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Mary Ann

Mary Ann Benitez

While Hongkongers celebrate today with gifts and special meals, there is one group of people in the city for whom Christmas is just another day.
They are the 106 'mandated refugees' who are awaiting resettlement overseas by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
These people - some families and some single men - have fled their home countries to escape war or  persecution.
Helping them get by is the Caritas-Hong Kong-UNHCR Project, one of the 13 beneficiaries of Operation  Santa Claus 2008.
Take, for instance, 31-year-old Ali Hanssan  from Somalia who has been awaiting resettlement for nearly two years.
Today will be no different - he will keep to his daily routine of waking up at 7.30am and going to bed at 10pm.
As he is not allowed to work, there is little he can do apart from going for a walk or playing football near the hostel where he stays.
The Macquarie Group Foundation  has stepped in to help people like Mr Hanssan, donating HK$150,000 to the Caritas Hong Kong-UNHCR Project.
The foundation, a major donor to Operation Santa Claus, runs corporate philanthropy for Australia's  largest investment bank.
The Caritas Hong Kong-UNHCR Project provides protection and essential assistance to all refugees  recognised by the UN agency.
The Macquarie donation is more than the HK$120,000 sought by the project to teach English to 40 adult refugees and to help them acquire vocational skills.
Caritas Hong Kong,  founded in 1953 and constituted as the official social welfare bureau of the Catholic Church, has been helping refugees over the decades.  'Caritas is a local NGO with Christian belief,' said Betty Mok,  the officer in charge of the project. 'All human beings regardless of their gender, age, nationality, status, religious beliefs ... are entitled to basic needs according to basic  human rights such as food, shelter, medical care and education.'
The project has been solely funded by the UN agency. It currently cares for 79 adults and 27 children.
Julie White,  head of the Macquarie Group Foundation said: 'Macquarie is proud to support Caritas and their vocational training programme through Operation Santa Claus.
'We have a strong commitment to supporting the many charities that work with the disadvantaged in Hong Kong. Macquarie staff provide  support to a wide range of charities through volunteering, fundraising and other support and we look  forward to developing our relationship with Caritas in the future.
'We are delighted to be part of SCMP's Operation Santa Claus and it is very pleasing to see so many companies participating and supporting those most in need within the Hong Kong community,' Ms White said.
The Hong Kong government is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and does not grant local  integration to refugees.
Organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK, Operation Santa Claus, now in its 21st year, will aid 13 groups. Part of the funds will also go to the SCMP Homes for Hope project to help  Sichuan  earthquake victims rebuild their homes.
A helping hand
Who will benefit: Caritas-Hong Kong UNHCR Project
Refugees under the Caritas project:
total: 106
adults: 79
people under 18: 27
Refugees in Hong Kong:
from Asia: 62%
from Africa: 38%
under 18: 26%
SOURCES: CARITAS, OFFICE OF THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
Wish list
Aim Established in 2000, the Caritas Hong Kong-UNHCR Project is a partnership project between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees'  Hong Kong sub-office and Caritas,  a multi-service organisation founded in July 1953. The self-financed project, solely funded by the UNHCR, provides protection and essential assistance to all mandated refugees recognised by the High Commissioner awaiting resettlement in a third country. Caritas Hong Kong wants to launch English-language and vocational training for refugees,  and develop job skills for their integration in a resettlement country. Forty refugees aged over 18 will take part in at least one vocational training class next year. Funds needed HK$120,000



Australian group's donation helps refugees learn additional skills