Speaking fluent Cantonese, Waqas shares his love for local street food: "I'm particularly fond of takoyaki, grid cakes and fish balls - they're delicious." Born and raised in Hong Kong to Pakistani parents, Waqas spent his childhood in a subdivided flat in Wan Chai. With limited access to information and unable to read Chinese, he experienced firsthand the frustration of needing help but not knowing where to turn. Yet this didn't discourage the optimistic Waqas. During his school years, he threw himself into volunteer work, finding satisfaction in helping others. This led to his decision to pursue social work. After graduating, he gained experience in school-based services and employment support before joining the HKSKH Outreaching Team for Multi-Cultural Community two years ago.
Drawing from personal experience, Waqas and his team build trust through shared language and cultural understanding. They help multi-cultural communities overcome barriers to seeking assistance, providing support with family matters and daily challenges. They also encourage community involvement and volunteering, creating bridges between different cultural groups and mainstream society.
For Waqas, serving others and witnessing Hong Kong's progress towards inclusion has deepened his sense of belonging - confirming that Hong Kong is truly his home.
