Hong Kong Charities

After the consumerism and indulgence of December, it’s time to start 2012 with some karma-cleansing good deeds. Here are just a few Hong Kong organizations looking for your support. From lobbying the government to lending your time as a volunteer to simply donating a few dollars, there are many ways you can help to make Hong Kong a better place.

Poverty

Society for Community Organization (SoCO)

One of the poorest districts in Hong Kong, Sham Shui Po is where many of the marginalized in our society—including new immigrants and families struggling with poverty—call home.

Fortunately, the Society for Community Organization (SoCO) has been standing beside them and helping them to live a life with dignity since 1972. SoCO is particularly concerned with the living conditions of the poor, and offers help to residents of cage homes and partitioned rooms. Besides the urban poor, SoCO also delivers services to refugees, asylum seekers and former prisoners. SoCO is not government-funded as they do not shy away from protests and policy advocacy, so donations are always welcome. It is also in need of volunteers to teach at their service centers or mentor deprived children.
52 Princess Margaret Rd., Ho Man Tin, 2713-9165, www.soco.org.hk.

Crossroads

Crossroads, as its name suggests, is a Hong Kong-based charity that collects and redistributes goods and materials to the needy. Half of the resources donated to Crossroads go to Social Welfare Department-sponsored cases as well as lesser-known local NGOs, giving a hand to drug addicts, former prisoners, street sleepers and children with disabilities. Crossroads also has an international mandate and vows to help people in plight around the world.
Crossroads Village, 2 Castle Peak Rd., Tuen Mun, 2984-9309, www.crossroads.org.hk.

Related Article
Charity Profile: Community Development Alliance

Human Rights

Amnesty International Hong Kong

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Amnesty International is now a global human rights organization with 3 million members and offices in 150 countries and regions. In 1982, Amnesty International extended its reach to Hong Kong and a local office was set up (AIHK). AIHK is dedicated to human rights education as well as raising public awareness of individual rights and the need to respect them. It also monitors the application of international human rights conventions and conducts advocacy work in human rights law, such as racial discrimination legislation.
Room 3D, Best-O-Best Commercial Center, 32 Ferry St., Yau Ma Tei, 2300-1250, www.amnesty.org.hk.

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor

Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor (HKHRM) is an independent organization that scrutinizes and oversees human rights situations in Hong Kong. Established in 1995, the watchdog is concerned about a wide range of matters, including political rights, freedom of press and speech, and the enforcement of international human rights conventions in Hong Kong. During large-scale demonstrations, HKHRM sends observers to supervise and ensure that the people’s right of peaceful assembly is not suppressed. The work of HKHRM has become increasingly important now that authorities have been quashing individuals’ rights with more regularity, as seen in the recent suppression and mistreatment of protesters by the police.
Room 602, Bonham Commercial Center, 44-46 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan, 2811-4488, www.hkhrm.org.hk.

Sexual Minorities

Tongzhi Community Joint Meeting

“Tongzhi” is a Chinese word that refers to people of different sexual orientations and gender identities. Literally, “tongzhi” also means “comrades,” and the Tongzhi Community Joint Meeting (TCJM) aims at promoting solidarity among sexual minorities in Hong Kong. As there are quite a number of LGBT groups in the city, TCJM aspires to be a coordinating body and hopes to bring them together; it also assists these groups in their work and provides useful information in Chinese and English for the LGBT community. TCJM also participates in and organizes events such as Pink Season and the International Day Against Homophobia.
4/F, Hilltop Plaza, 49 Hollywood Rd., Central, www.tcjm.org.

Zi Teng

Being a sex worker is technically legal in Hong Kong, but female sex workers are one of the most unprotected and stigmatized groups in the city. Violence targeted at sex workers is, sadly, all too common. Zi Teng is an NGO that reaches out to sex workers, speaks out against their mistreatment and conducts research related to the industry in Hong Kong. It is also engaged in public education, aiming to eradicate deep-rooted discrimination against sex workers. So far, Zi Teng is prohibited from fundraising out in the open because the government has not formally recognized it as a charity.
1/F, 129 Prince Edward Rd. West, Mong Kok, 2332-7182, www.ziteng.org.hk.

Environment

Greenpeace

Greenpeace is one of the world’s largest environmental organizations, having set up its first East Asian offices in Hong Kong in 1997. The major focus of Greenpeace is to combatclimate change and prevent pollution of all kinds; it also works to stop the use of nuclear energy and lobbies against the use of genetically modified crops. It has also conducted some studies exposing environmental pollution on the mainland. Greenpeace is known for being confrontational when it comes to exposing environmental wrongdoings, but they do not use violence or inflict physical harm on other individuals. Its creative promotional strategies also help to raise public awareness about environmental protection.
8/F, Pacific Plaza, 410-418 Des Voeux Rd. West, Western District, 2854-8300, www.greenpeace.org/hk.

Friends of the Earth

Established in 1983, Friends of the Earth (FoE) is a local green group that addresses environmental issues in Hong Kong, such as air and light pollution. It monitors the government’s environmental performance and lobbies for greener policies. FoE has stressed the importance of the “polluter pays” principle, and demands that corporate bodies be held accountable for their impact on the environment. The organization also believes in the power of individuals and has launched an all-around recycling scheme that collects secondhand clothes, old electronic appliances, expanded polystyrene, CDs, old banners and printer cartridges.
Unit 1301-1302, Block A, Sea View Estate, 2 Watson Rd., North Point, 2528-5588, www.foe.org.hk.

Related Article
Charity Profile: Green Sense

Animals

SPCA Hong Kong

Animals are living creatures that deserve a good life, according to the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). As the first charity to advocate for animal rights in Hong Kong, the SPCA promotes kindness to animals in numerous ways: it rescues abandoned animals; investigates complaints of cruelty; finds new homes for unwanted pets and hospitalizes pets in need of treatment. SPCA also runs several veterinary clinics in town and offers behavior training, grooming services and pet boarding for our furry friends. Show some love to the animals by donating to SPCA, or become a volunteer dog walker or foster parent by offering a temporary home for animals waiting to be adopted.
5 Wan Shing St., Wan Chai, 2232-5543, www.spca.org.hk.

Hong Kong Dog Rescue

Prior to 2002, when HKDR was established, one of the only recourses for stray and unwanted dogs and puppies was the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), which would euthanize many animals only a few days after receiving them. HKDR was founded specifically to prevent this course of action and to instead rescue, rehabilitate and re-house as many of these animals as possible. In order to prepare dogs and puppies for adoption into local homes, HKDR uses positive reinforcement in the entirety of its animal training and rehabilitation work. Furthermore, dogs that stay at the organization’s Tai Po or Ap Lei Chau premises are fed, cleaned and walked daily, as well as regularly taken for vet checkups and vaccinations. For information on adoption and on HKDR’s two kennels and homing centers, visit the website.
Unit 6, G/F, Aberdeen Marina Tower, 8 Shum Wan Rd., Aberdeen, 2552-0121, www.hongkongdogrescue.com.

Disabilities

Hong Chi Association

Back in the 1960s, no services were available for local children with intellectual disabilities. Founded by a group of parents of intellectually challenged children, the Hong Chi Association has a mission to help people with intellectual disabilities realize their full potential. Today, the Hong Chi Association serves 7,000 intellectually challenged people of all ages—it operates a preschool center, a children’s hostel and 13 special schools; it also offers vocational training and job opportunities at their sheltered workshops, as well as social enterprises to help people with intellectual disabilities live an independent life.
Room 705, Duke of Windsor Social Service Building, 15 Hennessy Rd., Wan Chai, 2661-2709, www.hongchi.org.hk.

1 Step Association

Every year, there are around 50,000 cases of occupational accidents in Hong Kong. Some of the victims became severely disabled after sustaining traumatic injuries on the job. The 1 Step Association, which was founded in 1999, is dedicated to helping the survivors of work accidents adapt to their new conditions and live a independent life. Apart from helping the injured seek financial reparations, the organization also conducts policy advocacy, pushing for policies that protect the rights of the severely disabled. Mutual help is also a guiding principle for the 1 Step Association, as it encourages people who become disabled after accidents to volunteer for the association—thereby paying it forward and helping others in the same boat.
G/F, 58-61 Kai Yue House, Kai Yip Estate, 18 Kai Yip Rd., Kowloon Bay, 3165-8337, www.1stephk.org.

Other Groups In Need

KELY Support Group

This year marks the 20th anniversary of KELY Support Group, a bilingual youth charity with the aim of empowering young people to achieve their potential and helps build their capacity to do so. With a primary focus on drug and suicide prevention, KELY runs mentorship schemes, training workshops and forums for young people. KELY, which has reached out to about 32,000 young people in Hong Kong, also emphasizes being non-judgmental and refrains from telling young people what to do. KELY also runs a peer support hotline, “Talk to Me,” that kids and parents can call to request information or to receive telephone counseling.
2/F, East Wing, 12 Borrett Rd., Central, 2521-6890, www.kely.org.

Christian Action Hong Kong

Christian Action has a long history of helping refugees and asylum seekers that dates back to the 1950s. It runs a service center in Chungking Mansions, where language classes and sport sessions are available for refugees and asylum seekers. These classes are very popular, as refugees and asylum seekers who are waiting to be resettled in other countries live a very restricted life in Hong Kong (for example, working is prohibited). The NGO also offers services to new immigrants and domestic workers. In 1997, Christian Action expanded into China, where its work is focused on Qinghai province on the Tibetan Plateau, one of the poorest regions in China. It is now running three children’s homes, which have saved the lives of more than 800 orphans, and a Children’s Rehabilitation Center that has provided special education services to disabled children since 2007.
4/F, New Horizons Building, 2 Kwun Tong Rd., Kowloon Bay, 2716-8862, www.christian-action.org.hk.

PathFinders

Accidental pregnancy is a nightmare for domestic workers in Hong Kong. If they become pregnant, it is highly likely that they will lose their jobs. Their children, despite the fact that they are born in Hong Kong, are not granted residency. Fearful of returning home with illegitimate children, many of these distressed women opt to overstay their visas and go into hiding. PathFinders, set up in 2008, is a registered charity that provides the women with professional legal advice, helps them gain access to medical care and offers a safe shelter for mothers and their children. It also assists in local adoptions.
Unit 2D, Worldwide Centre, 123 Tung Chau St., Tai Kok Tsui, 5190-4886, www.pathfinders.org.hk.