The South Asian tsunami of this century has brought tremendous death and destruction. Many have lost loved ones and homes. It has brought many Hong Kong people to a time of reflection and a chance to pour out their love and compassion. In response to this terrible disaster, we have taken the following actions:

Helping Locals Face the Crisis

In January, Integrated Children and Youth Service's Project Connection and Project SASA (South Asian Support Alliance) set up a special telephone hotline to offer emotional support, information and referral to services to local South Asians who were in need. Languages were available in Nepalese, Indian, Pakistan and English. At the same time, Family Networks - Integrated Family Service Centre joined the Hong Kong Council of Social Service to operate a hotline to help those who were affected psychologically by the disaster.

Meanwhile the School Social Work Service published a series of "Responding to the South Asian Tsunami" articles with information pertaining to teachers, primary and secondary school students. They helped the schools to address the effects the tsunami had on the students.

As school reopened and work resumed in January, Family Networks - Integrated Family Service Centre provided a support team to help school social workers during the first week of class to handle any possible crisis situation. They also set up a counseling team for the local residents and published posters and flyers to educate the community.

Sending Love through Children and Youth

Many of our service centres brought young children and youth together to express their love and support. Pre-schoolers from a day care centre made love cards and flower arrangements for the officers of the Immigration Department and Security Bureau to command their selfless attitude to save lives. Other children prayed for the speedy rebuilt of homes and a speedy reunion of tsunami victims with loved ones.

The School Social Work Service organized a joint school event called 'We Care' in which students can have deep reflections and draw deep insights from the incident. Oxfam workers who visited India's disastrous areas were invited to share with students from different schools. During the 'Heart to Heart' event, student representatives presented well-wishes cards to 5 embassies whose countries had been affected by the disaster. They also delivered the cards to the refugee camps in Phuket through the social work volunteers.

Joining Hands to Raise Funds

The elderly, volunteers and employees from our Elderly Service Centres joined hands to raise approximately $19,000 which was then transferred to the Hong Kong Christian Council's Five Loaves Two Fish South Asian Tsunami Disaster Fund.

Meanwhile the Integrated Children and Youth Service and youth volunteers instigated a 'Care Movement' to encourage volunteers to participate in the fundraising activity in conjunction with Hong Kong World Vision. Fundraising booths were set up in the Shamshuipo and Kwun Tong areas. Citizens were encouraged to express their love and care on cards that would be delivered to local and overseas disaster relief workers as a token of support.