Listening to vulnerable hearts   Supporting humanitarian mission in war-zone 

Mr Vincent Li is an electrical engineer. He began his career in the maritime industry, and as he spent much time with his crew members, he found that he was a good listener and could provide mental support to people in emotional distress.

Upon his return to Hong Kong, he joined The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong (SBHK) as a hotline volunteer, and it has now been nearly 30 years. Since 2015, Vincent has also participated in Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) humanitarian missions as a volunteer engineer, supporting medical teams in war-torn and developing areas. 

As a volunteer hotline helper for the SBHK, Vincent has dealt with thousands of calls over the decades, some of which are still very memorable to him. “After talking to a help seeker, I saw in the newspaper the next day that someone in a similar situation had committed suicide. Although there was no way to find out if it was the same person, I was shocked and wondered for a while if I was not competent enough to handle cases.” He later managed to turn this experience into a lesson by understanding that the role of a mental health supporter is to focus on providing care and love. Since 2022, Vincent has been actively involved in the psychological support services of the Hong Kong Red Cross (HKRC). During the pandemic, he answered calls from people seeking help and completed the HKRC’s Psychological First Aid Course to improve his skills, so that he can help more people going through a difficult time.

Vincent has been a part of eight humanitarian missions with MSF over the last eight years. He has travelled to countries like Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Cambodia, Nigeria, India, Zimbabwe and Yemen. He and his team provided engineering and logistics support to frontline medical teams, enabling them to focus on saving lives. Despite the risks involved in volunteering in war zones, Vincent continued with his work and he has seen the dangers firsthand. “A hospital I once worked in was bombed after I left, resulting in the loss of some of my teammates. But I am still safe and healthy after all these years, which I believe is a sign that I should continue to serve others.”

Vincent has always stood up for those who find themselves in difficult times, regardless of the form or situation. Sometimes, the challenging situations may not allow his team to help as much as planned, “but I am just as happy even if only one person benefits from our services.”

“Humanity is to show love and care to those in need, standing by them in difficult times. ”