2020-present 2020-Present Change Making Health & Well Being Other Change Making Other Health Projects

Catalyzing Community Transformation

Caritas Hong Kong & One Bite Social, Hong Kong

In Sheung Wan, Project House @1QRW (“Project House”) is not merely a gathering place but a catalyst for fostering community partnerships, transformation and support network. Co-funded by ZeShan Foundation and Chow Tai Fok Charity Foundation and co-operated by Caritas and One Bite Social, this initiative is aimed at building a vibrant hub of community activities and mutual support to combat loneliness among some residents in the district. Located at 1 Queen’s Road West, as a historical shop formerly reputed for selling Cantonese siumei, Project House leverages the strengths of traditional social work and creative, community-centric approaches to address urban social challenges.

Changemaker from Other Side of Spectrum

One Bite Social is a community-empowering and life-giving arm created by One Bite Design Studio. As a key partner in Project House, One Bite Social brings our unique ethos of creative changemaking to the table. It champions a community-driven and human-centric approach to urban space design and utilization. With a pool of creative talents at One Bite Design, One Bite Social has been gearing social-private collaborations and pioneering urban innovations with social impact. Creating or curating delightful daily surprises for the community is our team’s humble vision. We take on a multifaceted approach, focusing on Experimentation, Creative Partnership, and Co-Learning.

Cross-Sectoral Collaboration

In Project House, our collaboration showcases how aligning different sectors can enhance the effectiveness of social initiatives. One Bite Social and Caritas bring together disparate expertise, blending innovative creative practices with established methods of social work. This partnership not only broadens the scope of what can be achieved but also deepens the impact of each organization’s efforts.

For instance, we co-created many district-based activities, such as Sheung Wan Sewing Squad and White Space, to meet community needs through creative and inclusive approaches. These activities provide skills training, foster community bonds, and enhance local resilience. While the Caritas team is contributing with their expertise in building bonding with kaifong (residents), these activities do not stop at social work level. One Bite Social is trying hard to turn the outcomes of these activities into more self-sustainable models that can export kaifong’s capability to meet other neighbors’ needs. The rich iterative process at Project House is uncommon yet powerful in the local social work scene. And this can only be achieved through the creative partnerships between One Bite Social and Caritas.

Growing Together

This collaboration also represents a mutual learning journey for both organizations involved. It requires aligning languages, adapting working habits, and fine-tuning mindsets. By integrating the best traits from each team, the project not only progresses towards its objectives but also exemplifies effective cross-sectoral collaboration. With a shared vision, the teams are better equipped to carefully address and evolve through the nuances and challenges that arise.

Broader Implications for Social Change

The success of Project House raises important considerations for the broader social service sector. It demonstrates the potential of creative collaborations in generating more nuanced and effective solutions to social problems. More importantly, it highlights the need for flexibility in partnerships and the benefits of integrating diverse perspectives into social service design and delivery.

Every Small Change Counts

In conclusion, the work being done at Project House and the broader initiatives led by One Bite Social represent a forward-thinking approach to social change. By continuing to embrace these creative partnerships and learning from each venture, we not only respond to but also shape the evolving landscape of our communities, making every small change count towards a larger, collective impact.

Sarah Mui
Co-founder
One Bite Social

In Sheung Wan, Project House @1QRW (“Project House”) is not merely a gathering place but a catalyst for fostering community partnerships, transformation and support network. Co-funded by ZeShan Foundation and Chow Tai Fok Charity Foundation and co-operated by Caritas and One Bite Social, this initiative is aimed at building a vibrant hub of community activities and mutual support to combat loneliness among some residents in the district. Located at 1 Queen’s Road West, as a historical shop formerly reputed for selling Cantonese siumei, Project House leverages the strengths of traditional social work and creative, community-centric approaches to address urban social challenges.

Changemaker from Other Side of Spectrum

One Bite Social is a community-empowering and life-giving arm created by One Bite Design Studio. As a key partner in Project House, One Bite Social brings our unique ethos of creative changemaking to the table. It champions a community-driven and human-centric approach to urban space design and utilization. With a pool of creative talents at One Bite Design, One Bite Social has been gearing social-private collaborations and pioneering urban innovations with social impact. Creating or curating delightful daily surprises for the community is our team’s humble vision. We take on a multifaceted approach, focusing on Experimentation, Creative Partnership, and Co-Learning.

Cross-Sectoral Collaboration

In Project House, our collaboration showcases how aligning different sectors can enhance the effectiveness of social initiatives. One Bite Social and Caritas bring together disparate expertise, blending innovative creative practices with established methods of social work. This partnership not only broadens the scope of what can be achieved but also deepens the impact of each organization’s efforts.

For instance, we co-created many district-based activities, such as Sheung Wan Sewing Squad and White Space, to meet community needs through creative and inclusive approaches. These activities provide skills training, foster community bonds, and enhance local resilience. While the Caritas team is contributing with their expertise in building bonding with kaifong (residents), these activities do not stop at social work level. One Bite Social is trying hard to turn the outcomes of these activities into more self-sustainable models that can export kaifong’s capability to meet other neighbors’ needs. The rich iterative process at Project House is uncommon yet powerful in the local social work scene. And this can only be achieved through the creative partnerships between One Bite Social and Caritas.

Growing Together

This collaboration also represents a mutual learning journey for both organizations involved. It requires aligning languages, adapting working habits, and fine-tuning mindsets. By integrating the best traits from each team, the project not only progresses towards its objectives but also exemplifies effective cross-sectoral collaboration. With a shared vision, the teams are better equipped to carefully address and evolve through the nuances and challenges that arise.

Broader Implications for Social Change

The success of Project House raises important considerations for the broader social service sector. It demonstrates the potential of creative collaborations in generating more nuanced and effective solutions to social problems. More importantly, it highlights the need for flexibility in partnerships and the benefits of integrating diverse perspectives into social service design and delivery.

Every Small Change Counts

In conclusion, the work being done at Project House and the broader initiatives led by One Bite Social represent a forward-thinking approach to social change. By continuing to embrace these creative partnerships and learning from each venture, we not only respond to but also shape the evolving landscape of our communities, making every small change count towards a larger, collective impact.

Sarah Mui
Co-founder
One Bite Social

From Kitchen Scraps to Community Good

A Plastic Ocean Foundation, Hong Kong

While pursuing economic development, Hong Kong, like many developed regions, faces severe environmental and social challenges. Among these, the issue of food waste is particularly prominent. All citizens and shops in Hong Kong generate up to 3,190 tons of food waste on average every day (2023 data), an amount equivalent to the weight of 246 double-decker buses. This continuously brings immense pressure to landfills and the local environment. When food waste decomposes in landfills, it releases potent greenhouse gases like methane, severely exacerbating climate change. Additionally, the collection and transportation of food waste also creates a significant carbon footprint. To address the environmental pressure and climate impact brought by this massive amount of food waste, we urgently need innovative and sustainable solutions to effectively utilize food waste and reduce waste at the source. To build Hong Kong into a sustainable and livable city, we require not only long-term and effective policies to address these pressing environmental issues, but also major value and behavioral changes in society.

In order to address these urgent challenges, the Bio-Loop Nature-based Food Waste Recycling Pilot Scheme (“this pilot project”) is set to launch in April 2025. This forward-thinking initiative, led by A Plastic Ocean Foundation with funding from ZeShan Foundation, brings together Gaw Capital People’s Place and Lingnan University’s Science Unit. Through this pilot project, pre-consumer food waste are collected from malls in North and Tuen Mun districts. Black soldier fly (BSF) technology and IoT-optimized aquaponics are used to transform food waste into edible fish and vegetables, the harvests of which will be donated to underprivileged communities through local charities. This sustainable solution reduces landfill pressure and carbon emissions while supporting a circular economy. To engage the public and promote sustainable practices, it offers free guided tours of its waste processing and aquaponics facilities for schools and the food and beverage industry stakeholders.

Bio-Loop Pilot Details

This pilot project was developed and designed by A Plastic Ocean Foundation, integrating nature-based solutions with the principles of sustainability and circular economy. By combining BSF technology and IoT-optimized aquaponics systems, this project transforms pre-consumer food waste from local restaurants into valuable products such as edible fish and vegetables.

In addition to nature-based solutions for food waste recycling, this pilot project incorporates a community-based sustainable waste management approach. Following the principle of “local production and processing,” the pre-consumer food waste from restaurants will be transported to IoT-enabled BSF facilities in each district accordingly. It reduces reliance on centralized waste facilities, thereby lowering the risks of waste leakage, minimizing carbon emissions during transportation, and easing the pressure on landfills.

The 2-year Pilot began in April 2025. During Phase One, pre-consumer food waste will be collected from restaurants located at People’s Place’s Wah Ming, Wah Sum, and Yung Shing Shopping Centres in the North District, and H.A.N.D.S Shopping Centre in Tuen Mun. We will then transport the waste to IoT-enabled BSF facilities in each district. The IoT technology boosts efficiency, monitoring and adjusting conditions like temperature to optimize larvae feeding. The black soldier fly will efficiently convert organic substances from food scraps into larval biomass rich in protein and lipids. The resulting larval biomass can be processed into a protein-rich feed ingredient suitable for aquaponic systems. In aquaponics, these nutrients are subsequently transferred through the food web: from the feed to the fish, and from the fish waste to the plants and facilitating nutrient cycling.

In Phase Two, this pilot project aims to process at least six tons of community pre-consumption food waste and produce at least one ton of aquaponics products, which will be donated to underprivileged communities through local charities. By completing this cycle, the Pilot turns waste into benefiting the community.

Community Engagement and Public Education

To raise awareness, we will hold educational booths and exhibitions at H.A.N.D.S Shopping Centre in Tuen Mun during summer 2025. Local schools, non-profit organizations and food and beverage industry stakeholders are also invited to participate in free guided tours of BSF facilities at Lingnan University and aquaponics systems to learn about sustainable waste management and circular economy practices.

We envision the Bio-Loop system being promoted in the 2 pilot districts, and to be replicated as a demonstration case in other communities and potentially setting a stage for policy discussion. We hope to collaborate with more like-minded partners to explore opportunities and possibilities for project expansion, thereby increasing the impact of Bio-Loop system. We are striving to bring about structural changes and make innovative strides in environmental sustainability and resource management.

Willy Kwong
CEO
A Plastic Ocean Foundation

Regular collection of kitchen scraps from restaurants

Kitchen scraps collected from restaurants

IoT-enabled BSF facilities in operation

A vertical aquaponics system fed with black soldier fly fish feed

An indoor multi-layer aquaponics system fed with black soldier fly fish feed

Regular collection of kitchen scraps from restaurants

Kitchen scraps collected from restaurants

IoT-enabled BSF facilities in operation

A vertical aquaponics system fed with black soldier fly fish feed

An indoor multi-layer aquaponics system fed with black soldier fly fish feed

While pursuing economic development, Hong Kong, like many developed regions, faces severe environmental and social challenges. Among these, the issue of food waste is particularly prominent. All citizens and shops in Hong Kong generate up to 3,190 tons of food waste on average every day (2023 data), an amount equivalent to the weight of 246 double-decker buses. This continuously brings immense pressure to landfills and the local environment. When food waste decomposes in landfills, it releases potent greenhouse gases like methane, severely exacerbating climate change. Additionally, the collection and transportation of food waste also creates a significant carbon footprint. To address the environmental pressure and climate impact brought by this massive amount of food waste, we urgently need innovative and sustainable solutions to effectively utilize food waste and reduce waste at the source. To build Hong Kong into a sustainable and livable city, we require not only long-term and effective policies to address these pressing environmental issues, but also major value and behavioral changes in society.

In order to address these urgent challenges, the Bio-Loop Nature-based Food Waste Recycling Pilot Scheme (“this pilot project”) is set to launch in April 2025. This forward-thinking initiative, led by A Plastic Ocean Foundation with funding from ZeShan Foundation, brings together Gaw Capital People’s Place and Lingnan University’s Science Unit. Through this pilot project, pre-consumer food waste are collected from malls in North and Tuen Mun districts. Black soldier fly (BSF) technology and IoT-optimized aquaponics are used to transform food waste into edible fish and vegetables, the harvests of which will be donated to underprivileged communities through local charities. This sustainable solution reduces landfill pressure and carbon emissions while supporting a circular economy. To engage the public and promote sustainable practices, it offers free guided tours of its waste processing and aquaponics facilities for schools and the food and beverage industry stakeholders.

Bio-Loop Pilot Details

This pilot project was developed and designed by A Plastic Ocean Foundation, integrating nature-based solutions with the principles of sustainability and circular economy. By combining BSF technology and IoT-optimized aquaponics systems, this project transforms pre-consumer food waste from local restaurants into valuable products such as edible fish and vegetables.

In addition to nature-based solutions for food waste recycling, this pilot project incorporates a community-based sustainable waste management approach. Following the principle of “local production and processing,” the pre-consumer food waste from restaurants will be transported to IoT-enabled BSF facilities in each district accordingly. It reduces reliance on centralized waste facilities, thereby lowering the risks of waste leakage, minimizing carbon emissions during transportation, and easing the pressure on landfills.

The 2-year Pilot began in April 2025. During Phase One, pre-consumer food waste will be collected from restaurants located at People’s Place’s Wah Ming, Wah Sum, and Yung Shing Shopping Centres in the North District, and H.A.N.D.S Shopping Centre in Tuen Mun. We will then transport the waste to IoT-enabled BSF facilities in each district. The IoT technology boosts efficiency, monitoring and adjusting conditions like temperature to optimize larvae feeding. The black soldier fly will efficiently convert organic substances from food scraps into larval biomass rich in protein and lipids. The resulting larval biomass can be processed into a protein-rich feed ingredient suitable for aquaponic systems. In aquaponics, these nutrients are subsequently transferred through the food web: from the feed to the fish, and from the fish waste to the plants and facilitating nutrient cycling.

In Phase Two, this pilot project aims to process at least six tons of community pre-consumption food waste and produce at least one ton of aquaponics products, which will be donated to underprivileged communities through local charities. By completing this cycle, the Pilot turns waste into benefiting the community.

Community Engagement and Public Education

To raise awareness, we will hold educational booths and exhibitions at H.A.N.D.S Shopping Centre in Tuen Mun during summer 2025. Local schools, non-profit organizations and food and beverage industry stakeholders are also invited to participate in free guided tours of BSF facilities at Lingnan University and aquaponics systems to learn about sustainable waste management and circular economy practices.

We envision the Bio-Loop system being promoted in the 2 pilot districts, and to be replicated as a demonstration case in other communities and potentially setting a stage for policy discussion. We hope to collaborate with more like-minded partners to explore opportunities and possibilities for project expansion, thereby increasing the impact of Bio-Loop system. We are striving to bring about structural changes and make innovative strides in environmental sustainability and resource management.

Willy Kwong
CEO
A Plastic Ocean Foundation

Smart Ideas to Give Electrical Appliances a Second Life

Community Leap, Hong Kong

Waste of Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE), containing toxic and chemical components, is among the world’s fastest-growing and most complex types of solid waste. Its disposal and improper handling pose significant risks to the environment. The rapid increase of WEEE is, according to the United Nation’s The Global E-waste Monitor 2020 report, fueled by high consumption rates, short product life-cycles, and inadequate repair options.

In Hong Kong, 21.6 kg of WEEE is produced per person per year on average, which is three times that of other Asian cities. Globally, Hong Kong is among the top 15 regions in WEEE generation. Although there are now regulations on recycling certain types of WEEE, many small home appliances, such as fans, hairdryers, induction cookers, and microwaves, are often discarded when old or broken. While the GREEN@COMMUNITY scheme of the Environmental Protection Department does recycle small home appliances, participation is not mandatory. Besides, this scheme only promotes recycling, but not repair.

“The Era of Repair” Seminar and WEEE Survey Results Release

The waste and handling of electrical resources is receiving increasing attention from different sectors, with Repair & Reuse playing a key role among the various waste prevention solutions adopted. In November 2024, a seminar titled “The Era of Repair” was organised by Vessel REPAIR, an initiative under the environmental charity Community Leap, with funding from ZeShan Foundation. Various repair-related stakeholders shared their thoughts on WEEE, repair, and the circular economy. The results and analysis of the “Survey on Public Practices for Buying, Using, and Disposing of Home Appliances” were also released.

The survey found that Hong Kong families threw away some 1.5 million small home appliances on average every year, 790,000 of which were directly discarded; fewer than 30% of respondents said that they would arrange recycling. It revealed that Hong Kong people, when handling small home appliances, faced many pain points and a lack of repair support. Most respondents agreed that local policies and producers did not provide adequate support for recycling small home appliances and reducing WEEE, and that setting up repair stations and organising repair training could cut down WEEE. Vessel REPAIR believes that there is a need to introduce more circular economy practices into Hong Kong, such as Repair, Reuse, and the Right to Repair. It suggests that Repair should be included in the agenda and discussion on reducing WEEE. Education and promotion are also important for raising public awareness and encouraging “Repair instead of Purchase” to cut down WEEE.

In 2018, Community Leap’s Vessel REPAIR introduced the idea of “Repair Café” from Amsterdam, the Dutch capital, into Hong Kong, setting up the city’s first Community Repair Station. With a bottom-up approach, it aims to encourage citizens to take the initiative in tackling WEEE and to promote a culture of “Repair instead of Purchase”. The Community Repair Station brings together Community Repair Volunteers who are older adults passionate about the environment. By offering repair services of small home appliances to local residents, the initiative extends the life-span of resources and alleviate the problem of WEEE. By redistributing refurbished appliances, Community Leap can match the resources to help those in need and helps build a green community of mutual aid as a long-term outcome.

The repair services have been very popular since its launch. In 2024, Vessel REPAIR received funding from ZeShan Foundation to launch the “Electrical Appliances Second Life Workshop” programme, setting up a second repair station in Kowloon. With a pay-as-you-wish model, it aims to help local residents resolve issues with appliances, reduce the waste of electrical resources, and gradually change the consumer culture of discarding the old and buying the new. Besides extending the existing repair services, the programme also includes organizing professional certificate training on repairing small home appliances in order to enable more silver-age community members becoming Community Repair Master to continue putting their talents into contributing to the community and the environment.

‘Big Fai’, who has volunteered at Vessel REPAIR for three years, said that what he enjoyed the most at the repair station was the warm sense of community. He also said that successfully fixing appliances and saving them from the landfill not only gave him enormous satisfaction, but also helped community members keep alive the associated memories and sentiments. These were the reasons that kept him going.

Seen in this light, what is being repaired is not simply resources and the environment, but also, importantly, values and beliefs.

Community Leap
Executive Director
Allen Yuen

Senior Community Repair Volunteer “Big Fai” shares repair techniques in the workshop, explaining key points for daily cleaning and maintenance.

Community Repair Masters are studying repair solutions and exchanging technical knowledge.

Senior Community Repair Master “Cho Gor” is repairing an old fan.

Bringing together environmental groups, recyclers, and business stakeholders to promote Hong Kong’s repair culture and practices.

Senior Community Repair Master “Cho Gor” is repairing an old fan.

Bringing together environmental groups, recyclers, and business stakeholders to promote Hong Kong’s repair culture and practices.

Senior Community Repair Volunteer “Big Fai” shares repair techniques in the workshop, explaining key points for daily cleaning and maintenance.

Community Repair Masters are studying repair solutions and exchanging technical knowledge.

Waste of Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE), containing toxic and chemical components, is among the world’s fastest-growing and most complex types of solid waste. Its disposal and improper handling pose significant risks to the environment. The rapid increase of WEEE is, according to the United Nation’s The Global E-waste Monitor 2020 report, fueled by high consumption rates, short product life-cycles, and inadequate repair options.

In Hong Kong, 21.6 kg of WEEE is produced per person per year on average, which is three times that of other Asian cities. Globally, Hong Kong is among the top 15 regions in WEEE generation. Although there are now regulations on recycling certain types of WEEE, many small home appliances, such as fans, hairdryers, induction cookers, and microwaves, are often discarded when old or broken. While the GREEN@COMMUNITY scheme of the Environmental Protection Department does recycle small home appliances, participation is not mandatory. Besides, this scheme only promotes recycling, but not repair.

“The Era of Repair” Seminar and WEEE Survey Results Release

The waste and handling of electrical resources is receiving increasing attention from different sectors, with Repair & Reuse playing a key role among the various waste prevention solutions adopted. In November 2024, a seminar titled “The Era of Repair” was organised by Vessel REPAIR, an initiative under the environmental charity Community Leap, with funding from ZeShan Foundation. Various repair-related stakeholders shared their thoughts on WEEE, repair, and the circular economy. The results and analysis of the “Survey on Public Practices for Buying, Using, and Disposing of Home Appliances” were also released.

The survey found that Hong Kong families threw away some 1.5 million small home appliances on average every year, 790,000 of which were directly discarded; fewer than 30% of respondents said that they would arrange recycling. It revealed that Hong Kong people, when handling small home appliances, faced many pain points and a lack of repair support. Most respondents agreed that local policies and producers did not provide adequate support for recycling small home appliances and reducing WEEE, and that setting up repair stations and organising repair training could cut down WEEE. Vessel REPAIR believes that there is a need to introduce more circular economy practices into Hong Kong, such as Repair, Reuse, and the Right to Repair. It suggests that Repair should be included in the agenda and discussion on reducing WEEE. Education and promotion are also important for raising public awareness and encouraging “Repair instead of Purchase” to cut down WEEE.

In 2018, Community Leap’s Vessel REPAIR introduced the idea of “Repair Café” from Amsterdam, the Dutch capital, into Hong Kong, setting up the city’s first Community Repair Station. With a bottom-up approach, it aims to encourage citizens to take the initiative in tackling WEEE and to promote a culture of “Repair instead of Purchase”. The Community Repair Station brings together Community Repair Volunteers who are older adults passionate about the environment. By offering repair services of small home appliances to local residents, the initiative extends the life-span of resources and alleviate the problem of WEEE. By redistributing refurbished appliances, Community Leap can match the resources to help those in need and helps build a green community of mutual aid as a long-term outcome.

The repair services have been very popular since its launch. In 2024, Vessel REPAIR received funding from ZeShan Foundation to launch the “Electrical Appliances Second Life Workshop” programme, setting up a second repair station in Kowloon. With a pay-as-you-wish model, it aims to help local residents resolve issues with appliances, reduce the waste of electrical resources, and gradually change the consumer culture of discarding the old and buying the new. Besides extending the existing repair services, the programme also includes organizing professional certificate training on repairing small home appliances in order to enable more silver-age community members becoming Community Repair Master to continue putting their talents into contributing to the community and the environment.

‘Big Fai’, who has volunteered at Vessel REPAIR for three years, said that what he enjoyed the most at the repair station was the warm sense of community. He also said that successfully fixing appliances and saving them from the landfill not only gave him enormous satisfaction, but also helped community members keep alive the associated memories and sentiments. These were the reasons that kept him going.

Seen in this light, what is being repaired is not simply resources and the environment, but also, importantly, values and beliefs.

Community Leap
Executive Director
Allen Yuen

Overcoming Loneliness

Make A Difference Institute, Hong Kong

The World Health Organization has declared loneliness to be a “pressing health threat” worldwide, with health risks comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Many studies have confirmed that loneliness not only increases mortality risks, but also worsens health problems such as hypertension, depression, and anxiety. According to the “Elderly Mental Wellness Telescreening Survey in Hong Kong 2022” conducted by the University of Hong Kong, a third of older adults in Hong Kong suffered from depression, anxiety, or loneliness. Loneliness is clearly spreading in our community and is a cause of mental health issues.

Yet, little is known about the practice of Social Prescribing in Hong Kong. Since early 2024, MaD has been receiving funding from ZeShan Foundation and the Phillip K. H. Wong Foundation to launch the Social Prescribing Lab. This program tests how to alleviate loneliness in older adults through exploring community resources and linking them to individuals, going beyond conventional medically-driven frameworks. The program piloted in Tai Kok Tsui and Sai Ying Pun, where Link Workers of different backgrounds and professions were recruited and trained. They were paired with older adults to establish relationships of trust and to co-create Social Prescribing solutions that were individualized and user-centric. The Link Workers then accompanied the older adults to take part in the prescribed activities.

MaD’s localized model aims to go deep into communities and explore untapped resources for primary healthcare, as well as mobilizing manpower reserves (such as ‘mid-old’ retirees and university students) to relieve pressures on health and social care. Through the process of co-creation and experimentation with older adults, it also aims to build ‘meaningful connections’ that foster social capital, so as to support older adults in overcoming social isolation and improving their quality of life. Ultimately, we hope that this exploration of non-medical community resources could offer alternatives that complement the existing system, thus contributing to the development of community-based primary healthcare for all.

MaD Social Lab team,
Make A Difference Institute

Link Workers and older adults explored Social Prescribing solutions together.

Link Workers learned communication skills and health knowledge to prepare for co-creating Social Prescribing solutions.

Link Workers had in-depth discussions with older adults, using innovative interventions to explore community needs.

Link Workers and older adults explored Social Prescribing solutions together.

Link Workers learned communication skills and health knowledge to prepare for co-creating Social Prescribing solutions.

Link Workers had in-depth discussions with older adults, using innovative interventions to explore community needs.

The World Health Organization has declared loneliness to be a “pressing health threat” worldwide, with health risks comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Many studies have confirmed that loneliness not only increases mortality risks, but also worsens health problems such as hypertension, depression, and anxiety. According to the “Elderly Mental Wellness Telescreening Survey in Hong Kong 2022” conducted by the University of Hong Kong, a third of older adults in Hong Kong suffered from depression, anxiety, or loneliness. Loneliness is clearly spreading in our community and is a cause of mental health issues.

Yet, little is known about the practice of Social Prescribing in Hong Kong. Since early 2024, MaD has been receiving funding from ZeShan Foundation and the Phillip K. H. Wong Foundation to launch the Social Prescribing Lab. This program tests how to alleviate loneliness in older adults through exploring community resources and linking them to individuals, going beyond conventional medically-driven frameworks. The program piloted in Tai Kok Tsui and Sai Ying Pun, where Link Workers of different backgrounds and professions were recruited and trained. They were paired with older adults to establish relationships of trust and to co-create Social Prescribing solutions that were individualized and user-centric. The Link Workers then accompanied the older adults to take part in the prescribed activities.

MaD’s localized model aims to go deep into communities and explore untapped resources for primary healthcare, as well as mobilizing manpower reserves (such as ‘mid-old’ retirees and university students) to relieve pressures on health and social care. Through the process of co-creation and experimentation with older adults, it also aims to build ‘meaningful connections’ that foster social capital, so as to support older adults in overcoming social isolation and improving their quality of life. Ultimately, we hope that this exploration of non-medical community resources could offer alternatives that complement the existing system, thus contributing to the development of community-based primary healthcare for all.

MaD Social Lab team,
Make A Difference Institute

HandsOn YOUTH EMPOWERED

HandsOn, Hong Kong

Volunteer Training during COVID-19 Pandemic.

A yoga session led by those supporting migrant workers helps this vibrant community to increase their confidence and build social connections.

Youth Leaders organised an outreach event to inform and educate Hong Kong's migrant worker community with useful information.

Youth Empowered's environmental team got "hands-on" to organise a coastal clean-up.

Over the years, we have seen a rise of change-makers in different communities of Hong Kong. Yet, it is not easy to find the footsteps of secondary school students. Compared to their elder counterparts, teenagers are often considered lacking passion, awareness and know-hows around social issues. Such perception might also hamper the opportunities for the ones with the right hearts and minds to contribute.

Determined to dispel the myth, ZeShan Foundation is keen to cultivate an enabling environment for young people channeling their passion to positive impact, together with like-minded allies. Since 2021, ZeShan has supported HandsOn Hong Kong’s YOUTH EMPOWERED, a 10-month project focused on empowering Hong Kong youth to be active change-makers in serving the community. About 30 youth volunteering leaders representing a cross-section of Hong Kong secondary schools will be gifted opportunities to explore community needs and develop leadership skills. The volunteer leaders will also be missioned to develop and lead six new community service programmes, under the collaboration with HandsOn team and NGO partners.

By putting youth in the driver’s seat, ZeShan hopes to instil a sense of ownership and agency of young people, while at the same time, to initiate a shift in mindset in embracing youth capability, an indispensable element in building our community.

Alexa Li
Assistant Program Manager
ZeShan Foundation

Heading 02

Heading 02 (H3)

Photos Grid for Heading 02

Tab 1
Tab 2
Tab 3

Inside Tab Heading 01 H4

0123456789001234567890

Counter 01

China Social Work Research Centre

Peking University and Polytechnic University

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Since 2007, Peking University has been rolling out its social work program under its Department of Sociology, in a joint effort and strategic partnership with the Department of Applied Social Sciences (DASS) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). The primary purposes of the joint program are to foster the integration of social work theory and practice as a way to indigenize and professionalize social work in China, as well as provide training to enhance the problem-solving capacity of social workers towards achieving social development.

The two institutes co-founded the PekingU-Hong Kong PolyU China Social Work Research Centre. The Centre is devoted to the development and indigenization of social work theory and practice in China, aiming to develop a pipeline for leading scholars who are committed to the social change of China in the long term. To that end, strengthening the teaching capacity both undergraduate and graduate programs in social work is an integral part of the Center’s mission.

In 2012, ZeShan Foundation and Si Yuan Foundation jointly committed RMB20 million to establish a dedicated development fund. The fund will be critical to supporting the sustained growth of the Centre, so that it may develop into a leading institution for teaching and research in social work development, a think tank for social policy, and an international hub linking with social workers and social policy makers from mainland China, Hong Kong and the international community. The fund provides seed funding for research and program capacity building and enable PKU and the Center to leverage for external funding from the government and private sector.

In 2013, to commemorate the partnership, the compound of the Centre was renamed Si Shan Yuan (思善苑), taken from the names of the two sister foundations. During the unveiling ceremony on July 20, Prof. Zhou Qifeng, President of Peking University, presented Dr. Thomas Chen with the Outstanding Educational Contribution Award in recognition of his unwavering support for education in China.

In January 2014, a 4-day intensive training on social work curriculum development and capacity building was organized for about 100 Master of Social Work (MSW) instructors from various universities across China. Co-organized by Centre, the Social Work Teaching Guidance Committee under the Ministry of Education, and the China Association for Social Work Education, the training program attracted both local and international scholars and senior social work practitioners. Leading pracademics from the University of Chicago and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University participated as trainers in the workshop.

Peking University (PKU) is considered a cradle for higher education in modern China. It has been at the forefront in the teaching and research of humanities, social sciences and liberal arts education. Throughout its history, the university has distinguished itself in terms of intellectual freedom and leadership in social sciences and has produced and hosted man prominent Chinese thought leaders.

https://zeshanfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/DSCF6147-640x853.jpg

https://zeshanfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/IMG_5397-001-640x435.jpg