Case Story - Malanda

Malanda (not her real name) arrived in Hong Kong from Africa several months ago. She had to leave her country after being made stateless, as a result of tension between her country of birth and country of residence.

When Malanda arrived in Hong Kong, she had enough money with her to rent a room with a friend for several months. During this time, she became involved in Christian Action's Chungking Mansions Service Centre (CKMSC), visiting for breakfast and also to participate in the English classes. The UNHCR currently do not have a translator for Malanda's first language and it has been necessary for her to use English to communicate with them.

Malanda told CKMSC staff a month in advance that she and her friend did not have any more money to pay their rent. At this stage, we had received an offer from a family who could accommodate several asylum seekers for a period of time. We were able to arrange for Malanda and two others to stay there and they have now been with that family for many months.

Malanda and her friends still visit the CKMSC for English class and they have expressed their gratitude for the help that we have given her. Many asylum seekers have lost family members before they came to Hong Kong and these three really appreciate being part of a family again.

Malanda was studying when she had to leave her country and she hopes that she will get the opportunity to continue her studies when she leaves Hong Kong. In the immediate future, she is hoping that her case will be accepted quickly by the UNHCR.