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CHINA: Red-white-blue Homes for the Sichuan Earthquake PHILIPPINES: Affordable Medicine for All CAMBODIA: Justice for Girls and Women GLOBAL: Climate Experts meet Disaster Experts HONG KONG: Fair Trade in the Workplace HONG KONG: Sustainable Fashion
HO Wai-Chi
The first time was 2005, when I
I concentrated on teamwork. Months
solve poverty; but right now, because
say to myself that I am ‘lucky’ to have
coached a football team of homeless
later, somehow, there was synchronic-
it is often done unjustly, it doesn’t:
joined Oxfam just at the ‘right’ time.
people – I didn’t have any coaching ex-
ity. Those days in Edinburgh, as a real
factory workers in Pakistan remain
Not that I want to satisfy any heroism,
perience, and most of the players had
team, with true solidarity, were the
poor, and we in Hong Kong who use
thinking that I could save the world
not played much football, yet, togeth-
most extraordinary and glorious days
those balls are also poor, in conscience,
single-handedly, but to offer myself in
er, we represented Hong Kong in the
of our lives.
Homeless World Cup in Edinburgh.
in spirit. To me, we are all part of the
helping those who are in great need. I
Then, a few months ago, I joined
same team, and we each have a role to
know I am not strong enough to move
The experience changed my life,
Oxfam, and football arrived again, this
play, from CEO to consumer. I am play-
the rubble, I am not that professional
When I was young, I wanted to be
starting from the very first training
time as part of the Fair Trade movement.
ing my part: I have urged the Homeless
footballer with endless stamina, but I
a professional footballer. But like many
session. The players were rather unfit,
I learned that many footballs are pro-
World Cup to use Fair Trade footballs
at least can make sure I communicate
fans, my dream didn’t come true! Yet, I
physically and in other ways. One lit up
duced in Pakistan, under exploitative
in their games – ones that are made in
people’s needs to the public and appeal
managed to develop a career in another
a cigarette, a few swore, several eas-
conditions, with very low wages, espe-
factories that do pay good wages and
for support, and justice, in Sichuan, in
field I have a great passion for: human-
ily ran out of patience with each oth-
cially for women and children. If we all
do prevent poverty.
Myanmar, in Sudan, in Hong Kong, in
itarian work. I never thought the two
er, and themselves. Instead of focus-
change the way we do business, if we
As I write, the news is full of re-
would ever connect.
ing on footwork, the social worker and
do it ethically and responsibly, trade can
ports from Sichuan, and I can’t help to
A survivor in Xinshui – at least 109 people have died here, and many remain missing, including this woman’s husband
HOMES OF REDWHITEBLUE in China
Text and photos by Keith Wong on 21 May 2008
as many places as possible. Ho Wai-chi is the Director of the Hong Kong Unit.
In the town of Xiushui, in Sichuan, hardly a building remains standing after the earthquake, and almost all of the survivors are homeless. This woman (left) stays with about 50 other people in a makeshift tent erected next to the pile of rubble which once was her house. Her husband remains missing. Her tent is made of a plastic woven fabric commonly called “red-whiteblue” – named after the colours of the rain-resistant material. Formally, it is called polyethylene or polypropylene. The fabric was specifically requested by the residents. They want the flexibility of how to use it – as ground cover, for shelter, and to be able to easily adjust the size of the area to be covered. A typical temporary shelter made with the red-white-blue. For people’s