I believe that when you mention Kowloon City, everyone will think of Thai food and Thai people.
When did Thais begin to live in Hong Kong?
The answer is the seventies.
At that time, most Thais living in Kowloon City were cross-port brides and Thai domestic helpers.
Later, Thai restaurants sprung up in Kowloon City like bamboo shoots after a rain, feeding many Thai chefs, and their wives and children followed them to Hong Kong.
After half a century of development, "Little Thailand" gradually took shape and became the place where most ethnic minorities live and work in Hong Kong at that time.
Seeing that there is still insufficient support from the community for the ethnic minorities in the district, Le Shan Tang started self-financing services for ethnic minorities in 2012. In 2014, it was sponsored by the former chairman Mr. Li Shengbo’s BBS in Kowloon City. The Li Yinyi Ethnic Minority Support Service Center was opened on Ta Kwu Ling Road, providing support services such as simple translation, new arrival information, employment support, family counseling, interest classes and homework counseling for schoolchildren.
It’s hard to adapt to finding support when you first come to Hong Kong
Thai youth Ken (pseudonym) came to Hong Kong to study with his parents when he was 13 years old. When he first arrived in Hong Kong, due to speech barriers, he became lack of self-confidence and taciturn.
Ken felt timid about speaking Cantonese at the time, so it was difficult to express his true thoughts.
Ken later introduced him to the center through a Thai friend. In order to help him integrate into Hong Kong and build self-confidence, the center proactively provided opportunities to encourage him to use Cantonese, and invited him to participate in activities organized by the center.
Ms. Mui, the center's Thai program assistant, is always concerned about Ken's adaptation to life in Hong Kong and encourages him from time to time.
As arranged by the center, Ken began to serve as an assistant in the center's Thai language class. In this way, in addition to helping to promote Thai culture and achieving the purpose of racial harmony, he can also use his own ability to help others and build self-confidence.
Through the festival activities, Ken got to know other Thai youths in Hong Kong. They often participate in center activities and sports together, thereby establishing a mutual help network and a sense of belonging to the community.
Encouraged by his fellow villagers, Ken gradually became cheerful and willing to accept life challenges.
Ken participates in leadership training to build self-confidence.
Ken and other center volunteers attended the Kowloon City Water Festival
Ken performed at the "Love the Neighbor" Safe Community Fire Carnival
Find the shining point to help others the happiest
The center provides Chinese classes for ethnic minorities, through the use of external tutors to teach them basic Cantonese in a living and interactive way, and increase their motivation to learn Cantonese. This is of great help to Ken's Cantonese.
At the same time, the center also provides homework tutoring class services for ethnic minority students to support them in facing the pressure of homework.
In order to increase the sense of efficacy of ethnic minorities, the center will also organize volunteer services to encourage them to participate.
Ken also often participates in volunteer services. He said that the most memorable one was to give small gifts to the elderly in need during one service. The friendly smiles of the elderly made him feel very satisfied and happy.
He himself received assistance in the center, hoping that he could also help other people in need.
Ken worked as a volunteer during the epidemic and assisted the center in distributing masks.
Dreams set sail and progress continues
Ken is currently a tertiary student and is studying subjects related to hotel management.
Through the past experience of serving at the center, he is more sensitive to observing the needs of others. He hopes that he can serve others in the future and shine.
He is very grateful to the staff of the center for their continuous care and encouragement, which made him confident.
In recent years, the needs of ethnic minorities have changed from coming to Hong Kong to adapt to life planning and nurturing personal talents. Therefore, in addition to continuing to organize homework tutorial classes and other regular activities, the center also promotes the "Dream Come True" minority funded by the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund. Ethnic youth support service plan.
Through the project, ethnic minority youths can participate in different art, music or practical skills courses to discover their interests, supplemented by a career planning group, to understand their own thoughts about the future.
The project will provide opportunities for work experience to ethnic minority youths, helping them to strengthen their mastery and understanding of practical work in the workplace.
"Dreams Come True" Ethnic Minority Youth Support Service Project-Harmony Pastel Experience Class
"Dreams Come True" Ethnic Minority Youth Support Service Project-Latte Art Workshop
The center will continue to sincerely listen to the needs of ethnic minorities, keep pace with the times, and actively help them integrate into the community and give full play to their strengths, and promote racial harmony!
If you want to know more about the center's services, please contact:
Lok Sin Tong Li Yin Yi Ethnic Group-Minority Support Service Center
Address: G/F, 47 Ta Kwu Ling Road, Kowloon City
Tel: 2382 0106
Fax: 2382 0058
Email: unitedcentre@loksintong.org
If you would like to donate to support Loksintong, Kowloon, please click the following link: https://www.loksintong.org/online-donation
Learn more about Loksintong services: https://www.loksintong.org/
(Information and photos provided by the customer)