HONG KONG (SE): Sister Agnes Ho Kwai-ping, of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, won the Hong Kong Humanity Award 2020. The award, instituted by the Hong Kong Red Cross, is the first award of its kind in Hong Kong to honour individuals for their outstanding humanitarian contributions in ‘Protecting human life, caring for the health of the vulnerable and respecting human dignity.’
Sister Ho was chosen for her over-two decades of committed service in support of homeless girls and young women in distress.
Twenty-one years ago, Sister Ho established the Home Care for Girls, a temporary shelter for homeless girls and young women who suffered from domestic violence or unable to live with their family due to various reasons. She believes that God gave her a mission to bring love to these young women feel.
“God teaches me the importance of respect and care. Everyone is born equal and has the right to feel the love and warmth of the family. The Home Care for Girls allows the girls feel at home at the centres and experience family love,” Sister Ho told the Kung Kao Po.
The Hong Kong Red Cross said that Sister Ho was chosen for her contributions to society in leading homeless girls and young women in distress out of their trials with love and patience. The shelter provides a home-caring environment in which residents can engage in life skills training and group activities. It also refers them to appropriate social and counselling services. Residents are allowed to stay for a maximum of one year.
At present there are two centres, one for school-going girls and the second for young women. The main operation is in Tsing Yi with a support centre in Shatin.
The Tsing Yi centre is for schoolgirls aged between 14- and 18-years-old, while the centre in Shatin caters to young women aged 18 to 24. Sister Ho said all girls in the shelter fondly called her “Ho” as they are good friends. Her two pet dogs, which she brings to the shelters, have been a source of joy and comfort for the girls in distress.
Sister Ho recalled that two decades ago, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary had planned a new social service project. The initial proposal was to bring assistance to sex workers, but the plan was put aside due to complications related to such services. The congregation later decided to respond to the serious family problems in Hong Kong at that time and set up a shelter for homeless girls.
She said when the Home Care for Girls was first set up, it had a shortage of funds so female volunteers from Church groups were recruited to stay with the girls and cook for the shelter in shifts. She added that help began to come from various sectors as volunteers came from different religions and denominations. Sister Ho expressed her gratitude to the many benefactors who have supported the shelter and made it possible to function until now.
Sister Ho is pleased that some of the residents later received baptism and became active in serving other communities. She stepped down as chief executive officer of the shelter in 2016.
To show its gratitude to the founder, the shelter appointed her its permanent honorary chairperson.
Although she is no longer responsible for the centre’s daily operations, she still contributes through the board of directors to its development as a home away from home for young women.
