Study Buddy (Explorer): Hong Kong’s ‘aunties’ find a place in children’s book
- Illustrated by migrant domestic workers, the book highlights bond between families and their helpers
- Each week, this page presents an interesting story that we have adjusted to be more accessible for all English learners
“My Extra-Special Aunty” is a heartwarming children’s tale that shines a spotlight on HK’s migrant domestic workers. Photo: HandoutContent provided by British Council
Read the following text, and answer questions 1-9 below:
[1] Hong Kong is home to more than 350,000 domestic helpers. Most of them hail from the Philippines and Indonesia. Affectionately called “aunties”, many left their own children and elderly family members to care for others in the city.
[2] A new book, My Extra-Special Aunty, is narrated through the eyes of a child. The book celebrates the cultural diversity and creative talent within the migrant domestic worker community. But what makes My Extra-Special Aunty extra special is that it is the first children’s book illustrated by migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong. The book contains scenes of the city, the Philippines, Indonesia and beyond depicted by artists Cristina Cayat and Noemi Caballero Manguerra.
[3] The book is written by award-winning British filmmaker Joanna Bowers. She aimed to capture the special bond between Hong Kong families and their “aunties”. “By sharing this enchanting story,” she says, “we hope to inspire children and families to foster meaningful connections that transcend boundaries.”
[4] It is not the first time Bowers has shone a light on the lives of foreign domestic helpers in the city. Her 2017 documentary, The Helper, explored the challenges and maternal sacrifices made by the city’s helpers. They clean, cook and care for a minimum wage of HK$4,870 per month, most of which is sent back home to support their families.
[5] It may seem meagre to some Hong Kong residents, but it is more than most of the helpers would earn in their home countries. “As much as The Helper was a great collaboration that changed people’s perception on how they saw aunties, it wasn’t suitable for younger children,” says Bowers. “So I thought, why don’t Guhit Kulay and I do something together that will reach these children?”
[6] Guhit Kulay International is a collective of self-taught migrant Filipino artists who are based in Hong Kong. Cayat and Manguerra are both founding members of the association. “Coming from the northern part of the Philippines, I wanted to bring my culture into this book by using traditional design and clothing,” says Cayat. “It’s the perfect tool to start a conversation, inspiring young readers to appreciate different cultures and understand their aunties better.”
[7] My Extra-Special Aunty is available in both English and traditional Chinese. All proceeds from book sales and events go towards supporting local charities Enrich HK and PathFinders Hong Kong.
Source: South China Morning Post, May 12
Questions
1. Where are most of Hong Kong’s domestic helpers from, according to paragraph 1?
___________________________________________________
2. The illustrations in My Extra-Special Aunty are drawn by , according to paragraph 2.
A. children of migrant workers
B. migrant workers
C. young children
D. none of the above
3. Decide whether the following statements based on paragraphs 1 and 2 are True, False
or the Information is Not Given. Fill in ONE circle only for each statement. (4 marks)
(i) My Extra-Special Aunty is aimed at young adults.
(ii) The book has more than 100 illustrations.
(iii) Many of the domestic helpers in Hong Kong have young children of their own.
(iv) The book features scenes from multiple regions.
4. According to paragraph 4, where do most of the domestic helpers’ earnings go?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. What sorts of work do domestic helpers do, based on paragraph 4?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. What does “It” in the first sentence of paragraph 5 refer to?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Find a word in paragraph 5 that means “very little”.
_____________________________
8. In paragraph 6, Cayat wants to … through her work.
A. promote traditional clothing design
B. encourage other budding self-taught artists
C. bring together a group of Hong Kong-based Filipino artists
D. make young readers interested in learning about and talking about different cultures
9. In how many languages is My Extra-Special Aunty available, according to paragraph
7?
___________________________________________________
Answers
1. the Philippines and Indonesia
2. B
3. (i) F; (ii) NG; (iii) T; (iv) T
4. Most of their earnings are sent back home to support their families.
5. They clean, cook and care for others.
6. A domestic worker’s minimum wage of HK$4,870 per month (accept all similar answers)
7. meagre
8. D
9. two