PathFinders

We believe all children deserve a fair start in life. 

PathFinders ensures the most vulnerable and unsupported children in Hong Kong are protected and respected, and their Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) mothers are empowered to find a path to a brighter future. 

The journey began in 2007 when co-founders Kylie Uebergang and Melissa Mowbray-d’Arbela rescued four babies born to migrant women in Hong Kong. Identifying a gap in Hong Kong society where women and babies go undocumented and unprotected, PathFinders was founded to bridge the gap on the belief that no child should be born alone and deprived of medical support, shelter and identity. Having served almost 7,000 babies, children and women, PathFinders is a respected charity committed to supporting the welfare of children by providing child protection, counselling, shelter, food, health, education and legal support. 

HK currently employs 390,000 FDWs, predominantly women of childbearing age; many of who lack reproductive health knowledge and service access. This number is forecast to rise to over 600,000 by 2047 to care for a rapidly ageing population. 

Currently and despite legal protections, once a FDWs pregnancy is announced or discovered, many of these expectant mothers are unlawfully fired, pressured to leave or resign because they, and their employers, simply don't know what else to do. 

A pregnant FDW faces substantial obstacles and hardships when her employment is terminated. She immediately becomes homeless and within two weeks, when her work visa expires, loses access to public welfare and healthcare services vital for prenatal screening. For those unable to return home, for fear of persecution by family and friends for being an unemployed, single mother with a mixed race child, their children are typically undocumented, stateless and lack access to essential services including medical care and immunisations, shelter and education. 

Our Client Services focus on lifting FDWs out of the initial crisis and assisting them to develop a Nurturing Care Plan for their child, to ensure they are protected and able to develop foundational learning skills in the years leading up to school. Our Community Engagement focuses on crisis prevention by empowering FDWs, educating employers and influencing systemic change.