action (MIA) Project presented a seminar on Sri Lankan Culture and the Sri Lankan Community in Hong Kong. This is the first seminar of the fourth South Asian culture workshop in the MIA series, the Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan Culture Workshop. Dr. Thilina Weerasinghe, an engineering consultant working in Hong Kong, was invited to host the seminar.

Social Development

Dr. Weerasinghe started with “Ayubowan!”, a greeting in Sri Lanka, which means “May you live long”.

“Ayubowan” in English, Sinhalese (middle), and Tamil (right)
Photo credit: Venuka Glagoda (Google+)

Introducing Sri Lanka, he said that though it is a small country in terms of size (65610 km2) and population (21 million), it ranked 8th in the World Giving Index in 2015. It was also one of two countries (another one was the Maldives) which had the highest Human Development Index (HDI) among South Asian countries in 2015. After the civil war (1983-2009), Sri Lanka has been rapidly developed. It is most well-known for its natural scenic spots and beaches. Tourism has become an important industry.

In terms of gender, Dr. Weerasinghe said Sri Lanka is a male-dominated country, yet the family is based on mothers who usually make decisions at home. There have been many outstanding women in Sri Lankan history. For instance, Queen Anula (reigned 47BC – 42BC) was the first female head of state in Asia, Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike was Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for three times (1960-65, 1970-77, 1994-2000) and was the first female Prime Minister in the world. At the moment, there are 13 women members of Parliament, making up 5.7% of members of the House and Senate.

Sri Lanka is a multicultural society. The Sinhalese form the largest portion of the population (more than 70%), followed by the Tamils, Muslims, Malays, and Burghers. The Burghers are descendants of marriages between the natives and Europeans (mainly Portuguese, Dutch, and British).

Religion and Culture

Religions practiced in Sri Lanka include Buddhism (70.1% of population), Hinduism (12.6%), Islam (9.7%), and Christianity (7.6%).  Most cultural practices, social values, and traditions in Sri Lanka have found their roots in Buddhism, which was introduced to Sri Lanka by Arahat Mihindu Thero in 300 BC. For instance, the Presidents and Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka were usually Buddhists; Ministry of Buddhasasana is established to enhance Buddhist beliefs in Sri Lanka. Besides, Buddhist festivals and rituals are practiced nationwide, such as the Katina ceremonies and the Bodhi-Puja.

The Sinhala Hindu new year, Aluth Avurudda, is celebrated on 13th or 14th of April. Dr. Weerasinghe explained that the whole nation will carry out the most important rituals at the same time according to the astrologist’s calculations. For instance, the whole nation eat the first meal of the new year at the same time. Interesting games such as kabaddi are played during the holidays.

Family gathering during Aluth Avurudda
Photo credit: The British Council

Another interesting feature in Sri Lanka is the use of astrology in daily life. It is believed that people’s time of birth defines their destiny and a Full Life Reading is made by an astrologist at birth. This Reading is commonly used in identifying a potential spouse. Parents believe that it is necessary that their children’s horoscopes be matched to guarantee a good marriage.

Dr. Weerasinghe said Sri Lanka had the spiciest of food and sweetest of tea. His favourite food was koththu, a mixture of godhamba roti (a flat bread made from wheat flour), vegetables, eggs, and spices. It was a common street food 20-30 years ago, but now it has become a delicacy in restaurants. He also shared with us how the Sri Lankans loved sweets. His family, for instance, used to add four spoons of sugar into a cup of tea.

Koththu
Photo credit: Amila Tennakoon (Flickr)

Sri Lankans in Hong Kong

According to Dr. Weerasinghe, there are about 2,000 Sri Lankans living in Hong Kong. They work in many different occupations, some are professors in universities, some are business people in trading and transport, and there are others who work as domestic workers and solicitors. Many of them feel that Sri Lanka’s traditions and festivals are important and they organize communal celebrations such as the new year Aluth Avurudda, and the Poson Festival celebrating the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

[Multiculturalism in Action] Come to join the Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan Culture Workshop!

The Multiculturalism in Action Project is going to organise a Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan Culture Workshop in the coming summer. This Workshop includes seminars, field visits, buddy programs, community-enhancement project, and an opportunity to present your project in schools and in a book! Come and join us in promoting cultural knowledge and positive ethnic relations!!

Please visit our website to view our previous Workshops.

All interested are welcome. Please register on or before July 10, 2016 at lee-connie@cuhk.edu.hk

[Multiculturalism in Action 2015-2016] FUN with Interculturalism – World No Tobacco Day 2016

The Multiculturalism in Action (MIA) Project participated in the World No Tobacco Day 2016, organized by the United Christian Nethersole Community Health Service. The program was held on 29 May 2016 in King George V Memorial Park, Jordan, to raise awareness about smoking hazards, and motivate the public, especially ethnic minorities and new immigrants to take the initial step to quit smoking, and consequently foster a healthy environment. Prof. Maria Tam was invited to give a short speech during the opening ceremony. She encouraged everyone, regardless of ethnic background, to support family, friends, and colleagues to quit smoking, as smoking affected not only the health of the smokers, but also those around them.

Guests of the event promoting the message of a tobacco-free Hong Kong

MIA displayed an Exhibition on the South Asian Communities in Hong Kong, which attracted a lot of South Asian visitors. With a focus on Nepali culture and kabaddi, the visitors commented that they have learned a lot. Some Nepali parents took chance to teach their children about the history and culture of the Nepalis in Hong Kong.

Guests viewing the Exhibition

The afternoon was filled with the music dance performances by different groups.

South Asian dance performances

If you would like to learn more about the health issues of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, click the links below to view the public seminars organized by MIA:

Health Issues among South Asians in Hong Kong (online video) 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nw1OJNeru0&feature=youtu.be 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbmcGrJEg4g 

Health and the Pakistani Community 
http://anthrocuhk.blogspot.hk/2015/11/pakistani-culture-workshop-health-and_16.html 

An Exhibition Handbook on South Asian Communities in Hong Kong is now available free of charge to the public, please email us to get your copy!

Contact: Ms. Connie Lee (lee-connie@cuhk.edu.hk)

[Multiculturalism in Action 2015-2016] FUN with Interculturalism - Equal Opportunities Day

FUN with Interculturalism, a community outreach project launched by the Multiculturalism in Action (MIA) Project this year, participated in the Equal Opportunities Day on 21 May, 2016. An Exhibition on the South Asian Communities in Hong Kong including Indian, Nepali, and Pakistani cultures was displayed. Our volunteers served as docents to explain the details to visitors, including residents from Fairview Park, Yuen Long, and the vicinity. 

Our docents at work

MIA Director Prof. Maria Tam exchanged views on the work to promote positive ethnic relations with different parties, including Prof. Chan Cheung-ming, Chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission, Ms. Ng Chiu Mei, Principal of the Bethel High School, and Mr. To, District Councilor of Fairview Park.

Prof. Tam (right) discussing the education issues of the ethnic minorities with Prof. Chan (middle) and Ms. Ng (left)

The Opening Ceremony showcased the multicultural talents in Hong Kong. Performances included Nepali dance, Chinese Tai Chi, Sikh martial arts, and Indonesian ukulele performance. Moreover, there was a panel that consisted of two Pakistani police officers and a Nepali accountant, who shared their success stories. Their examples showed that everyone could have a chance to succeed through perseverance.

Sikh martial arts

Tai Chi performance

Sharing session

 Audience came to visit our booth after the opening ceremony, and they enjoyed the interactive quizzes a lot!

Visitors taking part in the interactive quizzes

An Exhibition Handbook on South Asian Communities in Hong Kong is now available free of charge to the public, please email us to get your copy! 


Contact: Ms. Connie Lee (lee-connie@cuhk.edu.hk)

[Multiculturalism in Action 2015-2016] FUN with Interculturalism in Kam Tin

FUN with Interculturalism, a community outreach project launched by the Multiculturalism in Action Project this year, organized its fourth community event on 27 February, 2016, in collaboration with SKH St. Joseph’s Church and Social Center in Kam Tin. Apart from our own volunteers, we were joined by the Center’s volunteers, and teachers and Nepali students from Don Bosco Ng Siu Mui Secondary School. Seven booths showcased different cultures and jointly promoted positive ethnic relations. These included Chinese calligraphy, Indian dance, board games, henna drawing, art gallery as well as Equal Opportunities Commission information.

The art gallery (left) by Mr. Rai Dipendra and Chinese calligraphy (right) by Miss Chan Chan

Informative board games (left) by the Equal Opportunities Commission and henna drawing (right) by “One World One Family” Program

An Exhibition on South Asian Communities in Hong Kong was displayed at the covered playground, complete with explanations from our docents.

Our docent at work

Three kabaddi sessions were held by our volunteers, Annie and Kiu. In the first session we invited our Nepali guests to play - their skills and talents showcased the excitement of kabaddi and attracted the audience to stay and join the later sessions. The second and third sessions were held successfully with a lot of enthusiasm from both children and adults from different ethnic origins.

Guests of honor enjoying a game of kabaddi

Kids loved kabaddi!

The audience then enjoyed a series of performances prepared by the Center. There was Nepali dance by the Blessed Flowers Children Group, as well as storytelling in Cantonese by Khapangi Magar Prans.

Nepali kids performing an ethnic dance

Khapangi telling a story in Cantonese

Ms. Jackie Law, an experienced Indian dance performer and teacher, shared with us some stories behind Indian dance and explained the meanings of the gestures. After a fabulous dance, Ms. Law invited the audience to join her in learning some simple steps.

Ms. Law explaining the meanings of the gestures in Indian dance

Ms. Law performing Indian dance

Learning Indian dance

Last but not least, we would like to thank SKH St. Joseph’s Church and Social Center for providing the venue and booth supplies, and the volunteers who contributed to making this event a success. It certainly was an afternoon filled with joy and fun!

Thank you for your contribution and participation!

[Multiculturalism in Action 2015-2016] Ethnic Minority Enterprise and Social Innovation

Multiculturalism in Action 2015-16
Pakistani Culture Workshop: Making a Change for the Better

Session 6: Ethnic Minority Enterprise and Social Innovation 

Speakers:
Mrs. Arjumand Naveed (President, Pakistan Women Association of Hong Kong)
Mrs. Nigar Qureshi (Director, Spa Beauté Par Zai; Winner, Hong Kong Most Valuable Companies 2016 Award)
Mr. Yasir Naveed (Founder, Chefo!)
Ms. Ada Wong, JP (Convenor, Good Lab and MaD – Make a Difference Institute) 

On 16 January, 2016, the Multiculturalism in Action Project organized a public seminar entitled Ethnic Minority Enterprise and Social Innovation at the Pakistan Club. It aimed to provide a platform for the public to know more about the contributions and challenges of the Pakistani individuals residing in Hong Kong.

Our first speaker, Mrs. Arjumand Naveed, shared with the audience the work of the Pakistan Women Association of Hong Kong. It was set up in 2013 and its aims were: 1) to bridge the education and financial gap among Pakisani women in Hong Kong society; 2) to provide exposure for Pakistani women to mainstream society; and 3) to help Pakistani women to become contributing members to society. Mrs. Naveed pointed out that the Pakistani community faced difficulties such as language barriers in schools and hospitals. Besides, the gender concept in Pakistani society restricted women to stay at home. Mrs. Naveed said that the Pakistan Women Association of Hong Kong worked on connecting professionals and social organizations to offer classes and events to help Pakistani women to integrate in Hong Kong community. For instance, the Association collaborated with the Multiculturalism in Action Project, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, to organize seminars on various themes to heighten the cultural sensitivity of the locals towards the Pakistani community in Hong Kong. Besides, the Association also worked with the Equal Opportunities Commission to educate women about their rights and domestic discrimination.

Mrs. Naveed discussing the challenges faced by Pakistani women in Hong Kong

To bring the “hidden women” out from their homes, the Pakistan Women Association has formed self-help groups such as Cantonese classes, cooking classes and handicraft classes. The handicraft classes, as highlighted by Mrs. Naveed, helped the women to make use of their cultural skills to earn money which brought them self-confidence as well as appreciation from others. The next step which Mrs. Naveed and the Association planned to do was to work on small-scale businesses, with an intention to educate the public “how to trade, not aid”, and to achieve sustainable development with their cultural talents.

The second speaker, Mrs. Nigar Qureshi, stressed that not all girls are treated unequally in Pakistan. Her own experience was that, her family was happy for having her as the only girl in the family. She shared tips to be a good entrepreneur, such as: keep planning and get out of your comfort zone. Even though she was a very busy entrepreneur, she still cared for the community and continued to work with whoever seek help from her.

Mrs. Qureshi sharing her experience as a successful entrepreneur

Mr. Yasir Naveed, the third speaker, talked about his personal stories and how the idea of Chefo! came about. When he was a university student in Hong Kong, he faced difficulties in finding halal meals. Not accepting this as an unsolvable problem, he began to think of bridging his personal need with Pakistani community talents.

Mr. Naveed sharing the story of Chefo!

He said there were many ethnic minority women who were good at cooking, and who lived in different districts in Hong Kong. This labor power should be utilized effectively to bring about a win-win situation. Not only the customers could benefit from enjoying fresh halal meals, but ethnic minority women would also benefit from using their cultural skills to bring in an income and be appreciated. Mr. Naveed started Chefo! as a social enterprise, but he admitted that sometimes he wanted to quit, as it was not easy at all to run a social enterprise. However, he knew that he could not give up as Chefo! was a platform for ethnic minority women to be empowered, and its efforts had been recognized by the society. For instance, Chefo! was selected one of the Top Three Most Promising Entrepreneurship by The Economist. Mr. Naveed stressed that “passion” was the most important element to push an entrepreneur to succeed, and he would use his passion to make Chefo! even better. 

Ms. Ada Wong, convenor of The Good Lab and MaD – Make A Difference Institute, responded to the sharing of the above speakers. She also introduced different funding sources such as Social Innovation Fund, and commented that the most important thing about social enterprise was not a business degree, but commitment, action, and determination. She concluded, social innovation was an attempt to help the needy and to sweep away social injustice.

Ms. Wong answering questions raised by the audience

After the break, there was sharing by three practitioners in the empowerment of Pakistanis in Hong Kong. Ms. Zareenah Ho, Principal of the Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College, talked about school programs for Muslim girls to develop their talents and skills. Ms. Shabana Jamil, council member of The Pakistan Association, shared her views that empowering females was important, as it helped to eliminate gender bias. Last but not least, Ms. Ansah Malik, a welfare worker from Caritas Hong Kong, shared her appreciation for women who were great home-makers, and added that discrimination should never happen.

Practitioners sharing their efforts on empowering Muslims females in Hong Kong
(From left: Ms. Ho, Ms. Jamil, and Ms. Malik)

There was active participation from the audience in the open discussion. Mrs. Qureshi observed that the difficulties faced by the Pakistanis was not only from the minority identity, but also from their Muslim identity which was portrayed negatively in the media in the last 10 years. It is hoped that these successful entrepreneurship stories can show the audience that Pakistanis in Hong Kong were contributing to make Hong Kong a better and more multicultural society, and these efforts should not be overlooked.

The panelists in the open discussion (From left: Mrs. Qureshi, Mrs. Naveed, Mr Naveed, and Prof. Tam)

The audience also took the time to view the Exhibition on South Asian Communities in Hong Kong, as part of the “FUN with Interculturalism” project. Volunteers served as docents in explaining the content of the exhibition and distributed pamphlets in five languages: Chinese, English, Hindi, Nepali, and Urdu.

Docents at the Exhibition