David came to Hong Kong seven years ago from Yemen as an asylum seeker with his wife and four children, having a high-level civil servant post with computer engineering background. However, he had to leave the country due to the high personal risk he and his family bore in a country devastated by war and political unrest.

Coming from a position of great importance in Yemen before travelling to Hong Kong, where he still does not have the right to work, David has nonetheless worked constantly to improve the living situation of his family and other asylum seekers and refugees. He has been volunteering with Christian Action’s Centre for Refugees for the past five years by organising activities for and providing guidance and translation services on the application procedures to other asylum seekers. David is also committed to ensuring that his children get access to quality education. He has been elected as a member of the PTA Committee at his children’s school for three years in a row. He also volunteers with Free to Run, a NGO that focuses on empowering individuals from conflict areas through physical activity, by organising marathons and other events. Alongside these activities, David is often invited to speak about the situation of refugees in Hong Kong as well as the importance of racial inclusion at numerous schools and universities around the city. He hopes to work towards removing the stigma against refugees in Hong Kong, and providing his children with a better future here. David spends his free time tinkering with computers, and playing football and computer with his children.

In David’s Words:

“I don’t believe in inequality. I want to work towards a world where everyone is treated as equal. If I see someone in a bad situation, then I work to improve it. If everyone contributes to improve the situation of people in trouble, then nothing is impossible.”