What is your name and the organisation you represent?
My name is Jonnet Kudera Bernal and I work for Christian Action-Centre for Refugees.
Tell us a bit more about yourself and your group’s advocacy.
I have worked with the refugee population in Hong Kong for over 14 years and started as a young programme officer working in a shelter helping young refugees and victims of human trafficking. I love working with and for the people and some of my strengths include client and donor management, programme development, volunteer coordination and community work and collaboration.
I am very passionate about ethnic minorities issues and aspires to help make a difference in the community through Christian Action and on personal capacity. I am graduate of Bachelor of Arts Major in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs in the Philippines.
Christian Action, formerly known as the Hong Kong Christian Aid to Refugees has a rich history of rescue, compassion and advocacy dating back to the early 1950’s. In the early years, we provided assistance to Russian and Chinese refugees, transitioning to the service of multiplied thousands of Vietnamese Boat people in the 1980s. In 1994, as our scope of services broadened to support other marginalized communities in Hong Kong, we were renamed Christian Action.
Our mission today is to serve those are disadvantaged, marginalized, displaced or abandoned regardless of their age, gender, nationality or religion.
How did you start working for this organisation?
I have been with CA for 10 years now helping and serving the refugee and ethnic minorities as part of my passion and commitment. I started as case worker, then headed programmes to now the Centre Manager.
What improvements in refugee lives would you like to see?
To see more of them live with dignity and hope and be accepted as members of the society.
Advice for our fellow migrants here in HK?
Believe in yourself and let no one tell you that you are not capable of doing more. We are all unique individuals with inherent rights and varying skills so we must not let our status limit us on who we can become and how we can serve the community.
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