JULY 17-18 2021
STEP
into the shoes of a refugee
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE REFUGEE UNION
why step into the shoes of a refugee?
$1,250 HKD for food, $300 HKD for transport- this is what the 14,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Hong Kong live on each month. On average, this budget rounds to $40 HKD a day for food and $10 HKD for transport. In Hong Kong, where a piece of bread from your local bakery would cost around $8 HKD, this is simply not enough.
During our work with the refugee community, we have learnt their stories of trying to save and budget: eating only one type of meal because it’s cheaper to buy in bulk, taking hours of transport just to save several dollars, or sometimes just skipping meals to make ends meet.
We believe that the closest way for Hong Kong to understand and connect with this community is for them to try it out themselves!
All donations from this challenge will be given to refugee related charities in Hong Kong.
RECAP OF OUR LAST CHALLENGE
South China Morning Post (Young post)
Video
WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
Sophie, Participant
My biggest challenge was definitely having a nutritious meal; fresh fruit and vegetables were out of the $40 dollar budget and I could mostly only afford processed foods (cup noodles, chips, frozen food) with the money.
GALLERY AND INTERVIEWS
What our participants did during the challenge and what they learned
CHALLENGE YOURSELF- HOW DOES IT WORK?
FOR EACH DAY OF THE CHALLENGE, YOU WILL LIVE ON:
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$40 HKD on food purchased only from Parknshop
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Refugees and asylum seekers in Hong Kong receive a total of $1,250 each month for food in the form of a food card that is only redeemable from Parknshop.
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DURATION
1-2 Days (17-18th July)
During the course of the two days, there will be optional virtual activities to introduce you to the community and our work. However, as the challenge is a mode of living, you do not need to cancel all other commitments on those days. Rather, your commitments and the Step. Challenge can be made compatible!
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$10 HKD on public transport (or the transport route which is the cheapest if this is unattainable)
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The only cash that asylum seekers and refugees are given is for transport money, which is a total of $300 a month.
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