Fighting poverty in Hong Kong with a swipe of a card at a vending machine
NGO leaders awarded HK$1 million grant after coming up with best idea to help the poor in this year’s Operation Santa Claus campaign
Imagine a vending machine that sells basic necessities such as sugar and rice at an affordable price. That’s Matthew Lee Ping-fai and Deanie Chiu Fung-ha’s idea to help the poor in Hong Kong.
With a customised Octopus card, anyone living under the poverty line would be able to buy a set quota of essential items.
Now the idea will become reality as Lee and Chiu were awarded a HK$1 million grant for coming up with the best NGO proposal in this year’s Operation Santa Claus (OSC), the annual fundraiser organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK.
Lee, founder of the non-profit Goods Co-share, and Chiu, financial controller of the Women’s Foundation, were selected from more than 20 other NGOs to received the funding, granted by financial services giant UBS and OSC.
Lee said vending machines could reduce the cost and work load for social service NGOs in doling out necessities. Bulk purchasing directly from suppliers would keep prices low.
“We are looking to serve 12,000 poor people with our machines,” Lee said. He was currently talking to six NGOs about installing machines in their respective communities.