Volunteer with SoCO

The Society for Community Organization (SoCO) was formed in 1971 by a group of clergymen and people who cared for Hong Kong’s development and campaigned for a fair and just social system. Through the promotion of civil rights and the organization of the affected people, they promoted respect for those people’s rights and equality for all members of society.

Over 40 years later, Hong Kong is regarded as one of the richest cities in the world. However, lurking beneath this prosperity is great wealth inequality and a forgotten group of poor people. Hundreds of thousands of people still live in caged homes and wood-partitioned cubicles, while the unemployed, newly arrived families from China and children in poverty struggle for survival. The underprivileged who SoCO support are increasing in numbers – while the city’s wealth continues to accumulate.

Faced with rapid changes in society, SoCO continuously works together with grassroots people to fight for a reasonable livelihood by upholding the principles of “equality for everybody,” “promotion of civil rights” and “implementing justice.” SoCO will continue to soldier on with the underprivileged and hope more people will join forces with them to safeguard human rights and the rule of law, thus enabling the development of a caring and just society.

Vision and Mission: In the coming years, SoCO will the grassroots in supporting them fight for their rights and social justice. By doing so, SoCO hopes that they can realize their common dream of making “all members of human family equal”.

Target Group: Grassroots people are struggling day in and day out to keep their head above water. These deprived cannot enjoy our economic success and they are socially discriminated. They have been snubbed and have fallen into oblivion. Standing in the line of underprivileged are caged lodgers, tenants with financial difficulties and living in appalling conditions, aged singletons, street-sleepers, ex-offenders, mentally ill patients, ethnic minorities, non-documented mothers of split families, families made up of new immigrants, patients and their families, Hong Kong residents being detained at the Mainland, etc. They are SoCO’s serving targets.

What you can do to help: Become a SoCO Volunteer
In being part of SoCO, you are helping to make a real difference to people living below the poverty line. With your support, there would be a saving of overall cost, enable resources to be used on people that are the focus of SoCO’s attention.

Volunteer Services:
Underprivileged Children Assistance
Providing support for children from underprivileged families via tutoring sessions and individual counseling.

Inadequate Housing Assistance
Providing home improvement to student housing and other aspects of home improvement

Office Work
Assist in mail handling, filing, data input in Chinese and English, translation, etc.

Other Services
Support SoCO’s fundraising activities.

Enrol Now: Please download and complete the relevant application form, return the completed form by fax to 2761 3326, or email soco@pacific.net.hk or by post to the following address
Society for Community Organization, 52 Princess Margaret Road, 3/F, Homantin, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Volunteer Application Form (Individual)
Volunteer Application Form (Group)
Child Mentorship Scheme Mentor’s Application Form
Community Learning Centre Teacher’s Application Form

Hong Kong Human Rights Arts Prize 2020 – 12 May

Established in 2013, the Hong Kong Human Rights Art Prize has played a pivotal role in discovering and encouraging Hong Kong artists to explore the state of human rights both at home and abroad. Each of the exhibited works will be available for purchase, with all proceeds supporting the important non-profit work of Justice Centre Hong Kong.

Please join the Justice Centre Hong Kong for an evening of thought and conversation provoking art on 12 May 2020 at 6:00pm for the Award Ceremony & Opening Event. The Awards Ceremony will take place at 7:30pm.

The Hong Kong Human Rights Arts Prize is organized by and for the benefit of Justice Centre Hong Kong.

Date: Tuesday, 12 May 2020

Time: 6-10pm

Place: Goethe-Institut Hongkong, 2 Harbour Road, Wanchai

Price: $250 plus handling charge
To buy your ticket please follow this link to EventBrite

About Justice Centre Hong Kong: Justice Centre Hong Kong is a non-profit organisation focused on the promotion of human rights through their legal, psychosocial, research, policy and advocacy work. They are committed to driving change for a just and fair society.

Founded in 2007 as Hong Kong Refugee Advice Centre, Justice Centre Hong Kong helps more than 300 forced migrants annually on their road to a new life.

Volunteer or intern with Projects Abroad

Projects Abroad is one of the largest volunteer abroad organizations in the world. Founded in 1992, Projects Abroad sends 10,000 people abroad each year on a variety of service projects and internships overseas. All participants receive unparalleled in-country support from their full-time, professional staff to ensure that the experience is safe, worthwhile and fun.

Volunteer overseas or intern abroad in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Latin America. Projects Abroad offers overseas voluntary work placements including teaching, care, conservation & environment, medicine & healthcare, journalism, law & human rights, international development, business, and more.

Volunteer overseas:
Volunteer overseas with Projects Abroad, as a great opportunity to put your time into a meaningful and rewarding programme. Projects Abroad offers a wide range of service trips in various fields of interest, with placements in more than 30 destination countries around the world.

On an overseas volunteering programme you can impact communities and the environment in various areas of need, such as caring for children, teaching English, or protecting wildlife.

With more than 300 trained staff in their destinations and over a thousand different placements to choose from, Projects Abroad is one of the leading volunteer organizations in the world. But their impact will not be felt without the dedicated overseas volunteer work completed by their participants of all ages and backgrounds, who total more than 5,000 each year.

You can volunteer overseas in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America & the Caribbean, Central America, and the South Pacific.

For more information please follow this link to the How it Works page on their website.

Internships overseas:

Boost your resume and gain skills and real world experience on one of Projects Abroad’s international internships. Their internships abroad allow you to contribute to sustainable development and bring a more cross-cultural understanding to the world.

Projects Abroad offers internships in more than 30 developing countries around the world, where you can gain valuable experience by working alongside qualified professionals in your chosen field.

Projects Abroad’s local staff will work closely with you to determine which specific internship placement gives you the most valuable learning experience and provides the greatest benefit in the country.

To find out more, please follow this link.

High School Specials:

If you are 15 to 18 years old and enrolled in full-time education you can join Projects Abroad on a High School Special. Each project follows a schedule of taught sessions, hands-on and observational work, as well as evening activities and weekend excursions. Lasting two to four weeks, these programs are designed to make the most of your short time abroad while contributing to your community service credit requirements or college applications.

Read more about the structure of High School Specials, how travel arrangements work, or explore below the variety of High School Specials projects available.

Every year, thousands of High School Special volunteers actively make a difference around the world. During their time abroad, they contribute towards achieving long-term goals and make a long-lasting positive impact on the communities where they work. If you want to know more about their achievements, read Projects Abroad’s 2017 High School Specials Impact Report.

To find out more, please follow this link.

Bright – pairing students with social entrepreneurs

This coming 23 February 2019 the 24 Hour Race is hosting its first entrepreneurship and awareness conference.

Want to hear from world-class, highly successful entrepreneurs? BRIGHT is an exclusive conference for high school students who are passionate about social entrepreneurship or want to learn more about it.

24 Hour Race is pairing ambitious students with successful entrepreneurs. If you think this conference is for you, hurry up and register. 24 Hour Race has a limited intake of 120 people.

24 Hour Race will be bringing in speakers from various anti-human trafficking and social right movements to share with us the importance of facing issues head-on.

The event costs HKD 150 and it includes material, food, and more!

Date: Saturday, 23 February 2019

Time: 10am – 6pm

Place: NakedHub, Bonham Strand Coworking Space Hong Kong

Price: $150, to register please follow this link

About 24 Hour Race: The 24 Hour Race is a global, student-led abolitionist movement.

They run 24 hours races once a year to advocate for the millions of men, women, and children locked in the chains of slavery today.

24 Hour Race raises millions of dollars to spearhead the fight against slavery, working with The Exodus Road, creating advocacy campaigns and spreading the 24 Hour Race movement globally.

24 Hour Race will not stop until every person is freed from slavery.

If you’d like to learn more about their abolitionist movement, impact strategy or anything else, please email hello@24hourrace.org

Justice Centre Young Advocates Programme

Young Advocates and Clinical Legal Education students

Applications for the 2019 Young Advocates Programme are now open. Please click here to read Justice Centre’s detailed information pamphlet.

What is the Young Advocates Programme?: The Young Advocates Programme (YAP) is a unique programme for high school students to gain hands-on experience in a non-profit setting.

Through the intensive programme, Young Advocates engage in all areas of Justice Centre’s work, from the provision of legal and psychosocial support to refugees, to anti-human trafficking research and advocacy. Young Advocates also receive one-to-one personal coaching and mentorship from Justice Centre’s highly-qualified international staff lawyers and policymakers, helping students develop important skills, knowledge, and experience as they begin applying for university courses.

Who can apply?: YAP is open to students who have Hong Kong residency and are aged between 15 – 18. Young Advocates should have a keen interest in human rights law, NGO management and refugee rights. The programme is aimed at students interested in a career in law, psychology, social sciences, human rights, politics, or NGO management generally.

Places are limited to four Young Advocates per programme to allow Justice Centre to offer a tailored programme to each Young Advocate.

Programme dates: Justice Centre runs four programmes per year; one in the spring and three in the summer.

Spring Programme 2019 (two weeks):
15 – 26 April 2019

Summer Programme 2019 (three weeks):
(i) 17 June – 5 July 2019
(ii) 8 – 26 July 2019
(iii) 26 July – 16 August 2019

How do I apply?: For more information on the cost and content of the programme, and to request an application form, please contact Justice Centre at YAP@justicecentre.org.hk

Open evening: If you would like to find out more about the YAP and Justice Centre’s work, Justice Centre will be hosting an open evening and information session for prospective applicants at Justice Centre offices at 6:45pm on Thursday, 17 January 2019.

To RSVP, please contact Justice Centre at YAP@justicecentre.org.hk

About Justice Centre Hong Kong: Justice Centre Hong Kong is a non-profit human rights organisation working fearlessly to protect the rights of Hong Kong’s most vulnerable forced migrants: refugees, other people seeking protection, and survivors of torture, human trafficking and forced labour.

Launched in 2014, Justice Centre Hong Kong was formerly Hong Kong Refugee Advice Centre, which over seven years, helped more than 2,000 refugee men, women and children on the road to a new life.

Building on their expertise in refugee issues, Justice Centre Hong Kong identified a clear need for an increased response to tackling forced labour and human trafficking in Hong Kong, and expanded their remit to fill this gap.

Justice Centre Hong Kong advocates with and for forced migrants, bringing their voices into the public debate. Justice Centre Hong Kong campaigns for legislative and policy change, conduct research and work with the media and civil society to fight root causes and change systems and minds.

Justice Centre Hong Kong provides people seeking protection in Hong Kong with free and independent legal information and specialised legal and psychosocial assistance.

Justice Centre Hong Kong receives no government funding. Instead, Justice Centre Hong Kong has spearheaded an innovative pro-bono working model that sees leading international law firms provide financial assistance and donate hours to help with legal research and support. Justice Centre Hong Kong also harnesses funding from a variety of trusts and foundations and through individual donations.

Run for STOP

STOP (Stop Trafficking of People) is an initiative under the Vine Community Services Limited (VCSL) that works in partnership with the local community to end human trafficking in and through Hong Kong.

Their goals are to raise awareness about trafficking, connect with key counter-trafficking groups, provide victims with support, allow their voices to be heard, and to serve as a catalyst for positive change in the fight against modern-day slavery. They respond to victims’ needs in four ways:
* Legal Referral & Social Assistance
* Weekly Outreach
* Network Building
* Public Education

Just as they walk the whole recovery journey with survivors, you can enter a marathon or fun run and walk or run your own journey to the finish line to show your support for STOP.

On 1-4 December 2017, STOP will be leading a team of 30 running the International Angkor Wat Half Marathon.

STOP’s Mission
Raise awareness and money to support the work of STOP in Hong Kong, including legal referral & social assistance, public education, outreach and network building.

Tour package includes marathon registration, 3 nights accommodation at a 4-star hotel, 2 lunches, airport to hotel return transfer, event transport, team jersey, and travel insurance.

What did we do with the funds raised in 2016?
Last year, a group of 30 Run For STOP runners successfully raised over HK$800,000. With the fund, STOP was able to extend their Legal Referral and Social Assistance program, including evidence gathering, medical, optical and emergency housing, to a few more clients from Southeast Asia. Moreover, they were also able to assist two clients to return home to Kenya in late December and mid-January and to connect them with a local organization which helps with re-integration.

Apart from STOP’s signature program, they also started a new project called 100 Stories HK with a couple of their community partners half a year ago. It is a collaborative social media project which aims to share real life experiences from survivors of trafficking – which will be launched by mid-May 2017.

Why #RunforSTOP?
A safe place for victims of trafficking to temporarily stay plays a critical part in the healing process. It allows the victims to begin regaining the control that was lost as a result of their victimization.

STOP foresees that this shelter will offer improved and increased standards of accommodation, security, and other supporting services to people who experience physical and psychological abuse and who are in danger from their immediate family environment.

Violence can cause significant and long-term injuries, both physical and psychological, which are difficult to heal, especially for young ethnic minority female. The shelter will provide them with a safe environment and opportunities to entertain and educate, while their court proceedings are being dealt with.

In 2017, STOP is hoping to raise HK$500,000 to establish a shelter which designated for victims of human trafficking in order to provide a holistic care. And with your participation, they can achieve that.

Date: 1 – 4 December 2017

Place: Siem Reap, Cambodia

Full Tour Package WITH flight
Tour package includes marathon registration, 3 nights accommodation at a 4-star hotel, 2 lunches, airport to hotel return transfer, event transport, team jersey, travel insurance and direct flight.
* 21km Half Marathon – HK$7,620 + $404 (Tax)
* 10km Road Race – HK$7,580 + $404 (Tax)
* 3km Family Run with children UNDER 5 years old
2 adults & 1 child – HK$18,100 + $1,212 (Tax)
Additional children – HK$4,100 + $404 (Tax) per child
* 3km Family Run with children ABOVE 5 years old
2 adults & 1 child – HK$18,420 + $1,212 (Tax)
Additional children – HK$4,420 + $404 (Tax) per child

Basic Tour package WITHOUT flight
Tour package includes marathon registration, 3 nights accommodation at a 4-star hotel, 2 lunches, airport to hotel return transfer, event transport, team jersey, and travel insurance.
* 21km – HK$2,850 + $520 (marathon registration fee)
* 10km – HK$2,850 + $480 (marathon registration fee)

For full information on this run, please go to their website

To register your interest, please fill out the Online Application Form. For any inquiries, please contact Ms. Lolly Law at lolly.law@vcsl.org

ScCO needs Flag Day Volunteers

Society for Community Organization was founded over 40 years ago to champion the rights of the grassroots of society in Hong Kong. During the 1970s, driven by a strong commitment to promote community development, a group of social-minded missionaries came together to start this organization. Since then, their cause has been mainly financed through donations from overseas churches, the Community Chest, government and individuals.

ScCO’s Flag Day will be held on 22 Jul 2017 (Saturday).

ScCO hopes to raise $600,000 so that their cause to combat local poverty can be sustained. Rest assured that funds raised will be used solely for serving the disadvantaged groups locally and civil rights education in Hong Kong.

Support ScCO’s flag day to show your care and concern to the underprivileged.

Date: Saturday, 22 July 2016

Time: 7:30am – 12:30pm

Place: Kowloon

Individual and group volunteers are welcome. For more information and to download the application form, please visit their website.

About Society for Community Organization (SoCO): Society for Community Organization (SoCO) is a human rights pioneer in Hong Kong. SoCO firmly believes that everyone should be entitled to equal rights. Equal opportunity for participation and fair distribution of social resources is the foundation of human rights. In the face of the widening disparity between the rich and the poor, and the increasingly restrictive political arena, SoCO stands firm in their crusade to establish an equal society and to build a strong power base for the people. SoCO is motivated by a common dream, and that is: “Let us work hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder to build a caring, equal and just society“.

SoCO is an incorporated, non-profit-making and non-governmental community organization. It was formed in 1972 by people from the Catholic and the Protestant church under the ecumenical movement.

It was financially supported by donations from overseas churches, the Hong Kong Community Chest, the Hong Kong Government and individuals. SoCO has, through civic education programs and social actions, nurtured grassroots people with a sense of civic rights so that they can exert their political power to the Government. These people have, during the course, regained their self-confidence and cemented with one another to champion for an equal social system. In view of the plight of the marginalized groups, SoCO also provides direct and emergent services to temporarily relieve their hardships.

Justice Centre Hong Kong

Justice Centre Hong Kong is a non-profit human rights organisation working fearlessly to protect the rights of Hong Kong’s most vulnerable forced migrants: refugees, other people seeking protection, survivors of torture, human trafficking and forced labour.

Launched in 2014, Justice Centre Hong Kong was formerly Hong Kong Refugee Advice Centre, which over seven years, helped more than 2,000 refugee men, women and children on the road to a new life.

Building on their expertise in refugee issues, they identified a clear need for an increased response to tackling forced labour and human trafficking in Hong Kong, and expanded their remit to fill this gap.

Justice Centre Hong Kong advocates with and for forced migrants, bringing their voices into the public debate. They campaign for legislative and policy change, conduct research and work with the media and civil society to fight root causes and change systems and minds.

At their centre in Sai Ying Pun, people seeking protection in Hong Kong receive free and independent legal information and specialised legal and psychosocial assistance.

Justice Centre Hong Kong receives no government funding. Instead, they have spearheaded an innovative pro-bono working model that sees leading international law firms provide financial assistance and donate hours to help with legal research and support. They also harness funding from a variety of trusts and foundations and through individual donations.

How you can help:

There are numerous opportunities to volunteer with Justice Centre Hong Kong from protection claimant services and research to fundraising and events, design & communications. Justice Centre Hong Kong recruits committed and passionate individuals according to their current needs. Most volunteer opportunities require a long-term commitment (usually six months) and the right to work in Hong Kong. Justice Centre Hong Kong advertise volunteer opportunities on their website and in their quarterly e-newsletter; sign up for updates here.

Development Associate
This is an exciting volunteer opportunity to join their Fundraising and Development team in raising vital funds for our direct services and advocacy work to protect the rights of refugees, other people seeking protection, survivors of torture, human trafficking and forced labour.

This is an ideal role for someone seeking a part-time opportunity to use their skills in PR/marketing/fundraising/business development, and will suit some-one who is passionate about leveraging their knowledge and connections to create long-lasting partnerships to secure funding and support for the work of Justice Centre Hong Kong. For more details of the scope of the role, please click here.

The role requires a commitment of 3 days per week for six months. To apply, please email your CV and cover letter to jobs@justicecentre.org.hk by 5pm on Friday June 10. Applicants invited for interview will be contacted by Tuesday June 14. Unfortunately, due to the high level of interest in their organisation, Justice Centre Hong Kong is only able to reply to shortlisted applicants.

Click here to find out about their other vacancies.

Young Advocates Programme
The Young Advocates Programme (YAP) is a unique programme for high school students to gain hands-on experience in a human rights setting, with coaching by Justice Centre Hong Kong staff and an opportunity to develop the skills and experience they need as they start the process of applying for university courses.

Building on their extensive experience leading practical clinic programmes to mentor university students, YAP was launched four years ago to extend this valuable mentorship to a select group of high school students in order to build up the future generation of human rights advocates.

Through the intensive programme, Young Advocates get involved in all areas of Justice Centre Hong Kong’s work, from the provision of legal and psychosocial support to refugees, to anti-human trafficking research and advocacy. Places are limited to two places per programme in order to enable them to offer a tailored programme to each Young Advocate and for their staff to dedicate time to mentoring and coaching them.

Who can apply?
YAP is open to select students who have Hong Kong residency and are aged between 15 – 18 years old. Young Advocates should have a keen interest in human rights law, NGO management and refugee rights. The programme is aimed at students interested in a career in law, human rights, government, social policy, or NGO management generally.

How do I apply?
Applications for YAP are now closed for the summer 2016 programme. Details of the Summer 2017 will be available in December 2016. Please contact Zamira Monteiro at zamira@justicecentre.org.hk for enquiries.