On Feb. 9 we had our Embracing Life’s Transitions Art Exhibit opening and awarding ceremony. This was an online competition for migrant domestic workers (MDW) in Hong Kong to share their personal journey through art, video, photo, and poetry. Winners’ and finalists’ works are now on display at G/F The Center at 99 Queen’s Rd Central until Feb. 22 (Open daily 9am to 6pm).
The MDWs works are so heartfelt and beautiful but what’s even more amazing was learning their stories of difficulty and overcoming these challenges. Evelyn found peace to conquer loneliness through meditation and yoga. Johnna used her talent in art to earn money and even improve her relationship with her employer. Bing taught herself how to paint from materials given to her by her employer. Naseha used photography to heal and find herself after her divorce and mother’s death.
This exhibit also sparks conversation about the importance of mental health needs of MDWs in Hong Kong. We are so happy seeing many members of the public viewing the works, one of which even said, “(They) are so important in Hong Kong,” and we couldn’t agree more. MDWs are vital members of HK society and talking more about their experiences can pave the way towards mental health awareness and social inclusion.
We sincerely invite you to drop by the exhibit and learn the stories of these amazing MDWs! You can also view their works on our website. Special thanks to the support of Mental Health Initatives Funding Scheme Phase 2 of Health Bureau, Urban Renewal Authority and H6 CONET. Thank you to Nathalia Widjaja from Peduli Kasih HK. Shout out also to our friends from EmpowerU, Enrich HK, PathFinders for Migrant Workers, Migrant Bakehouse HK, Mission For Migrant Workers, Body Banter, TheM -Translate for Her: community information for ethnic minority women.
