Why Bethune House exists
The Need for Shelter
Bethune House is an agent for changing lives.
We have pioneered the shelter services for migrant women workers, as well as a holistic approach in enabling them to become empowered. We create and implement programs to support their welfare when they are distressed, as well as support their psycho-social welfare and foster a sense of community.
Unlike other shelters, we provide more than temporary shelter and provisions. We provide case and medical support, as well as education and training for skills improvement, and advocacy. We are concerned with the totality of the person’s welfare. This already distinguishes us from the rest.
There is a great lack in services available to migrant women workers who have had contracts terminated. Once a contract is terminated, each MDW can only stay in HK for 14 days, they are prohibited from earning income during this time and have no recourse to public health or other services. There is a rising demand over the years because of the increase in incidents of premature contract terminations and unfortunate incidents of abuse and exploitation. Living expenses in HK are expensive and our migrant women workers rely on charitable resources to enable them to stay in Hong Kong while their cases are being heard in the HK justice system
We are a non-profit organisation with a lean operation, supporting up to 700 cases annually with 3 permanent members of staff and up to 6 volunteers at every time. We also do not have a steady source of funding support. We constantly work to raise resources for our service beneficiaries on top of the hours devoted to actually provide the services. As such, we rely on kind-hearted groups and individuals for donations.
Migrant women workers are a key contributor to Hong Kong society. We provide care and support to those who care for some of us, and we hope more can come alongside us in supporting one of HK’s most marginalised and un-supported sectors.
Testimonials
Our story
Empowering a pillar of Hong Kong's society
Bethune House is forerunner for services in Hong Kong dedicated for distressed migrant women since 1986. We provide shelter services (food and accommodation), emergency relief assistance, legal and medical case support, counselling and psychosocial activities for Asian migrant women, mainly foreign domestic helpers.
We also have pioneered a holistic approach in caring for them. This includes contributing to the coping capacity and empowerment of the individual’s psycho-social welfare. We provide safe, secure and supportive environment to these Asian migrant women in crisis as they work on their problems, access justice, and survive their hardships.
Bethune House operates two shelters. At any given time, 25- 30 women foreign domestic workers in distress are sheltered at both shelters. Each week, 6 to 7 migrants in distress seek temporary shelter and assistance from Bethune House. On an average, residents stay in Bethune House from two weeks to up to two months and sometimes for more than one year.
Our mission :
To provide safe, decent and accessible shelter provisions to Asian women migrants in crisis, especially foreign domestic workers;
To make available emergency services, guidance, including case support to shelter residents;
To provide continuing education and empowerment for shelter residents enabling them to better cope with their problems and raise their dignity as persons and as members of the community.
To provide psycho-social services and activities to develop coping, confidence-building and system for mutual support.
To promote the concerns and needs of these migrant women in crisis to the general public in Hong Kong and build support around it.
In the news
Bethune House has been featured in several news stories both in English and Chinese publications. We have compiled some of these stories for your reference here.
Narrative Reports
Transparency is an important part of our work. To read our latest narrative reports outlining the breadth of our work in more detail, please click the button below.