We couldn’t be more proud of the PathFinders’ Ambassadors who stepped forward last year to lead a special project on the topic of overstaying. Their leadership demonstrated the power of placing the community at the heart of solutions – not simply as participants, but as trusted leaders and agents of change.
While designed to raise awareness among Migrant Domestic Workers (MDWs) about the risks and consequences of overstaying, the “What is Overstaying?” project also sought to encourage MDWs to seek trusted advice and support before their situation escalated into a crisis.
These dedicated Ambassadors played a central role in shaping the project. After months of intensive training they took responsibility for developing relevant and culturally appropriate content to create a highly informative outreach booklet to ensure MDWs are aware that:
🗓️ Strict visa limits apply. Workers have only 14 days to remain in Hong Kong once their employment contract is terminated.
⚠️ Overstaying carries severe penalties. Consequences include heavy fines, loss of future employment opportunities, detention and deportation.
🚫 Assisting overstayers is illegal. Harbouring or aiding anyone who has overstayed their visa is also a serious offence.
Ambassadors then designed and delivered outreach activities based on a deep understanding of their community. Through peer-to-peer engagement and trusted community networks, PathFinders’ Ambassadors play a central role in helping MDWs understand their options, make informed decisions and access PathFinders or other appropriate services early to prevent a crisis.
