Eid Party

I attended an Eid Party today being organized by the Catholic Labor Centre and its ethnic minorty women's group. After fasting for a month, the Pakistani women organized this party to celebrate the end of this religious event and also share their culture with the volunteers of the project who are mainly local Chinese. They prepared delicious Pakistan food for the participants.

When I arrived the Centre, I saw many Pakistani women with their children had already filled the whole room. They were chatting with each other in Urdu, the Pakistan language. I found a seat who was next to a South Asian. He introduced himself as James who was teaching at the Social Work Department of HKU. I asked him whether he was a volunteer too. He said two of his students were interns of the Centre during summer. He told me how he knew this Pakistan project in a rally and was interested in the work they did. That's why he tried to arrange students to do internship in the Labour Centre. As we chat, I found that we met each other long time ago, when I worked in Justice and Peace Commission and attended a meeting on Asian Human Rights Charter. What a coincident that we met again! I also talked with the two social work students and was interested in the workshops they organized for the Pakistani women, helping them to raise their self-awareness, self-esteem and health knowledge. Besides, I also gave pictures which was taken when I visited homes of Pakistani women and conducted interviews with them. They were excited and look happy when they saw the photos.

The most impressive moment was the time when members of the women group shared their feelings and their changes after joining the group. Many of them said that they discovered their value and talents after joining the group and started doing embroidery work.

“Before I joined the group I often thought that I didn’t have value, but after joining this group I know that I can share my talents with others.”

“Before I just stayed at home, but now I join this group and can earn money through my work. I am very happy now and realise my value and talents.”

“I can widen my scope, know more about the society and Chinese by joining this group. I know some friends here and can make something for Chinese people in Hong Kong.”

“Though we have different cultures, Chinese and Pakistani can live in harmony without discrimination.”

We can see many of them undergo changes and gain more self-confidence and self-esteem through the women’s group.

I am very happy that I have chance to join this party, meeting the Pakistani women and their children again, hearing sharing from their hearts, getting to know some volunteers , the social work students and their teacher James, enjoying their delicious food, and so on.

I think it is a valuable time to learn more about their culture and build relationships through this social gathering. For me, it is a moment full of gratitude in which God allows me to appreciate more culture of another country and religion.