Forging partnerships for migrants in Asia Pacific: Partners visit APMM in February
From February 25-27, the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) were visited by its partners from the Global Ministries of Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of USA and Canada, and the Anglican Alliance. The said visit aimed at understanding APMM’s work with and for migrants and understanding the situation of migrants in Hong Kong.
The Global Ministries delegation is headed by Rev. Derek Duncan Global Relations Ministries East Asia and Pacific of the Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ (USA and Canada), along with the two heads of two communion, Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson for the United Church of Christ (US) and Rev. Terri Horde Owens for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the US and Canada, and its mission partners Rev. Shari Prestemon of the United Church of Christ and Rev Dr LaMarco Cable with the Disciples of Christ. During their visit, Rev. Joram H. Calimutan, Head of Institutional Administration and Finance Unit (IAFU) presented APMM brief history, strategic plan for 2022-2026, programs and its upcoming major activities this year such as a migrant summit, an interfaith solidarity mission and a regional conference of service providers. Its relevance in increasing the capacity of grassroots migrants, building alliance between faith and migrant communities and other sectors, and increasing support to migrants. His presentation was followed by the sharing of Shiela Bonifacio, Sringatin and Rosidah Lubis leaders of Asia Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB).
AMCB leaders shared the condition of hundreds of thousands of foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong under the live-in condition marred with various forms of abuse and exploitation that migrant domestic workers forced to endure. They highlighted the malicious accusation of job-hopping thrown against foreign domestic workers whenever they are forced to terminate their contract due to unbearable situation, and are seeking for higher wages, just and humane treatment. After the visit to APMM Rev. Joram accompanied the Global Ministries delegation to Bethune House Migrant Women Refuge (Bethune House) for lunch and listened to the stories of the residents facing various cases of abuse and exploitation while working in Hong Kong. They had a brief sharing with Rev. Maggie Mathieson and Katie Ho about the Kowloon Union Church and its Peacemaking Ministry before going to the Hong Kong Christian Council (HKCC).
The following day Rev. Joram introduced the delegation to the Mission for Migrant Workers (MFMW). They were welcomed by Johannie Tong, Maria Teresita Aquino, and Joy Prim, who are staff of the Mission. Their visit to APMM and its partners and the conversations with AMCB and residents of Bethune House became an engaging discussion that deepened Global Ministries’ understanding on APMM work with and for migrants, its partners in Hong Kong and the migrants’ struggle for social inclusion, and a just and humane treatment.
The Global Ministries visit to APMM is followed by the visit of the Robert Dawes Executive Director and Rev. Dr. Gay B. Manodon Facilitator for East Asia of the Anglican Alliance. Accompanied by Cynthia CA Tellez, General Manager of the Mission for Migrant Workers, they came to Hong Kong to reconnect with migrant serving institutions and grassroots migrants. Prior to their visit to APMM, the officials of the Anglican Alliance engaged in dialogue with leaders of the AMCB hosted by MFMW. Their visit to APMM happened to be a reconnection with the institution. As early as 2010 there has been an ongoing cooperation between APMM and Anglican Alliance. In particular, the Interfaith Dialogue on Children, Family and Migration that gave birth to the Asia Pacific Interfaith Network (AP INFORM) organized by APMM in 2010 in UCCP Shalom in the Philippines was supported by the Anglican Alliance.
The partners visit to APMM not only strengthens cooperation and support to its work with and for migrants in Asia Pacific and Middle East regions, but it also paved the way in renewing the connection between APMM and the Anglican Alliance. It defined priorities that focus on people on the move and serves as a basis in reaching out to Anglican Churches in the region supporting the rights and well-being of migrants and their families. ###
