Diversity = Strength Film Festival, Film screening: The Helper
Abina Sze (saabina@ust.hk)
[This is an activity in Changemaker Gear Up Training Series (GUTS)*]
This film festival and student forum, organized by the University’s Community for Enhancing Intercultural Learning Experiences, will showcase Hong Kong’s diversity and the power of multiple points of view. Five films will be shown over a two-week period. This time we are screening "The Helper", a documentary movie. HKUST Connect supports the Sustainable Development Goals. We aim to promote the social inclusion, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity.
Around 400,000 migrant workers left their hometown and work in Hong Kong as migrant domestic helpers. In order to strive for a better life for their families, these helpers often abandon their loved ones, flock to unfamiliar land and take care of strangers. It portraits the sacrifices, challenging life and also beautiful moments of foreign domestic helpers working in Hong Kong.
Carmen Lam, the Deputy CEO of PathFinders HK, and Liza Avelino, who is featured in the documentary, would share their thoughts and experience. Join us to uncover the stories of the unsung heroes who are a crucial part of how Hong Kong operates as a prosperous city. Embrace and celebrate their tenacity and strength of character! Take action to empower and respect these women who are an overlooked sector of the society, yet are an integral part of our many Hong Kong families.
Speaker:
Carmen Lam
Deputy CEO, PathFinders Hong Kong
A licensed registered social worker in the United States, Canada, and Hong Kong, Carmen started off her career at a foster care agency and psychiatric rehabilitation center in the states. To widen her horizon, she returned to Hong Kong and worked in the non-profit sector for more than a decade helping thousands of migrant workers, refugees, asylum seekers and individuals with mental disabilities, etc.
Prior to joining PathFinders in 2013, Carmen assisted hundreds of refugee families as a Social Counselor at the UNHCR and Service Development Officer at Caritas in Hong Kong. She also worked at the Salvation Army under a project on anti-human trafficking in Canada. Carmen has extensive frontline experience for over 15 years in humanitarian services, specializing in international migration and social welfare for migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong. She obtained a master’s degree in Social Work at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and a bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Salisbury University, Maryland, the United States.
Speaker:
Liza Avelino
Star of the film
Liza believes in chasing her dreams. Rather than sitting around and wishing, she aims for the sky and inspires others to do the same. She first moved to Hong Kong in 1996 as a young domestic worker from a poverty stricken area of the Philippines. In her 24 years in Hong Kong, Liza has pushed limits and chosen paths not many would. Her uniqueness, determination, perseverance and resilience in the face of challenges hasinspired many. Domestic worker, hike leader, mountaineer, intrepid traveller, fund raiser, motivational speaker, TEDx presenter and dragon boat captain, Liza steps up to empower through a multitude of varied and impactful roles. Liza’s most recent challenge involved five days climbing Mt Damavand (5,671m) the highest peak in Iran and the Middle East and the highest volcano in Asia. Staying true to her community connection, Liza’s Mt Damavand climb was a fundraiser for Pathfinders Hong Kong, a local charity that helps vulnerable women and children. Liza’s raw courage, fierce tenacity and unshakable commitment to being her best self has inspired thousands of women across the globe. Liza exemplifies how hard work and strong determination can help one become empowered and realize their dreams.
Remarks:
1. Complete 3 GUTS talks/workshops to get a certificate of participation.
2. Priority will be given to HKUST Connect registrants (Start your changemaking journey with HKUST Connect: https://connect.hkust.edu.hk/joinus).
3. To avoid interruption and hindering the progress of the session, facilitators may not admit new participants who are late for more than 10 minutes.
4. [CORE1905] This is a recognized event in the "Self-directed Experience" component of CORE1905: Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets, and Wellness. You need to attend the event in full to get 2 hours.
5. Due to limited seating capacity, registration for the event is on a first-come-first-served basis.
6. Free seating. You are welcomed to arrive for check in and registration starting at 6pm.