Cover To celebrate World Kindness Day, Tatler spoke to domestic workers to find out how they are building a community based on mutual kindness (Photo: Getty Images)
To celebrate World Kindness Day, Tatler spoke to domestic workers to find out how they are building a community based on mutual kindness (Photo: Getty Images)
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To celebrate World Kindness Day, Tatler highlights how one of Hong Kong’s most underrepresented communities fosters belonging and resilience through kindness
Domestic workers are integral to Hong Kong’s fabric. But they are also one of the most vulnerable groups in the city.
Many domestic helpers arrive in the city with the weight of financial responsibilities on their shoulders, often supporting multiple family members back home. But in Hong Kong, they face low wages, long working hours, language barriers, isolation from the wider society and many more such challenges.
The emotional toll caused by such adverse conditions can be immense, and while the government does provide support and resources, they are often hard to access due to logistical reasons: language issues and long waiting times.
In response to these challenges, many domestic workers—aided by local NGOs—have resorted to their own means to cultivate a sense of community. To celebrate World Kindness Day, Tatler speaks to a few domestic workers to find out how they have embraced kindness and solidarity to create these connections.
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Creating connections
Harleen Kaur is a domestic worker of Indian origin, who helped bring together and offer solace to other members in her profession—first through text messaging and then meet-ups. She says, “I figured that many of us are in the same boat and wanted to build a sense of belonging for workers like me.”
Kaur’s journey in Hong Kong was not easy. “I had never even left my village before coming to Hong Kong. When I came here, I could not speak any language except Hindi. Also, I didn’t know the rights I had as a domestic worker. My employers would pay me lower than the minimum wage and wouldn’t give me any time off.” This experience made Kaur realise that many others like her could be facing similar challenges.
“It started with a WhatsApp group. We added other domestic workers of Indian or South Asian origin, and it became a virtual space where we could share our troubles. Now, we also meet at parks or at the Sikh temple to share stories and advice,” Kaur says.
Power of community
Many of the city’s Filipino and Indonesian domestic workers also organise informal gatherings in public spaces, such as parks and community centres, where they can foster connections. These meetings not only serve as safe havens but also help them combat loneliness.
“We have left our families back home, and on social media, they see our happy selves and imagine we are doing fine. But the reality can be different. We live at our place of work; we don’t get to meet our peers regularly. It is a deeply isolating experience,” says Ailenemae Ramos, a domestic worker of Filipino heritage.
To overcome this feeling of isolation, Ramos recently organised a storytelling workshop with her peers. Fifty storytellers from within the community participated in this exercise, sharing good and bad experiences and anecdotes. “I’m in the process of shortlisting 15 stories from this workshop, and will compile a book to spread even more awareness,” says Ramos.
Apart from storytelling and sharing sessions, many domestic workers also gather on their weekly holidays to sing, dance and do yoga—finding in these simple activities a source of joy and healing.
The role of support organisations
NGOs like Help for Domestic Workers play a vital role in supporting these communities. They provide essential services, such as legal assistance and counselling, but also focus on building connections through programmes such as fitness classes and wellness workshops.
Manisha Wijesinghe, the executive director of Help for Domestic Workers, says, “When I first came to Hong Kong, I saw domestic workers gathering on Sundays to enjoy their one holiday during the week. It was such a strong visual representation of how intrinsically they are rooted in Hong Kong society’s fabric, but it was also a visual symbol of the many challenges they face. As someone who had just moved to Hong Kong, I felt I could relate to these challenges to a degree, so I decided to take up this cause and alleviate it.”
Wijesinghe’s charity works on preventing crisis, responding to needs and building a community. “We try to create communities through organising yoga classes, kickboxing sessions, meditation workshops or hikes so that these workers can build resilience through conversations with their peers.”
A culture of kindness
As the community of domestic helpers in Hong Kong continues to grow, so does the spirit of kindness that defines it. By supporting one another through shared experiences and challenges, these women are creating a powerful network that transcends individual struggles.
In a city that often overlooks the contributions of foreign domestic workers, the kindness and solidarity exhibited by these helpers serve as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Through their efforts, they are not only building a supportive community but also redefining what it means to be a part of Hong Kong’s diverse social fabric.
Additional reporting by Khoa Tran
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Suchetana Mukhopadhyay is the Digital Content Manager for Tatler Hong Kong. In this role, she leads all digital editorial and branded content on Tatler Hong Kong’s website, from brainstorming story ideas with the writers to editing and publishing the articles, and from managing the overall content flow to driving search engine optimisation. She also leads the beauty content at Tatler Hong Kong and across the region, and is always looking to champion diversity through her articles. She was previously with Cedar Hong Kong and Gafencu, and freelanced for the South China Morning Post, Campaign Asia-Pacific, CNN and more. Contact her here.
