Branches of Hope: Spreading Hope One Branch at a Time

Victoria Tung

Chinese International School

Picture this: strolling through the bustling streets of your metropolitan city, walking through office buildings where the money-making happens, malls where luxury goods are exchanged for exorbitant sums, and banks where financiers trade stocks. On the other side of the city, the grind continues – run-down massage parlours, nail salons, and dusty construction sites. Yet, behind every door, a migrant worker could be living in captivity, in complete despair, as their bodies and labour are exploited for the benefit of their captor. This is the reality of human trafficking – an underground market selling a completely different type of commodity: people.  

Contrary to common belief, slavery has not been abolished; it has merely evolved into a form of modern slavery. Human trafficking is a gross violation of human rights that unfortunately exists in the present day. According to the International Labour Organisation, “Forced labour … affects 27.6 million men, women and children in all countries and all economic sectors.” It is a global crisis that demands immediate attention and action. And yet, this is no easy feat to tackle because of what human trafficking actually entails. According to the United Nations, it is defined as the "recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons” across international borders with the goal of "exploitation.” The various forms of exploitation include sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery, servitude, organ removal, and forced marriage. It operates based on violence, coercion, and deception, and usually arises from long-standing economic struggles, promises of employment for parents, fraudulent marriages, or small payments offered to desperate families. Trafficking can happen anywhere. In many Asian countries, trafficked victims cross the border with their captor via tourist visas through fake domestic help agencies, disguised as overseas domestic workers. Usually, victims’ travel documents and visas are confiscated by their captors, and when they request to take them back, they are met with violence and abuse. Captors typically guilt the victim into believing that they owe their lives to them, forcing them to repay the captor. Since they have no money, their only choice is to work for them for free, sometimes until the day they die. Going through all of this greatly affects the victims’ mental and physical health. For example, according to a systematic report, 98% of trafficking victims have at least one type of psychological disorder. It is also reported that because of these psychological problems and suffering, many of the victims commit suicide. Many survivors also suffer from reproductive issues, sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, and in the worst cases, tuberculosis or various skin infections, as well as physical injuries, including broken bones or internal organ damage. 

Despite the scale and sad truth of this issue, there is still hope. In the heart of Hong Kong, a non-profit charity is quietly changing lives. Founded in 2012 by Mandy Lam, Branches of Hope (BOH) supports human trafficking survivors and asylum seekers through financial assistance, legal advocacy, skill-building workshops, and social reform initiatives. These individuals face overwhelming humanitarian, psychological, economic, and social hurdles. That’s why Branches of Hope (BOH) is building a tight-knit community to seek justice and serve the marginalised in our city.

STOP (Stop Trafficking of People), one of Branches of Hope’s key initiatives, focuses specifically on identifying and supporting victims of human trafficking in Hong Kong. STOP provides casework support, legal referrals, and emergency assistance to survivors, helping them access safety, housing, and counselling. It also raises awareness through workshops and campaigns so that more people can recognise the signs of trafficking and know how to respond. As a community, we can support STOP by educating ourselves, sharing verified information, volunteering our time or skills, and fundraising or donating to sustain their work. When we stay alert to suspicious situations, listen to migrant workers’ stories, and refuse to ignore exploitation, we help create a city that is safer and more just for everyone.

Human trafficking may seem like a distant, invisible crime, but it is happening in cities like ours, often just streets away from where we live, study, and work.

Fig 1. Branches of Hope STOP Initiative

Organisations like Branches of Hope and its STOP initiative prove that change is possible—but they cannot do it alone. Each of us has a role to play, whether by raising awareness, supporting survivor-focused organisations, or choosing not to look away when we see signs of exploitation. The question is not whether we can make a difference, but whether we are willing to act. By standing with survivors, amplifying their voices, and supporting the people and programmes that serve them, we can move one step closer to a Hong Kong where every person is free, safe, and treated with dignity.

For those who’ve been forced into silence for years, Branches of Hope offers more than support—it offers a genuine community of people who understand, and a place where their stories can be told honestly. Perhaps that’s where change begins: in stories shared, voices lifted, and lives reclaimed, right in the heart of Hong Kong.