Author: CEDAR Fund

‘SHARE’ 256 – Myanmar, Synonym for Human Trafficking

Written by Clara Chiu (Head of Partnership Development) In February this year, my colleague and I went on a field trip to Yangon, Myanmar, to visit our project partners. At that time, news of human trafficking in Myanmar was all over the city. When my friends and relatives heard that we were going to Myanmar, their immediate reaction was: ‘Are you going to KK Park?’ When people hear about Myanmar, they associate ‘trafficking’ and ‘fraud’. Indeed, trafficking is everywhere in Myanmar. Human Traffickers Defraud Parents in Slums On our first day in Myanmar, we visited our partner serving in the slums of Yangon. They had set up a community centre (a hut made of tin) with groups for

Everyone’s Got a Role in Poverty Alleviation

Written by: Clara Chiu (Head of Partnership Development) At a morning assembly, we invited a climate expert to share. He mentioned the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan’ from the Bible and applied the characters in the parable to the context of climate change, prompting us to reflect. I was inspired, ‘What role do we play in the context of poverty alleviation? And what are our responsibilities?’ While reflecting on the ‘Good Samaritan,’ I associated the wounded person with people experiencing poverty. The wounded one was robbed, stripped of clothes, and beaten to near death, much like impoverished communities lacking resources. They not only struggle to get three meals a day but are also oppressed by unjust systems, suffering

LETTER FROM CEDAR | JAN 2025

Dear CEDAR friends and supporters, The UN Humanitarian Affairs Office (OCHA) reported in November that ‘2024 is the deadliest year ever for humanitarian workers’, with 281 killed globally. Relief work is getting more and more dangerous. At the same time, the violence against aid workers also reflects the fact that more civilians are being killed in conflict zones. Indeed, according to the United Nations, civilian deaths in armed conflicts surged by a shocking 72% in 2023. Four in ten civilians killed in conflicts are women, and three in ten are children. Conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls rose by 50% in 2023, an appalling increase. The Institute for Economics & Peace reports that we are living in

‘SHARE’ 255 – Walking with the Afflicted: Seeing Hope in Weariness

Written by Ken Wong (Communications Officer) In a turbulent world, news of wars and disasters always surrounds us. In Afghanistan, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Myanmar, the war has devastated countless families, as if there is no end in sight. Although we are not directly affected in Hong Kong, we may still feel powerless and exhausted from the perspective of supporters, donors and bystanders—tiredness that comes from the depths of our hearts and is difficult to resolve. This weariness comes not only from our inability to quickly resolve the problems of war and the problems it brings but also from ‘information fatigue’ and ‘compassion fatigue’. Every day, our screens are filled with tragic news, but there is little glimmer of

Rural Development in Creative Access Nations 2025

Project Name Rural Development in Creative Access Nations 2025 Project Location Creative Access Nations Project Natures Urban and Rural Development Children and Youth Development Creation Care Project Objectives Enhance the quality of life for impoverished families through a holistic approach. Foster a healthy and nurturing environment for children and youth in the target villages. Empower and equip church leaders for community development and Integral Mission. Beneficiaries • Villagers, and children at a children’s home No. of Beneficiaries 1,928 Key Activities Provide free stationery and sports equipment for students. Organise summer camps and tuition classes for community children. Train villagers to construct water tanks and public bathrooms. Deliver primary health education. Build garbage incinerators and promote waste management in

Human Trafficking Prevention among ethnic groups in the Mekong Region

Project Name Human Trafficking Prevention among Ethnic Groups in the Mekong Region Project Location Thailand Myanmar Creative Access Nations Project Natures Anti-Human Trafficking Children and Youth Development Advocacy Project Objectives Prevent human trafficking in the Mekong region Mobilise, connect and empower ethnic families and communities using a multidisciplinary approach Beneficiaries Schoolteachers and students Community members and leaders in the target areas No. of Beneficiaries Approx. 2,700 Key Activities Anti-trafficking and human rights campaigns: Provide training to students, youth, women, and community leaders on topics such as unsafe migration, basic human rights, community resources, and the leadership role in combating human trafficking. Curriculum development and teacher training: Develop a new curriculum and equip teachers to educate students on anti-human

Barefoot Walk 2024 Insights: Take This Step, Care for the Disaster-Stricken Poor

Written by: Ken Wong (Communications Officer) ‘I used to farm barefoot as well, and it didn’t hurt at all!’ a farmer from the farm shared with me as he passed by. ‘I used to run around barefoot, and my soles developed thick calluses; how could it hurt?’ Looking across to the path on the other side of the farm, I saw participants and staff from the Barefoot Walk struggling to walk barefoot over a stretch of sharp stones, finding it difficult to move forward. On 2 November, nearly two hundred participants in the Barefoot Walk journeyed to the Zen Organic Farm in Ta Kwu Ling, walking barefoot around the farm. Why do we choose to seek hardship? When