In the last issue of the newsletter, we gathered the votes for the interested SDGs. The results show that most of the participants were interested in Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-Being, Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities, and Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities. This aligns perfectly with the four main themes of the S+ Summit and Expo.

The S+ Summit and Expo was successfully held from 2 May to 3 May. The event was framed by the SDGs and provided a cross-sectoral and cross-professional platform for different stakeholders to discuss and co-create together. By integrating diverse perspectives, the collective strength and wisdom can be consolidated, inspiring innovative thinking and helping to create solutions with social impact in response to different agendas and to build a sustainable and livable Hong Kong together. If you participated in S+, have you already met like-minded partners?

Supported by Swire Trust and coordinated by HKCSS, “Building Community, Building Tung Chung” Programme was initiated in October 2020, and has entered its third phase in April 2024. In the upcoming two years, HKCSS will be partnering with five local NGO partners, including H.K.S.K.H. Tung Chung Integrated Services, InspiringHK Sports Foundation, Playright Children’s Play Association, The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council Tung Chung Integrated Services Centre and The Zubin Foundation, to launch the new phase of the Programme, co-creating more collaboration opportunities.

Through a series of activities focused on family, sports, play, youth career development and social inclusion, the Programme aims to engage a wider range of community stakeholders, strengthen community capital and community connections to encourage mutual help, strive to create a more inclusive and cohesive Tung Chung community. Stay tuned and get ready to experience the exciting initiatives ahead!

When it comes to the need for support and care, which groups come to mind? The elderly? People with disabilities? Children? Have you ever thought of carers? Carers take care of their family members for a long period of time. They always put all their energy and attention on the person being cared for. It is difficult for them to balance the daily life, and the caring work. As there is no breathing space, it is easy for the carers to neglect themselves, causing a lot of pressure.

HKCSS, Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service and Mental Health Association of Hong Kong have jointly launched the “Mental Health Support Programme – Care You Fund” to provide mental support services and case follow-up to carers with a view to improving their mental health. The programme provides different interventions to relieve the stress of caring and walks alongside the carers on their caring journey.

Remember the feelings when first entering the workforce? Youths transitioning from school to work naturally feel uncertain about their unknown future prospects. This is especially the case for sub-degree youths, they may feel that their competitiveness is relatively weaker compared to their peers due to their educational background and relatively insufficient work experience.

With the support of J.P. Morgan, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) launched the PathBuilders Program by inviting local NGOs engaged in youth work to provide innovative training solutions for sub-degree youths, helping them to enhance their personal capabilities and self-confidence to prepare well for the future and embrace a more expansive path ahead.

The program is co-created by Impact Giving (IG) and Solutions Hub (SOL). IG handles NGO proposal application and reporting, while SOL organizes activities and gathers stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to enhance the overall effectiveness of this co-creation process.

Activities include a briefing session and a sharing session. SOL invited professionals from different fields, such as professors, HR representatives, and business experts to share research findings on sub-degrees, insights on the development of emerging industries in Hong Kong, and experiences in designing and organizing talent training programs. Moreover, the NGOs were introduced to cognitive and experience design tools, which allow different organizations to exchange ideas and engage in dialogue with sub-degree youths, stimulating multi-faceted thinking to enhance the influence of the program.

The Caring Company Scheme (the Scheme) has been organised for 22 years. The number of companies and organisations awarded the “Caring Company” or “Caring Organisation” logos has significantly increased from 259 in 2002 to 4,210 for the 2023/24 cycle.

As society develops, there is a growing public demand for companies to fulfill their social responsibilities and foster a culture of care within their organisations. So, what essential attributes are required to become a caring company or organisation in today’s society?

To gain insights into stakeholders’ perspectives on corporate social responsibility and caring companies, the Scheme conducted a large-scale survey last November, gathering valuable input from nearly 2,000 respondents. We will take the research result into consideration to evaluate, optimise, and shape the future direction of the Scheme.

Please click here to view the survey results and learn more about the Scheme’s future outlook.

Thank you for supporting the Caring Company Scheme. For 2023/24 cycle, a total of 4,210 companies and organisation were awarded the Caring Company / Caring Organisation logo, working together to promote social sustainability and a culture of care. The annual nomination statistics have also been released. Please click here to view.

Entering 2024, the “Caring Company Scheme” has already been organised for 22 years. We will review the content of the Scheme by referencing the research findings, optimising it, and formulating its future development direction. Consequently, the application/nomination period for the Caring Company in 2024/25 is tentatively extended to the first quarter of 2025. Further details will be announced by the fourth quarter of 2024. If you wish to learn more about the application arrangement, please click here to visit our website.

As a city with a diverse population, we believe that ethnic inclusion is not just an idea but a practice, a collective effort, and a co-creation. The “A Practical Guide for Cultivating Ethnic Inclusion in Talent Development” will provide a practical reference resource, supporting employers in establishing a culturally diverse and inclusive workplace environment. At the same time, it also helps multicultural job seekers actively integrate into the Hong Kong job market, to develop their professional skills and career paths.

Download now:

A Practical Guide for Cultivating Ethnic Inclusion in Talent Development (English version)

建構種族共融的人才培訓實用手冊 (中文版)

Factsheet for Multicultural Employees (Bilingual)

Factsheet for Ethnically Inclusive Employers

(Bilingual)

We have a saying that we need to rely on friend when we are abroad. To carry out the co-creation work in the community, the co-operation of various partners is indispensable. And now the question is: where do they come from?

Membership Liaison and Service Department of HKCSS has recently revamped The Directory of Agency Members of HKCSS and upgraded it as the “Smart NGO”. You can make use of the search function to find the social service organisations or service units that you need. You will never walk alone in the process of co-creation.

When you search “elderly” in the “Search for Service” column, you will see all kinds of day care centers or neighborhood elderly centers; whereas if you are interested in the topic of Carers, you can simply search “Carers” in the “Activity” column. All the related programs and activities will be shown.

Another highlight is the “HKCSS” section at the bottom, which uses videos to depict how different social services respond to various social agendas. You are not going to miss it.

Click the following URL, we are definitely “helping you”…

Smart NGO

What’s Really Eco-Friendly? Quantifying Environmental Impact with Life Cycle Assessment

The first phase of the new regulation on disposable plastic tableware is now in effect, prompting some restaurants to switch to wood or paper alternatives. However, some citizens question whether these materials are genuinely more environmentally friendly. While certain organisations advocate for the reuse of tableware, the public remains concerned about the water and energy consumed in cleaning and transporting these items. How should we evaluate this from an environmental perspective?

To address these questions, we need data-driven, science-based methods. Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one such internationally recognised approach. LCA analyses the potential environmental impacts of a product throughout its entire life cycle—from raw material sourcing, production, and transport, to sale, use, and disposal or recycling.

Through LCA, companies can quantify the environmental impacts of their products, develop strategies to improve their environmental performance, and provide evidence of their products’ environmental impact. For example, a company that offers recycled gold jewellery conducted an LCA last year and discovered that the carbon emissions from its recycled gold were over 99% lower than those from mined gold. Greenpeace also published an LCA study last year in East Asia, focusing on reusable tableware. The study found that each reusable cup used in Hong Kong could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 25% and water consumption by 37% compared to disposable cups.

LCA enables companies to systematically manage the environmental impact of their products and provides scientific evidence for their environmental claims, playing an important role in addressing “greenwashing”. Additionally, LCA offers the public a scientific basis for making informed consumer choices.