Mission For Migrant Workers Annual Charity Walk – 22 Nov

Much has been said about Hong Kong’s success as an economic powerhouse. The real unsung heroes are the thousands upon thousands of migrant workers who come to Hong Kong to work as domestic helpers who run households, play nanny to the children and take care of the elderly.

The Annual Charity Walk 2020 is a yearly fundraising event hosted by the Mission For Migrant Workere. The walk aims to spread awareness of the need to protect the rights and welfare of migrant workers and to affirm and appreciate their valuable contribution to the comfort and convenience of our daily lives, often to great personal sacrifices.

This is especially important in this time of crisis as migrant workers are made more vulnerable under COVID-19 Pandemic. Many had lost their jobs and needed assistance physically, emotionally and mentally.

MFMW hopes to see at least 500 participants on the day, despite the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Join MFMW’s walk for a good cause to promote inclusion, mutual understanding and respect!

MFMW hopes to raise HK$400,000 from pledges and donations.

All proceeds will go towards supporting MFMW’s services and initiatives and support thousands of migrant workers in Hong Kong.

Date: Sunday, 22 November 2020

Time: 9 – 11:30am

Place: St. John’s Cathedral >The Victoria Peak Garden
(A program with a raffle draw will be held at the Victoria Peak Garden after the walk. Participants who would like to join the raffle draw can buy ticket(s) at the St. John’s Cathedral by 9AM or the Peak Garden by 10:00AM on the day. Refreshments will be served.)

Price: Join the walk by making an individual donation by following this link

Sponsorship packages are also available. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for this worthwhile event, click here

About Mission For Migrant Workers : In response to the increasing number of cases of maltreatment and other exploitative and unfair labour practices affecting migrant workers in Hong Kong, the Mission was established in 1981 through the coordination of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and some formations in Hong Kong then, namely, the Resource Centre for Philippine Concerns, the Holy Carpenter Church (Anglican) and an Ad Hoc Committee of religious and laypersons from the Catholic and Protestant Churches in Hong Kong. It is a Christian response, committed to the ideals of justice, love, charity, and mercy.

The project has since then evolved into an outreach program of the St. John’s Cathedral with the objectives of providing social-pastoral care services to respond to the increasing immediate needs not only of Filipino but of all Asian migrants in Hong Kong; providing legal assistance to alleviate their sufferings and vulnerability; publication of literature specifically geared to the increasing awareness among the migrant workers; and educational and organizational work among them for increased protection of their legitimate rights and for the promotion of their general welfare.

MFMW Vision
An empowered migrant workers community who are able to protect their rights, are cared for and are recognized as an integral part of a multicultural and inclusive Hong Kong society.

MFMW Mission
To support migrant workers in crisis and empower them to regain dignity as human beings and as workers in Hong Kong.
– Services
– Empowerment
– Advocacy

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

Help for Domestic Workers is looking for a Fundraising & Events Volunteer

Many NGOs in Hong Kong operate on limited funding and manpower in an effort to maximize resources for programs that support their core mission. Skills-based volunteering helps address this challenge by engaging volunteers to provide specialized skills and services that leverage job-related expertise, such as accounting, design, HR, IT, legal and more.

For NGOs, skills-based volunteering provides access to specialized skill sets and talent they may not otherwise have. The engagement also empowers the volunteer to leverage their professional skills to drive positive social change, expand their network, develop meaningful community relationships and hone their skills.

Help for Domestic Workers is looking for a Fundraising & Events Volunteer
Key Responsibilities:
• Work with the Board coordinator of Fundraising & Events to develop and implement fundraising campaigns.
• To review fundraising trends, both internally and externally.
• To develop and deliver strategies to promote regular donations via HELP’s new online giving platform
• To help manage and maintain the HELP Fundraising Pipeline.
• To facilitate the development of project proposals by staff to submit to potential donors/trusts and foundations and event sponsors.
• To work with the Board Co-ordinator to plan and execute fundraising events annually such as an annual fundraising dinner.
• To help develop and implement processes for thanking the sponsors, donors and funders in writing and acknowledge them at Board meetings, special events and on the website/social media.
• Work with the finance committee to develop internal procedures for handling donations
• Record all grant and donor-related information as part of an effective donor relations management strategy on the fundraising database
• Positively represent and promote HELP in all its dealings with external agencies

Key Skills:
• Bachelor’s degree and proven track record of fundraising experience (10 years plus)
• Expert networker with high-level relationship management skills, including the ability to engage with senior-level stakeholders and corporate partners.
• Well-developed organisation and project management ability; to plan, prioritise tasks, meet multiple deadlines and budgets
• Strong writing, editing, presentation skills with very good attention to detail
• Self-starter, highly motivated and resourceful problem solver
• Experience using Salesforce, Word Press and Hubspot
• Excellent written and verbal English language skills are essential, Cantonese and or Mandarin language skills would be an advantage.

Amount of time required per month: As many hours as possible but can be flexible

Length of service / commitment required: To start as soon as possible, with commitment open-ended

Language requirement: English is essential, Cantonese and/or Mandarin would be desirable

Location of volunteer work: Mostly in the office at G/F, St John’s Cathedral, Garden Road, Central preferred but can be flexible to accommodate home-working too (for e.g. 50/50 split)

Enquiries: For enquiries and to apply please email j.booth@helpfordomesticworkers.org

About Help for Domestic Workers: HELP for Domestic Workers, provides free advice and assistance on employment, immigration and human rights issues to domestic workers in Hong Kong. Every domestic worker in Hong Kong, irrespective of race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation or gender, should have access to justice and receive equal and fair treatment before the law.

Help deliver Care Boxes (groceries and masks) to minority families (28 Apr – 3 May)

According to the 2016 poverty report among ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, the poverty rate among children of South Asian, mainly Indian, Nepalese, Pakistani, Filipino, etc., (29.1%) is significantly higher than that of all children in Hong Kong (12.1%). Most of them are born in Hong Kong.

Over the past 2 weeks, The Zubin Foundation has received over 400 calls from people seeking work. There are many families that have lost their only source of income because of their jobs in construction, at the airport and in F&B. Many of these families have little or no savings and children and adults are going hungry.

The Zubin Foundation has received generous donations from the public to provide Care Boxes to the ethnic minority families (EM families) in need. They are now looking for teams of 3 volunteers to help deliver these Care Boxes.

Volunteer yourself if you can help drive your car/van between Tuesday 28 April – Sunday 3 May for delivery. Mobilise your friends and family members to join you as accompanying volunteers to help deliver to the families in need. (Don’t worry if you can’t find accompanying volunteers, The Zubin Foundation can help!)

Date: Tuesday 28 April – Sunday 3 May

To register, please follow this link

For more information, please call The Zubin Foundation at 2540-9588

About The Zubin Foundation: The Zubin Foundation is a think tank and charity that works to improve the lives of Hong Kong’s marginalised ethnic minorities by providing opportunities and reducing suffering

Splash Dash Relay 2020

Join the most inclusive fundraiser in town! The Splash Dash Relay will be Sunday, May 24, 2020. The Splash Dash Relay is a fun, inclusive event for a variety of ages and swim abilities. Teams race the clock (or each other) to see how many laps they can swim in 30 minutes. All levels are invited to participate provided they can safely swim 50 meters. Limited spots are available so register quickly!

Date: Sunday, 24 May 2020

Time: 8.00 am – 5.00 pm (teams will be given a scheduled time slot)

Place: Canadian International School, 36 Nam Long Shan Road, Aberdeen

Teams: Teams may consist of 3 or 4 members and 2 Splash graduates will join each team.

Format: Teams swim continuously for 30 minutes, changing swimmers every 25 or 50 meters.

Entry Fee: Each team must raise a minimum of HK$5,000, either through direct payment or donations

To reserve your place in the Splash Dash Relay, teams are required to pay a non-refundable deposit of HK$500. This will be counted toward your fundraising minimum of HK$5,000. For any queries, please contact splashdash@splashfoundation.org.

To register please follow this link

Divisions: Corporate, Friends and Family, Schools and Clubs

The event will be conducted in heats and each team is given a pre-assigned swim time (so your total time commitment is about 90 minutes).

Division Prizes: Most Money Raised, Most Laps Swum and Best Team Spirit

About Splash: Splash supports people who take their first leap into the water, people in Hong Kong who don’t normally have access to or the means for swimming lessons. Splash connects those who can swim with those who can’t, supported by partners who believe there should be no economic or cultural barriers to learning this important skill.

Michaelmas Fair – 26 Oct

Get ready for Hong Kong tradition, an opportunity to get all your Christmas shopping done in one place AND support a variety of charities. The Michaelmas Fair organised by St. John’s Cathedral has been around for decades. A true local tradition.

There are handicrafts, home produce, white elephant, second-hand clothes, books, Christmas cards and decorations and much more. For the kids there are game stalls, and food and entertainment fo keep you going. Proceeds go to various charities that the cathedral supports. Don’t miss it.

Date: Saturday, 26 October 2019

Time: 10am – 4pm

Place: St. John’s Cathedral, Garden Road, Central

Donate to Bethune House and keep this refuge for distressed helpers open

The Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge is a registered charitable institution under the companies ordinance in Hong Kong. It was established in 1986 under the Mission for Migrant Workers to provide charitable assistance and social counseling to the needy migrant workers and their families. Today it runs two shelters which last year served about 700 foreign domestic workers.

Bethune House is funded through donations from local churches, migrant organizations, service institutions, and concerned individuals in Hong Kong and overseas. Recently their overseas funding dried up after the churches involved focused on less developed territories. Read more about Bethune House‘s plight in this SCMP article.

To keep Bethune House going a donation appeal has gone out to raise $1Million in order to continue their work and Mission among the abused and distressed women migrant workers and their children.

Donate to Bethune House
Account Name: The Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge Limited
Bank Name: Hang Seng Bank
HK Savings Account: 284-8-241309
Swift Code: HASEHKHH
(All cash donations of HK$100.00 and above are tax deductible.)

If you have any questions or need a receipt for your donation, please reach out to the Mission for Migrant Workers directly. Their contact information is as follows:
Tel: (852) 2522-8264
Fax: (852) 2526-2894
Email: mission@migrants.net
Website: http://www.migrants.net

Michaelmas Fair 2018 & Xmas Cards

The Christmas Fair of the year is just around the corner. Michaelmas Fair at St. John’s Cathedral is a Hong Kong institution, with game stalls, marching bands, second-hand clothes, white elephant, charity stalls, and tons of Christmas gift ideas!

If it’s Christmas cards you are after, they have those too, or pop into the Cathedral’s Bookstore which stocks probably the largest collection of charity cards in Hong Kong.

Date: Saturday, 28 October 2018

Time: 10am – 4pm

Place: St. John’s Cathedral, Garden Road

PathFinders

PathFinders Limited is an independent, secular and non-partisan humanitarian services organisation with tax-exempt charitable status in Hong Kong.

Since their founding in 2008, PathFinders has helped over 4,800 of Hong Kong’s most vulnerable babies, children and migrant women. Over 10% of the children Pathfinders has served would, but for PathFinders, have been at extreme risk of abuse, neglect, even trafficking.

Mission
To ensure that the most vulnerable children born in Hong Kong, and their migrant mothers, are respected and protected.

Vision
For all children to be respected and protected.

Values
PathFinders’ approach is non-judgmental, respectful, passionate, courageous, empathetic, discreet and collaborative.

Why does Hong Kong need PathFinders?
The babies, children and women that PathFinders help are either not supported, or are inadequately supported, by Hong Kong’s existing public welfare, healthcare and access to justice structures. In effect, they fall through the cracks of Hong Kong’s otherwise world class social welfare safety nets.

Who does PathFinders help?
PathFinders helps pregnant, migrant women (principally current or former foreign domestic workers) in distress and their Hong Kong-born children. Despite legal protections, too many of these women are unlawfully fired once their pregnancy is announced or discovered. In 2016, 88% of the fathers were in Hong Kong. Once their employment is terminated, these pregnant women immediately become homeless. Within two weeks they lose access to all public welfare support. Now destitute, they and their babies are among the most vulnerable and underserved people in Hong Kong.

What you can do to help
Volunteer: PathFinders is looking for motivated and passionate volunteers to help vulnerable children and their migrant mothers. Join PathFinders to make a unique and valuable contribution to our community. How you can help:
* Workshop Facilitator
* Supplies Coordinator
* Outreach Ambassador
To learn more about PathFinders’ stories, services, and other volunteer opportunities, to their Meet and Greet volunteer workshop.

Check out the calendar by following this link and sign up for PathFinders’ upcoming events. Join PathFinders to make a difference!

Donate Supplies: PathFinders collect and distribute pre-loved and new baby supplies to migrant mothers and children who desperately need our support. PathFinders gladly accepts donations of the following items for distribution to their clients:
* Newborn and children’s clothes (size up to 2 years)
* Baby blankets
* Baby carriers, baby slings and wraps
* Disposable diapers (up to 1yrs/11kg)
* Lightweight foldable pushchairs (See our ‘Pushchairs for PathFinders‘ collection campaign!)
* Baby milk formula (newborn to 1 yr) – expired baby food is not accepted.
* Maternity clothes
Please ensure that all donated items are dry, clean and in good condition.
Include your name, telephone number and email address inside each of your donation bags/boxes.

Drop Off Locations
PathFinders’ Office – Unit 2D, Worldwide Centre, 123 Tung Chau Street, Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon (Map)
(Monday – Friday, 10am – 6pm)
Volunteer’s Home – C4, 101 Repulse Bay Road, Repulse Bay, Hong Kong (contact tel: 60441268 or victoria@pathfinders.org.hk to organise drop off)

Serve-a-thon – Turn intent into ACTION

Despite Hong Kong’s wealth, nearly 15 per cent of residents lack the ability to meet their most basic needs. Recent studies have shown those most at risk are elderly who live alone, with 37% unable to afford the basics, and children, with more than one-fourth living below the poverty line.

What is Serve-a-thon?
Serve-a-thon Hong Kong brings together NGOs, corporates, government, media and civil society in collaboration to raise public awareness about the importance of community engagement in helping address social issues.

Over nine days, from May 6th through May 14th, the city will unite in service through hundreds of volunteer activities taking place across Hong Kong. This Hong Kong-wide ‘service marathon‘ offers volunteer opportunities for individuals, families, schools, civic organizations and corporations to come together and serve the community.

More than 75 major cities around the world host some form of service marathon. Serve-a-thon Hong Kong will be the largest-ever collective volunteerism-based event of its kind in Hong Kong. 2017 is the inaugural year of this annual event in Hong Kong.

Serve-a-thon supports those at greatest risk
*Animals
*Children and youth
*Elderly
*Environment
*Ethnic minorities
*Migrant workers
*People with disabilities
*Refugees
*Women

Why Volunteer?
Join Hong Kong’s first-ever collective service marathon and be part of this important initiative that gives back to the community:
– Learn more about Hong Kong’s pressing social issues
– Familiarize yourself with Hong Kong’s vibrant NGO sector and its valuable work serving those in need
– Sample different types of volunteer activities at different times of the week
– Participation is free for individuals and groups
– All volunteer hours will be counted and reported back following Serve-a-thon
– You can join as an individual or as a group

Date: 6-14 May 2017

Please note:
– Sign ups for activities are taken on a first come, first served basis, just simply check the calendar
– Registration is free to individuals or groups (families, friends, neighbors, schools, universities, churches, civic organizations)
– Group names will be posted on the website
– Corporations are required to follow the corporate registration procedure

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. These 17 goals build on the successes of the Millennium Development Goals, while including new areas such as climate change, economic inequality, innovation, sustainable consumption, peace and justice.

The volunteer opportunities within Serve-a-thon Hong Kong work to meet these global goals while serving the local community. For more information, please visit their website

About the Organisers:
HandsOn Hong Kong (HOHK) is a registered charity that mobilizes and empowers the community to meet pressing social needs in Hong Kong through volunteer services. Founded in 2007, HOHK runs more than 100 volunteer activities each month; in 2015 alone the team organized 1,436 volunteer activities and served 107,000+ beneficiaries, many of whom include children and youth, the elderly, refugees, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.

The Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) is a federation of non-governmental social service organizations. The establishment of the HKCSS came about after the end of the Second World War. In 1947, the HKCSS was established to co-ordinate and plan the diversification of various relief and welfare services. In 1951, the HKCSS became a statutory body under the Hong Kong Code of Practice (Cap. 1057). The rapid development of Hong Kong after the war and social welfare services has become one of the focus of government development. The HKCSS has been firmly in the position and has been an important partner in the development of social welfare since the 1970s. At present, the HKCSS has more than 450 institutional members who provide quality social welfare services to the public through its more than 3,000 service units.