Starfish is recruiting committee members

The Starfish Charitable Trust is recruiting new committee members to break the child poverty cycle of underprivileged children in HK through creative means.

Please come join the Starfish Charitable Trust at their welcome lunch to find out more about their team and how you may help!

Suggested contribution: HKD200

Any questions, feel free to reach out to their PR officer for this event Alicia (98381833)

Date: Saturday, 14 March 2020

Time: 12-2pm

Place: Union Church, 248 Queen’s Road East

Price: Free, with a suggested contribution of $200. To register, please follow this link to Eventbrite

About Starfish Charitable Trust: Since its inception, Starfish’s mission is to exhaust all avenues to appropriate medical treatments that could ease or even alleviate the sufferings of children in order to increase their chances for adoption and offering hope for a normal life.

Besides giving medical treatments to the children, Starfish also cares for the emotional and spiritual needs of these children as an approach for holistic healing. Starfish’s objectives include training programs to coach, develop and upgrade the skills of the caregivers to enable them to deliver their service effectively and with dedications in a well- managed and clean environment.

Emergency support for Hong Kong charities during Coronavirus outbreak

This is a rebroadcast of an appeal by HandsOn:

The impact of the Coronavirus has been felt acutely across Hong Kong, with local charities and the groups they serve critically affected by this public health emergency. The HandsOn Hong Kong team are staying in regular contact with our non-profit partners to establish the most urgent community needs at this challenging time:

– HandsOn elderly center partners are in need of emergency hygiene supplies which can be used to safely transport the individuals they serve to urgent hospital appointments and for food and other provisions that will allow low-mobility or isolated individuals to remain at home for extended periods.

– The partners HandsOn works with which support families in subdivided flats are in particularly urgent need of masks, sanitizer and anti-bacterial cleaning products given the type of housing they reside in.

– HandsOn non-profit partners serving youths with disabilities are also in critical need of masks and sanitizer as well as cleaning products are given that many of these young people have challenged immune systems and live in dormitories with a number of other students.

If you are looking for ways to help Hong Kong’s most vulnerable during this crisis, please pick up any of the items listed on the HandsOn webpage and deliver directly to your listed local non-profit also listed there. HandsOn suggests that you phone them ahead of time to let them know you are coming.

Thank you in advance for your kind support and generosity.

Hoi Ha Biodiversity Excursion – 23 Feb

The new year is a good time for hiking and exploring Hong Kong wildlife.

In this excursion, EncompassHK will first lead you to experience one of the most innovative outdoor water stations by Urban Spring at the Park Tam Chung Sai Kung Country Park visitor center. They’ll also teach you how to make use of iNaturalist and compete in the April’s worldwide City Nature Challenge.

Program

⁃ Introduction to iNatrualist and City Nature Challenge

⁃ Introduction to Sustainable Development Goals (especailly on responsible consumption) and Urban Springs outdoor wells.

⁃ Introduction to marine fauna with expert guide Dr. Cynthia Yau

⁃ Marine naturalist ID with a demonstration of the iNaturalist app

⁃ Guided walk along Hoi Ha Nature Trail and Marine Park area, including visits to Hoi Ha’s Antiquities Monument, Hoi Ha ecologically sensitive stream

⁃ Introduction to developmental issues at Hoi Ha Wan (by Friends of Hoi Ha chairperson Nicola Newbury)

With an AFCD-estimated 45,000 visitors in 2015, Hoi Ha Wan is Hong Kong’s most accessible Marine Park and is a popular destination for day-trippers. Watch out for monkeys in the trees, cows on the road, and a stunning view over Long Harbour as the road drops down from Pak Tam Au. With a wealth of corals, including 64 of the 84 species of stony corals found in Hong Kong, Hoi Ha Wan has been a Site of Special Scientific Interest since 1986 and was gazetted as a Marine Park in 1996. We will explore the diversity of marine life in the mangrove and sandy shore habitats at HHW.

The City Nature Challenge is a friendly international competition that encourages people to go outside and discover the local wildlife. Simply observe and take pictures of plants and animals in natural areas near you on the free app, iNaturalist. No prior experience necessary – anyone and everyone is welcome to participate!

Who: Everyone! Families including accompanied children over 3 are welcome.

What to Wear: Closed-toe shoes (no sandals or flip flops please, as the beach may have sharp dangerous items including broken glass, oyster shells), comfortable clothes, hat. Do be warned you may get your footwear wet on the shore, so please bring your own change of dry shoes if needed.

What to Bring: Water (minimum 0.5 L in reusable container – Bonaqua bottle, Watsons bottle etc. are not allowed). Water refill during the trip is possible. Sun screen, hat and insect repellent. Small umbrella for shade.

Not allowed: No flip flops or open sandals during intertidal excursion. No one-time-use plastic bottles or food containers/wrappers! Other remarks: There is no wheelchair access anywhere in Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park.

Date: Sunday, 23 February 2020

Time: 10:30am – 5pm
(Coach will return to Kowloon Tong with drop off at Choi Hung station by 5 pm)

Place: 10:30am outside Kowloon Tong Exit C

Price: $280 (including coach fee, guided walk, light lunch, handouts about Hoi Ha Wan, donation to Friends of Hoi Ha) to register please follow this link to EventBrite

*No parking available for external guests in Hoi Ha Village, so we do not advise you to drive there.

About Encompass HK: Encompass HK, a local social enterprise promoting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

Kadoorie Farm Food Waste Recovery Workshop 2020

There is a growing volume of waste generation in Hong Kong and public concern on related issues is escalating. Given food waste is the major constituent of municipal solid waste in Hong Kong, both its reduction and recovery are important in addressing the overall challenges of waste management. This course will guide participants to learn different technologies for recovering household food waste to planting resource, as well as exploring ways to reduce food waste at sources.

Content:
– The principles of compost-making and application;
– Identifying food waste that is suitable for compost-making;
– An introduction of different methods for recovering household food waste, which includes compost-bin design, bokashi composting, garbage enzyme making and criteria for selecting composting machines;
– Application of food waste compost and garbage enzyme; and
– Ways to reduce food waste at the source

Course size: 23 persons (first come first served)

Language: Cantonese

Date: Saturday, 6 June 2020

Time: 10am – 4:30pm

Place: Kadoorie Farm

Price: $420 (including vegetarian lunch)

To register please follow this link to the Kadoorie Farm website.

For enquiries please contact the Sustainable Living and Agriculture Department at (852) 2483 7161 or sla@kfbg.org

About Kadoorie Farm: Established in 1956 as a base for the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association (K.A.A.A.), the KFBG site near Lam Tsuen, Tai Po, is one of Hong Kong’s little known jewels. Nine kilometres of road wind their way up around organic farming terraces, theme gardens and native forest to the summit of the mountain, Kwun Yum Shan, at over 1800ft above sea level. A wide variety of educational displays, sustainability features and wildlife rescue facilities complement the extensively landscaped gardens with their cobbled paths, pavilions, bridges, waterfalls and picnic spots.

KFBG‘s three core programmes – Nature Conservation, Holistic Education and Sustainable Living – are constantly evolving as they address different aspects of the challenge to live in harmony with nature. In addition to the many on-site courses, workshops and special events that have been developed for the education and upliftment of visitors, KFBG‘s activities extend throughout Hong Kong and into South China and other parts of the region.

The Green Hub Volunteer Induction Day – 8 Feb

Volunteers at the Green Hub enrich and enhance the life of Green Hub and play a vital role in supporting a wide range of sustainable living educational programmes and conservation work. Volunteers are a valued and integral part of Green Hub. Volunteers donate a range of talents and skills to promote sustainable living and assist our daily operation. Green Hub hopes that they can both enjoy and learn from their volunteer experience at Green Hub.

Volunteer Opportunities:
Education programmes and activities
Low carbon catering
Co-op Market
Gardening
Visitor Centre

Requirement:
Hong Kong citizen aged at least 16 and under 65
Appreciate a sustainable lifestyle
Interested in nature and heritage conservation
Good presentation and communication skills
Able to speak fluent Cantonese, basic English and Mandarin
Able to attend Green Hub Volunteer Induction Day are preferred.

Induction Day: The goal of the Induction Day is to provide an orientation for people who want to be a volunteer of the Green Hub. The Induction Day comprises an introduction about the Old Tai Po Police Station heritage revitalization project and its programmes and a guided walk of the Green Hub facilities. Participants will also have the opportunities to undertake sustainable living exercises to increase their own well-being and that of the community from a holistic perspective.

Price:

Date: Saturday, 8 February 2020

Time: 2-4pm

Place: Green Hub, 11 Wan Tau Kok Lane, Tai Po, Hong Kong

Language: Cantonese

How to apply: Please refer to Chinese Version.

Please contact ghprog@kfbg.org for further questions or information.

About Green Hub: Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) was selected by the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2010 to transform the heritage site, in Hong Kong’s New Territories, into a “Green Hub for Sustainable Living” under Batch II of the “Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme” (Revitalisation Scheme).

The Green Hub has reimagined the Old Tai Po Police Station, a Grade 1 listed historic building built in 1899, to demonstrate how we can live sustainably while at the same time respecting nature and respecting each other.

Visitors are invited to enjoy Green Hub’s locally-sourced, healthy food; join one of Green Hub’s transformative educational courses; learn about community events; engage with a network of community members who care about living lightly on our planet; and experience the beauty of this tranquil heritage site.

The Green Hub offers solutions to the challenges facing us in finding harmony with the natural world. Such challenges include the widespread disconnection between people and nature, over-population, an economic order that demands limitless growth, and over-exploits biodiversity and resources, causing the collapse of ecosystems, runaway climate change, and endangers our food security.

Green Hub’s role is to “help people help themselves” by seeking a lifestyle in tune with nature and with their local community, and for us all to lead lower-carbon lives.

Volunteer with Youth Diabetes Action

Living with diabetes can be a financial strain, particularly in low-income families—four blood tests and four insulin injections are required daily. Support Youth Diabetes Action to ensure no child gets left behind because of this illness.

Youth Diabetes Action (YDA) is a charity established in 2001, dedicated to supporting children and adolescents with diabetes and their families in Hong Kong.

Services:
Education and Community
– Diabetes seminars and workshops
– Diabetes School Care Plan
– Hong Kong Childhood Diabetes Registry
– Blue November
– Advocating for children with diabetes
– YDA Today

Financial and Medical Support
– Financial Assistance Programme
– Flame of Hope Scholarship

Care Support (This project is supported by The Community Chest)
– Mentoring
– Parent Sharing
– Children and Youth Programmes
– Family Events

Volunteer: YDA is always in need of reliable volunteers to help with general operation and administration, as well as with different occasions like member activities and fundraising events. An example of a fun member activity is the upcoming Cartoon Rice Dumpling making workshop on 18 January.

To register as a volunteer, download the registration form here

For more information please email support@yda.org.hk

New Year Beach Cleanup! 26 Jan

Join Green Hour for their first clean up drive of 2020, the first in the Year of the Rat in Sham Tseng. There will be plenty of fun with music, games and more!

Date: Sunday, 26 January 2020

Time: 10am-3pm

Place: Sham Tseng
18 Castle Peak Road (Tsing Lung Tau)
Opposite Sea Crest Villa Phase 3

Price: Free, to register please follow this link to EventBrite

About Green Hour: Green Hour is a local organisation dedicated to fighting the war against waste in Hong Kong through several initiatives. Through bread run programmes, Green Hour works to fight food waste whilst giving back to those in our community in need, running cleanup events across Hong Kong to raise awareness as well as workshops that are not just only informative, but also fun!