https://www.scmp.com/rss/313042/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Annual fundraising drive Operation Santa Claus (OSC) will support 11 beneficiaries this year including organisations providing care for elderly members of ethnic minority groups and children with special education needs in Hong Kong. The fundraiser, jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK, raised HK$14.9 million (US$1.9 million) for 16 charitable organisations in its previous instalment. This year’s campaign, themed “Everyday Heroes”, was launched on Tuesday... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3286281/operation-santa-claus-groups-ethnic-minority-elderly-special-needs-children-benefit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3286281/operation-santa-claus-groups-ethnic-minority-elderly-special-needs-children-benefit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2024 13:30:15 +0000 From a blind marathon runner promoting positivity and inclusion in the community to a team of volunteers providing hot meals for the poor, unsung heroes across Hong Kong are making the city a better place to live. Now, these community champions are set for the recognition they deserve, as polls open for the Spirit of Hong Kong Lion Rock People’s Choice Award. The annual campaign, in its 10th year, is co-organised by the South China Morning Post and property developer Sino Group to shine a light... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3191845/voting-spirit-hong-kong-lion-rock-peoples-choice-award-opens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3191845/voting-spirit-hong-kong-lion-rock-peoples-choice-award-opens?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Sep 2022 02:00:41 +0000 Chapman Lee wants to help break bottlenecks in Hong Kong’s healthcare system by developing diagnostic tools powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The biomedical engineering graduate, who has served in the healthcare sector for about 15 years, said cancer patients in Hong Kong faced late diagnosis because of a shortage of doctors. Noting late cancer diagnosis limited treatment options, Lee said his team at Imsight Technology had been working to develop AI-based medical imaging tools to aid in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3191517/how-hong-kong-tech-firm-boss-aims-put-doctors-picture-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3191517/how-hong-kong-tech-firm-boss-aims-put-doctors-picture-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Sep 2022 07:29:17 +0000 From toilets to sewage ways and pig farms, Cathy Jim Ka-wai is used to places that smell bad, because it is all part of work. The research chemist, who specialises in air purification and disinfection, provides professional advice to clients in the public and private sectors in many cities, including Hong Kong, on improving indoor air quality. Her work involves the use of technology to remove volatile organic compounds, bacteria, viruses, particulates, allergens and odours. “I have been to so... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3191315/smell-success-hong-kong-researcher-aims-improve-environment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3191315/smell-success-hong-kong-researcher-aims-improve-environment?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Sep 2022 02:00:20 +0000 Professor Samuel Au Kwok-wai envisions a future powered by medical robots which can tackle the shortfall of surgeons in Hong Kong. And he intends to build them himself. The researcher from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) said he was concerned that the demand for surgeons’ services kept outstripping supply, not only locally but also in mainland China, with an ageing population and more elderly people needing surgery, while training in the field remained inadequate. “It’s a nationwide... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3190804/robot-every-hong-kong-hospital-one-mans-vision-tackle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3190804/robot-every-hong-kong-hospital-one-mans-vision-tackle?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Sep 2022 02:00:19 +0000 William Wu Man-chun wants to spread hope in Hong Kong and help those in need through volunteer services. The 20-year-old has been a volunteer since secondary school. While his first experiences focused on providing free tutoring for primary school students, Wu also eagerly joined other projects to give back when he worked with various community centres and organisations. Philanthropic work has remained high on his agenda since he entered university. Wu and his team at the Rotaract Club, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3190671/spirit-hong-kong-awards-student-hopes-share-joy-volunteering?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3190671/spirit-hong-kong-awards-student-hopes-share-joy-volunteering?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Aug 2022 02:00:29 +0000 For someone whose passion is music, Jesse So Ka-po, 16, could have been bitter with the card life has dealt her – she was diagnosed with hearing loss at the age of three. But instead, the steely teen decided not to be shackled by her physical hurdles, receiving a cochlear implant at five and launching her quest for music at six. She now studies classical music and rock drumming. So said she used to be stuck in an almost silent world before having her implant. “I was unable to hear the sounds of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3190507/hearing-loss-not-obstacle-hong-kong-teen-who-plays-classical?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3190507/hearing-loss-not-obstacle-hong-kong-teen-who-plays-classical?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Aug 2022 02:00:23 +0000 Hannah Bailey Cherry wants to help ensure equality and inclusion in Hong Kong by giving young people lacking resources a leg-up. The 17-year-old said she believed it was important to provide career exploration opportunities for the city’s youth, including those who might not have access to relevant resources at their own schools or were too busy with their studies to collect the information themselves. As a member of NGO Kids4kids, the teenager has helped organise and execute events connecting... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3190464/spirit-hong-kong-awards-teen-connects-underprivileged-youth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3190464/spirit-hong-kong-awards-teen-connects-underprivileged-youth?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Aug 2022 02:00:17 +0000 Luke Tam Kin-lok provides a platform for Hong Kong residents who want to rediscover their own communities and reflect on different districts’ cultural riches. A ‘kaifong’, literally meaning an individual living in the neighbourhood, of Cheung Sha Wan, the 29-year-old is keen to show visitors every hidden gem in the vicinity. The co-founder of social enterprise Kaifong Tour will explain how Chan Man Sculpture, a decades-old print shop that still keeps an antiquated movable type printing facility,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3190032/spirit-hong-kong-awards-kaifong-shares-citys-stories-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3190032/spirit-hong-kong-awards-kaifong-shares-citys-stories-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Aug 2022 02:00:10 +0000 Father of two Lam Pak-keong has a passion for music and hopes to use it to spread positivity in Hong Kong. The self-taught multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, who is a teacher by profession, said he had a diverse taste in music. “I want to blend Chinese and Western music together,” the 44-year-old Hongkonger said. “That resonates with Hong Kong’s East-meets-West character.” In 2020, he wrote a song to encourage Hong Kong residents to fight the coronavirus pandemic. His work includes a song... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3189893/spirit-hong-kong-awards-teaching-science-using-rewritten-canto-pop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3189893/spirit-hong-kong-awards-teaching-science-using-rewritten-canto-pop?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Aug 2022 02:00:13 +0000 Feelings such as joy and anger can be expressed in words. Thoughts running through one’s mind may also be depicted in colourful sketches and communicated in other creative ways. Hong Kong charity JUST FEEL has devised a range of games and communication tools, such as flash cards centred on feelings and needs, to help schoolchildren discover their emotions and connect with others. The team, founded by Matthew Kwok Tsz-lok, Raymond Yang Sze-ngai and Anthony Ngai King-kwok in 2018, aims to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3189777/spirit-hong-kong-awards-local-charity-just-feel-uses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3189777/spirit-hong-kong-awards-local-charity-just-feel-uses?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Aug 2022 02:00:14 +0000 Ajmal Samuel is a firm believer in hard work. The 56-year-old entrepreneur, endurance athlete and disability rights activist said he considered a positive attitude at work just as important as a level playing field for ensuring anyone living with a disability could earn their keep. An erstwhile jobseeker who had the door slammed in his face repeatedly in Hong Kong decades ago because of his nationality and disability, Samuel advised his peers to make sure they were employable, rather than... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3189660/spirit-hong-kong-awards-how-para-athlete-fought-disability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3189660/spirit-hong-kong-awards-how-para-athlete-fought-disability?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Aug 2022 02:00:33 +0000 Narelle Pamuk is tireless when it comes to helping dogs in Hong Kong to have a better life. Since 2007, the chairwoman and operator of the Sai Kung Stray Friends Foundation has been rescuing and rehoming abandoned, sick and injured dogs in the city. The organisation provides medical care, desexing, vaccination and rehabilitation. The home for dogs she created in eastern New Territories is a safe haven for about 200 canines. “Every single dog that comes through my gate here is a lucky dog,” Pamuk... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3189336/spirit-hong-kong-awards-tireless-chairwoman-nominated?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3189336/spirit-hong-kong-awards-tireless-chairwoman-nominated?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Aug 2022 02:00:19 +0000 Jen Flowers wants to empower Hong Kong women and create a safe place for them to tell their stories. She said women were not given a platform to voice their concerns, accomplishments or triumphs. “Culturally, women are less likely to talk about troubles, mental health, sexuality or disabilities to large groups,” she said. “Yet they have very inspiring stories.” Flowers said she hoped to provide women with the platform, audience and courage to have a voice. She is on the HSBC Balance Steering... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3189219/spirit-hong-kong-awards-mother-fights-gender-equality-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3189219/spirit-hong-kong-awards-mother-fights-gender-equality-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Aug 2022 02:00:25 +0000 It is 9am on Saturday, and inside an industrial building in Kwai Chung, a group of student volunteers have formed an ad hoc production line to pack food bags. Without anyone giving them on-site guidance, each of the 19 volunteers methodically places staples such as rice and oatmeal into “Fortune Bags”, preparing them to be loaded onto a truck and delivered to care homes for elderly residents and community development centres across Hong Kong. The teenagers come from different schools and are... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3188970/spirit-hong-kong-awards-students-make-time-after-school-help?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3188970/spirit-hong-kong-awards-students-make-time-after-school-help?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Aug 2022 02:00:15 +0000 Inti Fu Tai-fan is grateful that running has lighted up her darkest moments. The Hong Kong resident, who was diagnosed with chronic glaucoma and later lost her sight at the age of 26, recalled that she once sank into deep depression because of her vision loss. “I was very sad,” she said. “I felt like my life was already over before it had really begun.” The mood of melancholy persisted until Fu got her first taste of running in 2008. “The sport turned my life around,” she said. “Running is such... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3188870/spirit-hong-kong-awards-how-loss-vision-gave-blind-marathon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3188870/spirit-hong-kong-awards-how-loss-vision-gave-blind-marathon?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Aug 2022 01:00:17 +0000 Kenneth Ng Yiu-Fai may not walk fast, but the Hong Kong resident does not let that slow him down when pursuing his philanthropic and career goals. The 41-year-old business consultant, who has problems controlling the movement of his legs and right hand because of cerebral palsy, uses a pair of forearm crutches to help him walk. “I studied at special needs schools from the primary levels through to fifth form,” he said. Ng refused to let study opportunities pass him by, even though his dream of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3188591/spirit-hong-kong-awards-business-consultant-nominated-not?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3188591/spirit-hong-kong-awards-business-consultant-nominated-not?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Aug 2022 02:00:15 +0000 When Winnie Chan Yin was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1995, she was only 33. “My feet shuffled whenever I became nervous,” the Hong Kong resident said, recounting some of her worst experiences. “I had to lean on something or I would walk backwards [uncontrollably].” In addition to gait and mobility problems, she was emotional. “I cried easily,” Chan said. Yet the mother of one, with support from her family, decided not to let the disease hold her back. While medications can help... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3188420/spirit-hong-kong-awards-mother-parkinsons-disease-gives-hope-other?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3188420/spirit-hong-kong-awards-mother-parkinsons-disease-gives-hope-other?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Aug 2022 03:00:27 +0000 Kwan Sek-yiu takes pride in his impressive blood donation record, but the 70-year-old says he hopes to meet some equally dedicated Hong Kong good Samaritans who can beat his achievement. “As in the Yangtze River, the waves behind outpace those ahead,” he said, quoting a Chinese proverb that means the next generation will always surpass the previous one. “Progress is good.” The grandfather has been giving blood for 50 consecutive years since 1972 and in June hit a record 191 whole blood... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3188307/spirit-hong-kong-awards-2-record-breaking-blood-donors-aim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3188307/spirit-hong-kong-awards-2-record-breaking-blood-donors-aim?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Aug 2022 02:00:33 +0000 Mazy Lam Mei-see is happy to do her bit to help those in need. A member of Gingko House’s Love Project Rice Box team who has put a lot of work into feeding the poor and hungry in Hong Kong, the former civil servant said the time and strength she had devoted to the charity drive was well-spent. “They are systematic,” she said, referring to how freshly cooked meals and everyday items are distributed to users of the hot meal service. “I find my volunteer work meaningful,” said Lam, who joined the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3188142/spirit-hong-kong-awards-social-enterprise-gingko-house?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3188142/spirit-hong-kong-awards-social-enterprise-gingko-house?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Aug 2022 03:00:17 +0000 A Parkinson’s patient helping fellow Hongkongers with the disease get back on their feet and a group aiming to enhance students’ emotional well-being are among the 18 finalists nominated for this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards. The annual event, which enters its 10th year, is organised by the South China Morning Post and property developer Sino Group to shine a light on the city’s unsung heroes. Over the next few weeks, the Post will feature stories about these community achievers, including... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3188139/parkinsons-patient-mental-health-advocacy-group-among?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3188139/parkinsons-patient-mental-health-advocacy-group-among?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Aug 2022 02:00:16 +0000 From a writer aspiring to ignite youth interest in Chinese classical literature to a group providing a safe haven for sex workers, unsung heroes across Hong Kong are making positive differences every day to people’s lives. Now, these community champions are set for the recognition they deserve, as polls open for the Spirit of Hong Kong Lion Rock People’s Choice Award. The annual campaign, in its ninth year, is co-organised by the South China Morning Post and property developer Sino Group to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3142459/you-decide-online-voting-opens-spirit-hong-kong-lion-rock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3142459/you-decide-online-voting-opens-spirit-hong-kong-lion-rock?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jul 2021 02:00:16 +0000 Stanley Sy Ming-yiu fears not treading his own path. Just when many scientists remained wary of a new technique for testing blood samples to detect cancer at an early stage, he decided to take the plunge. Under his leadership, a team at Sanomics has invested their time heavily in developing the application of liquid biopsy, a relatively novel alternative to the more complicated process of surgically removing tissue from the body for analysis. According to Sy, the new genetic-testing method is... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3141568/trailblazer-hong-kong-bioscience-who-embraced-new-technology?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3141568/trailblazer-hong-kong-bioscience-who-embraced-new-technology?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jul 2021 02:00:26 +0000 Pasu Ng Kwai-lun is not afraid of breaking taboos. “I encourage people to talk about death openly,” said the 40-year-old, who runs a social enterprise providing after-death care and funeral planning services. In a recent talk given at his Sham Shui Po office, Ng discussed with attendees what should be said to someone who had lost a loved one. Platitudes should be avoided, he said, citing the expression “I know how you feel” as an example. During the session, he also shared with his audience an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3141140/lets-talk-about-death-hong-kong-funeral-planner-wants-people?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3141140/lets-talk-about-death-hong-kong-funeral-planner-wants-people?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jul 2021 02:30:14 +0000 Hong Kong Professor Paul Yip Siu-fai, a population health expert, does not take any message from someone seeking help lightly. Now, with a technological assist from an online platform called Open Up, the academic and his team can more quickly determine whether an individual using the text-based support service is at risk, and whether timely intervention is required to save a life. The system, which has natural language-processing capabilities and launched in October 2018, aims specifically to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3140784/university-hong-kong-expert-using-ai-help-young-people?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3140784/university-hong-kong-expert-using-ai-help-young-people?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jul 2021 02:30:04 +0000 Anthony Wong Jon is keen to promote reading and writing among young people, and to ensure future generations have some real fun in the process. “The younger generation today do read. It’s just that they prefer something trendy and that they prefer to read on screen,” the 57-year-old writer said. “It’s a bit difficult to tell them to read Chinese classic tomes, such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms.” Noting the declining interest in Chinese classics and history in Hong Kong, Wong decided to take... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3140656/amusing-history-hong-kong-mans-quest-make-past-trendy-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3140656/amusing-history-hong-kong-mans-quest-make-past-trendy-again?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jul 2021 02:00:20 +0000 The Tin Hau Temple in Yau Ma Tei used to fulfil multiple functions, apart from being a place of worship. Built in the 1860s to honour the eponymous Chinese sea goddess, the complex was a community hub that served as a venue for local council meetings, according to George Wan, who organises guided tours in Hong Kong. “It also ran traditional Chinese private schools,” he said. The history buff said the Tin Hau Temple structure and its surroundings could be studied from various perspectives, such... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3140363/storyteller-hopes-yarns-old-hong-kong-can-inspire-discovery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3140363/storyteller-hopes-yarns-old-hong-kong-can-inspire-discovery?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jul 2021 02:00:18 +0000 Teresa Lam Wan-ki, who has learned to live with her mental health condition, is eager to lend a helping hand to young people struggling along like she did, and stay by their side. “Situations may vary, but love and company always matters,” the 22-year-old said. She understands too well how important such timely and selfless support is to youngsters who need help. Diagnosed with depression six years ago, and bipolar disorder a year later, Lam now receives treatment for schizophrenia. “In the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3139856/spirit-hong-kong-awards-music-helps-student-build-better-me?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3139856/spirit-hong-kong-awards-music-helps-student-build-better-me?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jul 2021 02:00:28 +0000 As people grow frail with age, chewing and swallowing food can be difficult. Now a team of researchers and specialists in Hong Kong is looking to address the problem. Abellona U Mei-ran and her team at Senior Deli are developing a variety of products that aim to cater for people living with dysphagia, or difficulty in swallowing, who need to follow a puréed or soft food diet, often leaving them with limited and unappetising options. “Purées are unappetising and tasteless,” she said, adding... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3139755/spirit-hong-kong-awards-food-innovation-frail-residents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3139755/spirit-hong-kong-awards-food-innovation-frail-residents?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jul 2021 02:00:18 +0000 Kristen Lei Tsz-wing wants to help Hongkongers improve their emotional well-being. The 16-year-old, who aspires to contribute to society and fight mental health stigma in the community as a clinical psychologist, has put a lot of work into promoting psychological literacy among members of the public, in a bid to provide them with an effective tool for dealing with stress. She founded the Hong Kong Joint School Society of Psychology in 2020 at the age of 15, putting together a group of young... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3139476/spirit-hong-kong-awards-teens-community-spirit-and-mental?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3139476/spirit-hong-kong-awards-teens-community-spirit-and-mental?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jul 2021 02:00:14 +0000 Sam Ngan Shu-sum decided to quit smoking the moment he stood on a rostrum to receive a prize at a sports event. After taking the bronze at the Duathlon Series in Hong Kong in September 2017, the then 15-year-old – who had already been a smoker for two years at that point – was eager to boost his stamina to improve in sport. “I believed I could do better,” Ngan, now 19, recalled, adding that he had struggled while training for the event, which combines running and cycling, and requires a high... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3139173/former-wayward-hong-kong-youth-has-kicked-bad-habits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3139173/former-wayward-hong-kong-youth-has-kicked-bad-habits?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jun 2021 02:00:24 +0000 Noting how difficult it could be for some peers to hold a bag while using walking aids, three Hong Kong teenagers decided to do something about it – designing a pouch that can be attached to a walking frame, and winning a local award in the process. The storage case, which can carry objects as large as books and bottled water in its biggest compartment, was the creation of students at Hong Kong Red Cross Princess Alexandra School in Kwun Tong, which cares for students dealing with physical... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3139044/spirit-hong-kong-awards-talented-trios-design-makes-carrying?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3139044/spirit-hong-kong-awards-talented-trios-design-makes-carrying?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jun 2021 02:10:07 +0000 Debbie Kwan Ho-kwan is determined to move forward in life and not let chronic health conditions hold her back. The 27-year-old was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus in 2012 and stiff person syndrome in 2019. According to the website of the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Centre, systemic lupus erythematosus, which is more common in young women, is an autoimmune disease that can affect almost every organ in the body, while stiff person syndrome is a rare, progressive syndrome that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3138920/spirit-hong-kong-awards-persevering-face-health-setbacks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3138920/spirit-hong-kong-awards-persevering-face-health-setbacks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jun 2021 02:00:27 +0000 Victims of child abuse are among the most vulnerable people in society, their harrowing experiences requiring Hong Kong police investigators to draw on a range of soft skills extending far beyond detective expertise. “While other crime units aim to make arrests, our starting point here is to protect children’s welfare,” said Detective Sergeant Wong Ka-lun, of the regional child abuse investigation unit in New Territories North. Formed in 1995, the division is tasked with investigating offences... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3138604/hong-kong-police-officers-going-extra-mile-support-child?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3138604/hong-kong-police-officers-going-extra-mile-support-child?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jun 2021 02:00:19 +0000 In a little over three years, Kellie Yuen Ka-lam has transformed from a plucky university student eager to help her community into a seasoned organiser and advocate for people with disabilities and mental health conditions. Now a 21-year-old social work graduate, Yuen started volunteering at the age of 18, and aspires to help build a society that no longer feels the need to draw distinctions between the able-bodied and the people she advocates for. “We are ‘us’,” she said. Yuen has been... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3138346/dedicated-hong-kong-volunteer-wants-build-better-society?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3138346/dedicated-hong-kong-volunteer-wants-build-better-society?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Jun 2021 02:00:00 +0000 Celeste Tang Chui-ying has held the hands of people going through one of life’s darkest moments – losing their loved ones. The volunteer and her colleagues at Hong Kong Red Cross’s Psychological Support Service have counselled distraught family members and friends of victims in fatal tragedies. She recalled one such emergency effort when 19 people were killed and more than 60 were injured in a horrific bus crash in Tai Po on February 10, 2018. Founder of education charity nominated for Spirit of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3138228/helping-hand-front-lines-grief-hong-kong-red-cross?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3138228/helping-hand-front-lines-grief-hong-kong-red-cross?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jun 2021 02:00:00 +0000 Wong Yiu-kwan believes ideas for great inventions often come from everyday life. The veteran educator, who teaches STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – always encourages his students to pay attention to their surroundings. “I ask them to pick up used electrical appliances [discarded on the street], disassemble them and study how they work,” he said. “That’s the cheapest but most practical way to learn.” He also motivates his charges to try making the items themselves. “Once... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3138042/building-dreams-one-gadget-time-retired-hong-kong-teacher?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3138042/building-dreams-one-gadget-time-retired-hong-kong-teacher?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Jun 2021 02:00:00 +0000 Lai Chi-wai hopes everyone can scale new heights like he does, even though that could mean surmounting countless walls or odds emerging ahead of them. In a wheelchair, the avid climber urged his fellow Hongkongers to follow their dreams, noting that all they needed to do was to unleash the can-do spirit rooted in themselves all along. “Fear not the wall,” the 38-year-old said, comparing challenges in life to “walls”. “Be honest with yourself, [identify] and get over the wall in your mind.” For... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3137732/fear-not-wall-wheelchair-climber-motivates-hongkongers-ride?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3137732/fear-not-wall-wheelchair-climber-motivates-hongkongers-ride?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Jun 2021 02:00:00 +0000 At 2pm, groups of primary students begin trickling into study rooms at an education centre in Cheung Sha Wan. The youngsters – who belong to ethnic minority groups – come to the centre to receive after-school tutoring and attend Chinese language classes, and are among a growing number of pupils who have benefited from the tailored educational support provided by Integrated Brilliant Education Limited. Manoj Dhar, who co-founded the charity in 2015, said he wanted to educate and empower local... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3137515/spirit-hong-kong-awards-founder-charity-offering-tutoring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3137515/spirit-hong-kong-awards-founder-charity-offering-tutoring?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Jun 2021 02:00:00 +0000 The harsh reality facing female sex workers in Hong Kong, and the world over, is they are often marginalised by society even though most have been forced into their profession by economic circumstances beyond their control. For women and young girls needing help, support can be hard to come by, but Teen’s Key – Young Women Development Network, is one group providing a safe, supportive and non-judgmental environment for those who need it. Bowie Lam Po-yee, founder and executive director of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3137234/spirit-hong-kong-awards-citys-sex-workers-one-group-aiming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3137234/spirit-hong-kong-awards-citys-sex-workers-one-group-aiming?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Jun 2021 03:00:00 +0000 A wheelchair climber who fears no walls or odds stacked against him and a volunteer team that provides psychological support for people affected by disasters are among 18 finalists nominated for this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards.  Over the next few weeks, the South China Morning Post will feature stories about these community achievers, including an academic who has developed innovative interventions to prevent suicide, a volunteer who aspires to build an inclusive society, and a systemic... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3137244/spirit-hong-kong-awards-honour-city-residents-who-have?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3137244/spirit-hong-kong-awards-honour-city-residents-who-have?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Jun 2021 02:00:00 +0000 In times of constant change, not only tech start-ups but also NGOs would find it important to innovate. Wofoo Group executive chairman Joseph Lee Chung-tak said he believed charities needed new ideas as much as the corporate sector did. “If we don’t keep on having new ideas, we will be replaced,” he said. “This is what I have learnt as a businessman.” The entrepreneur, who founded his first company in 1980 at the age of 29, said he was keen to share his experience of running a business and help... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3125393/hong-kong-entrepreneur-provide-leadership-training-citys?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3125393/hong-kong-entrepreneur-provide-leadership-training-citys?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Mar 2021 02:00:28 +0000 A domestic helper who set up a group for colleagues in need, and a playwright who casts people with intellectual disabilities in theatre performances are among inspiring individuals who have won this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards. Organised by the South China Morning Post and property developer Sino Group, the awards honour community achievers whose remarkable accomplishments may otherwise go unnoticed. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said she had seen benevolence and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3111504/spirit-hong-kong-awards-honouring-selfless-individuals-who?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3111504/spirit-hong-kong-awards-honouring-selfless-individuals-who?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Nov 2020 11:30:14 +0000 Decades from now, when researchers and enthusiasts study the pop music of the 2020s, they are likely to take note of the sense of anxiety and helplessness running through many of the tracks created in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Professor Stephen Chu Yiu-wai, director of the Hong Kong studies programme at the University of Hong Kong, said the pandemic, while throttling cultural and economic activity and leaving many industries reeling, had indeed provided some grim inspiration for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3103352/spirit-hong-kong-award-winner-examines-impact-covid-19-local?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3103352/spirit-hong-kong-award-winner-examines-impact-covid-19-local?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2020 02:00:17 +0000 Douglas Shum Hong-yuen wants to do more to help vulnerable people in Hong Kong, especially now during the coronavirus public health crisis. Apart from providing traditional Chinese medicine services for low-income patients at Light of Raphael, a social enterprise he founded with friends in 2009, Shum has helped collect and distribute masks for cleaners since the Covid-19 outbreak began in January. “They don’t have enough personal protective gear, while working hard to clean our city,” he... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3102386/two-past-spirit-hong-kong-winners-show-need-extend-helping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3102386/two-past-spirit-hong-kong-winners-show-need-extend-helping?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2020 02:00:16 +0000 No one is certain when the Covid-19 storm will fully subside, but many sleeping rough on Hong Kong’s streets know there is one group of people they can always turn to when seeking shelter. With the help of ImpactHK, a charity set up in 2017, homeless individuals can find a place to stay, and also receive opportunities to build friendships and transform their lives. Jeff Rotmeyer, who founded the organisation, said he believed job losses caused by the coronavirus crisis had driven an increasing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3101490/hong-kongs-homeless-hard-hit-covid-19-have-friend-spirit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3101490/hong-kongs-homeless-hard-hit-covid-19-have-friend-spirit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Sep 2020 02:00:05 +0000 Just when many publicly or privately run service outlets have temporarily closed or scaled back their operations because of the coronavirus pandemic, one team at a charitable organisation in Hong Kong is bending over backwards to make sure people with rehabilitation needs can receive uninterrupted care services. Dr Cecilia Lam Shiu-ling, the Rehabaid Society CEO, said her team had provided service and support for more clients since the Covid-19 outbreak started than before. The organisation,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3100524/coronavirus-has-meant-more-work-past-spirit-hong-kong-awards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3100524/coronavirus-has-meant-more-work-past-spirit-hong-kong-awards?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2020 02:00:06 +0000 From a teenager who never forgot her commitment to special needs students, to a cycling group that helps former drug addicts integrate with the community, unsung heroes across Hong Kong are making a positive difference in countless lives every day. Now, these community achievers can get the recognition they deserve, as polls open for the Spirit of Hong Kong Lion Rock People’s Choice Award. The annual campaign, now in its 8th year, is co-organised by the South China Morning Post and property... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3099620/online-voting-opens-spirit-hong-kong-lion-rock-peoples?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3099620/online-voting-opens-spirit-hong-kong-lion-rock-peoples?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Sep 2020 02:15:06 +0000 For Chan Suet-ying, where there’s a wheel, there’s a way to make a fresh start. As a member of the WeCycle team, which regularly conducts free docent-led tours and pedals through some remote parts of the city to serve the needy, the former drug addict has biked away from her past struggles and found new meaning in life. Chan, who had used drugs such as midazolam for about 10 years before joining WeCycle in 2016, noted the transformative power of sport she had felt while attending the docent... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3096649/group-recovered-drug-addicts-turned-life-mentors-nominated?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3096649/group-recovered-drug-addicts-turned-life-mentors-nominated?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Aug 2020 02:00:12 +0000 They may not have a regular workplace, but, armed with laptops, talented young participants in a social enterprise in Hong Kong are able to work from anywhere, creating animations and developing edutainment tools for users worldwide. These tech-savvy youths, aged between 15 and 25, are groomed in accordance with their aptitude by the FamilyOnline.TV team, who want to help them unleash their creative streak and transcend their own limits. Tiffany Chan Wai-fun, who founded the social enterprise... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3096302/hong-kong-social-enterprise-empowering-overlooked-one-app?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3096302/hong-kong-social-enterprise-empowering-overlooked-one-app?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Aug 2020 02:00:15 +0000