Musubi Hong Kong Annual Newsletter 2019

             ANNUAL NEWSLETTER

FAMILY, YOUTH &
COMMUNITY

ISSUE NO. 2 DECEMBER 2019

CONTENTS

1 Note
2 Acknowledgement
3 Team
7 Vision and Mission
8 Family
12 Youth
19 Community
22 Financial Review
23 Ways to Support
24 Contact

DEAR COMMUNITY,

The year 2019, like for many of us around the world, was challenging. Yet in retrospect,
we are positive about the growth that has taken place because of these very challenges.

Disguised as obstacles, were opportunities for creative thinking and change, opening
doors to new possibilities.

We bid farewell to former team members, thanking them for their contributions; we wish
them luck as they take on new endeavours. Likewise, we welcome new energies to the
team with fervour, we know they have a lot to bring to the table.

Time was taken to reorganise ourselves and our approach. Working as a voluntary unit
while balancing other responsibilities, and keeping oneself motivated when faced with
barriers surely takes a toll. Being consistent yet mindful of one's wellbeing was essential.

In the coming year, we strive to establish more connections, widen our reach, and
enhance efficacy. We will be emphasising the Family unit more; raising awareness about

special needs and the importance of early childhood development. For the Youth unit,
we're eager to get working on the revamped Students & Professionals Network as well as
a new focus for the Forum. There's also an exciting initiative to look out for in one of our

Community projects, so keep your eyes peeled!

Lastly, we would like to thank you all for your kind support thus far. Please reach out to
us, because we need your help in working towards our aims..

With gratitude,
Musubi Hong Kong

1

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

A heartfelt appreciation for your support, thank you!
JUNS HK
Sunil K.C.
Puja K  apai
Peel Fresco

Chez Trente
Anju Ghising
Mikaela Lam
Kranti Subba
Sarah Espiritu
Breeze Sports
Yonden Lhatoo
Graham Collins
Christian Action
Sidhanta Dewan
Prof. Maria Tam
Prof. Isabella Ng
Fernando Cheung
Emmanuel Lepcha
The Aftermath Bar
Inner City Ministries
Jockey Club Sarah Roe School (ESF)
Child Psy Assessment and Learning
Hong Kong Integrated Nepalese Society
International Kindergarten Hillside (ESF)
The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions
The Hong Kong Society for Asylum-Seekers and Refugees
Equal Opportunity Student Ambassadors of The University of Hong Kong

We're extremely grateful for all of our volunteers who dedicate their energy and precious time. For 2019,
we'd like to make a special mention of the following volunteers who helped us execute our aims:

Ankit Rai 2
Suman Rai
Lucky Navia
Bonnie Chan
Faith Baguisa
Relina Gurung
Mari Nakamura

THE TEAM

Awesome folks

Volunteers

A big thank you to all of the
amazing individuals who help
make our work possible, you guys
make things happen!

3

Pratik Gurung Project Officer

I support Musubi with projects such as The Forum, and
the Children's Fair. I'm also involved in organising
events that bring together youth and working
professionals, with an aim to open opportunities to
collaborate and network.

In 2019, Drop The Mic and Off The Clock were
highlights for me; they were an opportunity to connect
with people from various walks of life. I learned a great
deal in understanding youth culture, the challenges
faced by ethnic minority working professionals, social
issues as well as barriers faced by families of children
with learning difficulties.

I am excited about the launch of the website, I
anticipate that it will create an effective platform for
collaboration between working professionals and
students which is an area I will be focusing on in 2020.

Chuda K, Subba Treasurer

I look after the accounts to ensure the numbers look
healthy for Musubi. I keep an eye out on how we can
optimise our spending and identify potential fund
raising strategies. Taking on the role of Treasurer just
recently, I'm new to Musubi, but I have been trying to
practice our aim (building an inclusive community) all
my life!

The highlight for me this year, was gratitude for meeting
other Nepali youth who share the same drive as I do - we
all just want to be included, informed and empowered!
Living in Hong Kong for most of my life, I may not have
have faced similar hardships as others , but meeting
youth from all walks of life made me realise it's actually
not easy to make everyone feel 'included' and this is a
difficult task to tackle... this is my biggest takeaway so
far.

Moving on to 2020, I'm excited for planning 'fun'
fundraising events, like my personal favourite, Drop the
Mic! I think my focus will be on exploring fun ways for all
of us to feel included!

4

Sunnivh Subba Creative Consultant

At Musubi, I assist the executive committee in developing,
implementing and managing Musubi’s digital strategy. Launch of
the official website ‘www.musubihk.org’ has definitely been the
highlight of the year which promises to enhance Musubi’s
awareness and its activities within the digital space.

Working with Musubi for a short time, I have realised that there is
a huge opportunity for the youth and community to engage and
grow. In the coming year, I’m looking forward to more events and
activities and get more partners involved. I’d particularly like to
improve the online channel and make it a robust outlet to
strategically disseminate information and reach a wider audience.

Ashmi Ghhondey Vice-Chairperson

I support the organisation by providing social media support and
planning events. The Forum and Spectrum series has been a
highlight for me this year. The Forum allowed for fruitful

conversations and connections to take place, whereas Spectrum
was a versatile and fun approach to some hard hitting topics.

The biggest takeaway for me in 2019, is the understanding that
an idea can only come to life if I put in the work. For 2020, I am
excited for all the academic and community-based projects.

Sumichhya Gurung Ambassador

I’m Sumichhya! I graduated from the University of Hong
Kong last summer and I am currently working as a NET
teacher. I have been working with Musubi for the past
two years and I’m super thrilled and honoured to an
Ambassador for Musubi, and I can’t wait to embark on
the exciting projects!

Apart from Musubi, I am also the Internal Vice- 5
Chairperson of JUNS HK, a Nepalese youth group so
feel free to reach out to me whenever!

Karishma Bantawa Project Officer

I work closely with children with special needs and their parents in
Musubi. I also support the Children’s Fair and other related

events. Being able to run the Social and Literacy club for children has
been one of most challenging and rewarding experiences for me; it
has helped me understand their needs at a deeper level. 

I am looking forward to be part of parent training sessions this year,
as well as coordinate more engaging and inclusive projects for
chidlren with special needs..

Pushpa Gurung Advisor

I support Musubi by helping parents of children with special needs in
various ways. I help out with filling forms, meetings with social workers,
attending school orientation, and assessments. I help with clarification
parents need with forms, documents and communications sent from
schools and other stakeholders. I also provide administrative support
for the SEN Parent Support Group.

The highlight for me this year, was the start of home-visits; I found
these to be helpful, as they are personalised and conducted in the
comfort of the home. By supporting parents, I've come to learn a lot
about the available (and lack of) resources in the community. For 2020,
my focus will be on early access to services and encouraging home-
visits, and I'm looking forward to more outdoor activities for the
children too.

Divya D. Gurung Chairperson 6

My role in Musubi is mult-faceted; I  am involved in all aspects of the
organisation. So far, Spectrum and The Forum have been the highlight

for this year, as both initiatives created a space to talk about issues
pertinent to our community. The Children's Fair also stood out for me,

seeing youth come together to support families was special.

For 2020, I want to invest more energy towards the SEN Parent
Support Group, Students & Professionals Network, and other wider

community-based projects, especially those that can enable
integration with other ethnic minority groups, and the wider Hong

Kong community.

VISION AND MISSION

Building an inclusive community.

Inclusion is the belief that every individual has the right to participation, and value to add in
society. We believe that inclusion can be achieved by considering an ecological approach,
recognising that individuals are impacted by their interaction with the environment.
Our aim is to:
ADVOCATE FOR INCLUSIVE SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MARGINALISED
COMMUNITIES.
ENGAGE IN ACTIVISM THROUGH RESEARCH AND ART TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT
SOCIAL ISSUES.

 

7

FAMILY

We identify the family unit as integral to
the holistic development of the individual.
We strive to provide support and
educational engagements for children and
parents, especially for those who may be
vulnerable to exclusion due to their
exceptional needs.

Special Educational Needs (SEN) in Hong
Kong is increasingly receiving more
attention from policymakers. However,
there is still a noticeable lack of responsive
services for children with SEN within the
school and in the broader community.
Families of lower socio-economic
backgrounds and the ethnic minority
community, struggle to secure provisions
for their children with SEN due to a lack of
services that are suitable to their unique
needs and high costs.

Coupled with a severe shortage of
affordable and culturally-aware services, a
lack of awareness in the community, and
the silent stigma, further barriers are
perpetuated. Ethnic minority families, in
particular, appear to experience more
obstacles than Chinese families, for whom
being literate in Cantonese may be able to
access services and advocate for their
children's needs more successfully.

8

children's fair

Responding to the need of extra
curricular activity-based services for

children with special needs, we
initiated the Children's Fair.

Besides a day of fun activities for
children, the fair provides families an
opportunity to meet as well. The fair

also seeks to create connections
amongst families, in the hopes of

x initiating a stepping stone towards

forging alliances between
stakeholders to work in unison for

advocacy..
With the generosity of Jockey Club
Sarah Roe School (ESF) and ChildPsy
Assessment Centre, we were able to

host 3 fairs in 2019. The children
were able to immerse themselves in

an array of activities that ranged
from art, music, sensory play, and

many more.

9

SEN parent support

Children with special needs face
numerous barriers to accessing quality
education; their families also encounter
numerous challenges that can be
extremely stressful. The need for a
support group for these families is
evident.

However, with the absence of support
systems that cater to the needs of ethnic
minority families, the needs of these
families are often left unmet.

Musubi attempted to fill this gap, by
engaging with parents on a monthly
basis; creating a safe space to share
experiences, gain a better understanding
of SEN, talk about a variety of topics that
relate to their children's circumstances
as well learn new skills. Later in the year,
we began making home-visits to tackle
barriers such as a lack of space.

Families in the SEN Parent Group are
also supported by Musubi with filling
forms, school visits, medical
appointments (assessments) and liaising
with schools and social workers which
are key in ensuring access to provision.

10

literacy & social group

We all learn differently, in our own unique
ways. The dynamics of diverse needs can be

challenging, but the process of navigating
these differences together can be a great
learning experience for both children and

adults.

Facilitated by our Project Officer,
Karishma Rai, and supported by our team of

volunteers, we started this project in
August. In the form of weekly 2 hour
sessions, our focus is on supporting the
development of literacy and social skills of

children with special needs.

The children engage in a variety of
activities that range from storytelling, art,

sensory play, music and movement and
phonics.

We are extremely grateful to the Inner
Ministries church for inviting us into their

space, making it possible for us to launch
the Literacy & Social group.

11

YOUTH

Recognising youth’s potential to be
ambassadors of the community, as well as

the barriers to opportunities for those
from diverse communities, we seek to
create a platform for self-development,
dialogue about social issues and action by

engaging in activism through art.

We embarked on a variety of initiatives
this year, with emphasis on self-expression.

Projects such as Drop The Mic, No Filter,
Zines and Spectrum were key this year, in
creating a space for the youth to showcase

their talent, as well as their voice.

Another successful endeavour was made
possible by the friendly folks at Peel

Fresco, who graciously invited Brandon, to
experience real-life work experience. It is

motivating to see young adults with special
needs being welcomed into the

community, we need more of this.
.

12

students & professionals network 1133

Over the years, a lack of visibility of ethnic
minorities in the professional sphere has been a
growing concern. High drop out rates of ethnic
minority youth and a narrow range of employment
and educational opportunities is overwhelming,
creating a detrimental impact on the upward
mobility of the community. 

With these issues in mind, we hosted the Career
Forum in 2018, where Nepalese individuals from
various industries came together to talk about
their field of work. There was diverse
representation from sports, photography, fashion,
engineering, YouTube, finance, and the police
force, etc. Later on in the year, as a follow-up, we
were able to gather a large number of Nepalese
professionals to discuss the potential of a network.
Of the many ideas raised, such a network was
envisioned as a source of connecting professionals
to share, guide, motivate and ultimately, succeed as
a community. The need to motivate and guide the
youth was strongly highlighted. We met again in
early 2019, where we were able to discuss the
possibilities of this network further. 

With the feedback collected previously, as well as
our observations, we have revamped our
approach. The Students & Professionals
Network is an initiative created to build an
inclusive platform for working professionals and
students from all ethnic minority communities. This
network will be catered to students, graduates and
those looking to develop their career. Support will
be provided by access to information, guidance,
mentorship and networking via a digital platform,
along with opportunities to attend seminars.

drop the mic

Bringing together artists from diverse
communities!

QUASAR
REHAAN, ZAIDE & TAYE
YURI / @txmiyama
LOUDSHAFT / @loudshaft
FIDEL AND IRIS / @fidelandiris
TRIPPYLANEZZ / @trippylanezz
ROHAN & SACHIN / @nihcas01
@rohanvyate
NOW & AWAKENED
HIMAL / @himalayan.observer
YUKA / @yukakumari
ZACK / @zack_calixtus
DIBYA DHRISTHY / @delly_dibya_dristy

14

x

15

x

16

no filter

An initiative showcasing the work of creatives
from diverse communities, to encourage their
artistry.

Lalit Gurung
Sidhanta Dewan / @sirsid
Rika Korponay / @rikakorponay
Lucky Navia / @luckynavia
Kendy Villarin / @sinistercrafty
Yougesh Limbu / @yogoat_arts
Suraj Gurung / @gs083
Eric Pang / @named_eric
Hyde Barker / @h.y.d.e_b.a.r.k.e.r
Krishna Kanaiya/ @ksquared_illustration
Nishan Limbu / @niishamliimbu
Len Madriaga /@arlene.m.madriaga
Nicole Roquel / @nicroquel.illustration

17

zine/spectrum

The inspiration behind most of our
events stem from various places. This
time, it was a 2 AM binge on a YouTube
channel called Jubilee. Thanks to which
we were introduced to Spectrum, an
activity that encourages healthy
discussions over topics that are often
swept under the rug.

Topics such as identity, motivations and
aspirations, race and sexuality, and what
it means to be Nepali was discussed. It
was a great opportunity for the youth to
come together, hear differing opinions
and have fruitful conversations.

We believe that art as activism is a
powerful tool to help highlight social
issues through creativity. The zines we
engaged in this year were carried
forward by the discussions help at
Spectrum. We explored identity; one of
which showcased heterogeneous
portrayals of identity in Hong Kong of
individuals from diverse communities,
drawing attention to the need for a much
broader outlook on what being a ‘Hong
Konger’ might be.

18

COMMUNITY

Working closely with the community is integral to our
ethos. Since its inception, we have aimed to work
collaboratively with community members in creating
initiatives, sharing resources and taking action for social
change by partnering in research.
We also strive to continue developing our knowledge and
keep informed of new services, practices and interact with
other bodies in the community to keep informed.

19

the forum

We collaborated with The Equal
Opportunity Unit of The University of
Hong Kong to create a platform for
stakeholders from different backgrounds
to share ideas, practice and discuss issues
pertinent to the ethnic minority
communities and vulnerable groups in
Hong Kong. We invited Yonden Lhatoo,
the Chief News Editor at South China
Morning Post, Fernando Cheung,
Legislative Councillor, social worker and
retired lecturer and Puja Kapai, Associate
professor of Law and Deputy Director and
Fellow of the Centre for Comparative and
Public Law at the University of Hong
Kong.

By building a culture of dialogue and
collaboration among stakeholders, we
hope to unveil practices that may
implicitly perpetuate segregation,
discrimination and prejudice, move past
differences and push the envelope by
discussing root causes, solutions and
future endeavours.

All in all, The Forum explored the role of
media in the propagation of stereotypes
and misinformation as well as the
potential strength of media as a tool to
portray the Ethnic Minority communities
in a neutral light.

20

The Humanitarian Symposium was an engagement
opportunity for professionals and other
stakeholders to share their practice and
engage in dialogue.

Special Needs Trust Briefing (Social 21
Welfare Department)

Education for All: International
Conference on Supporting the Learning
and Teaching of Young Multicultural
Learners

Child Development: The Role of
Family and School Practices

Musubi was a partner organisation in the
Comparative Study of Diverse Youth in Hong
Kong, with the Intercultural Research
Group at The Education University of Hong
Kong.

Introduction of Family Health Service (FHS) and
Child Assessment Service (CAS), Social Welfare
Department.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

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HOW YOU CAN HELP

CONTRIBUTE
Join our team!

SPACE
We don't have a permanent home yet. Help out by welcoming us
to your venue.

FINANCE
We're a voluntary-run organisation, help us fund our initiatives.

EXPERTISE
Share your ideas and experience with us, we need them to improve
and start new projects. 

GUIDANCE
We want to improve, let us know how.

TIME
Come help us out on one (or more!) of our projects.

23

CONNECT

www.musubihk.org
/musubihk

[email protected]
(+852) 9728 5422