By pairing individuals who want to give back to the community with meaningful missions, there is plenty that you can participate in, as said by Sassy Mama Hong Kong in their latest round-up of volunteering opportunities naming HandsOn and many of our fantastic partners. Read more here.
Our all-hands-on-deck Community Service Week, Serve-a-thon took place between 13th-21st May 2023. The Now TV camera crew followed a HandsOn program highlighting the issues surrounding people with mobility impairments, and also shone a light on the huge range of front-line organisations that greatly benefit from volunteers.Watch the Now TV coverage here.
We love having the opportunity to showcase our work and the impact we're making. This Cable TV interview follows a HandsOn "Generation Connect" volunteer family and their elderly buddy – who each joined the program to find joy and build meaningful connections. A big thank you to our PR partner Sandpiper for supporting HandsOn to share this story. Watch the Cable TV interview here.
There are so many ways individuals, teams and companies can make a positive impact in the community. In this article with the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management, our Executive Director Catherine Tong Dannaoui and Head of Corporate Programs, Lisa Lam share the many ways to engage employees in meaningful volunteer work that not only benefits those we’re serving, but also enhances our own wellbeing. Read more here.
With perspectives shifting on work-life balance, and individuals seeking greater purpose, we see many of our HandsOn partners and friends working hard to improve — or create from scratch — their social impact strategies. In the latest issue of The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong’s magazine discussing "WAR FOR TALENT & WELLNESS IN THE WORKPLACE" our Executive Director Catherine Tong Dannaoui gives her thoughts on this topic, including the great benefits of volunteering.Read more here.
We're delighted to have been listed as a top organisation for volunteering in the city by the Happy Hong Konger. Organisations were assessed for their quality of programs, breadth of experience, and strong outcomes for people in need. Read more here: https://www.happyhongkonger.com/best-volunteer-opportunities-hong-kong/#HandsOn_Hong_Kong.
In a feature with Telum Media our Communications Director, Fiona gave a piece by piece look into NGO comms and how communicators can more thoughtfully engage with our sector — which includes calling on the media and PR industry to donate their skills to good causes.
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How volunteering benefits your mental health and self-esteem as well as others: Faith and Huseina are just two of the incredible volunteers making a difference in the lives of others - and of their own. During Serve–a–thon they shared their reasons to take action as seen here in the South China Morning Post.
Recently our Executive Director Sue Toomey spoke on a podcast from ECHO ( a student-run organization supporting youth). You can now listen to what she has to say about choosing your right path and finding your passion here: https://bit.ly/3KtfqYt.
HandsOn Hong Kong was featured as one of the local organizations to support on the latest Sassy Hong Kong Lifestyle blog. Check out Sassy Hong Kong's latest lifestyle blog here: https://bit.ly/3rg09Tt.
Our Executive Director Sue recently chatted to the team over at Retykle She gave a glimpse into how she started at HandsOn, the current needs we are seeing in the Hong Kong community and how alongside many non-profits,HandsOn is empowering everyone in the city to volunteer! Grateful to Retykle for their continued support Check out the full story here: https://bit.ly/36mxXqx.
The current crisis in Hong Kong is hitting our most vulnerable the hardest. Thank you Kylie Knott for including #HandsOn’s list of emergency needs in your round-up for the SCMP.
A strong sense of community has always been at the heart of Hong Kong life. Now more than ever we need to rally together as a #community and support each other. #HandsOn's Catherine shares some ideas on how we can be there for one another in these unprecedented times--as seen here in Singtao and in The Standard's print edition.
We are grateful to see corporate teams supporting community needs in so many ways by partnering with #HandsOn! Our Board Member Nancy Hong spoke to CTgoodjobs about benefits of serving together as a team and why having paid volunteer leave is a great idea for business. Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3ihMHKB
Our gratitude goes to HR Magazine and their readers for voting for #HandsOn as a winner in the HR Magazine Awards’ Wellness category! We are humbled and proud to be recognized for the work we do helping companies create meaningful service programs that empower their people to make a difference in the community while connecting to one another. Read our award entry here to learn how we help companies to engage their employees through giving back.
Thank you to SCMP and the Spirit of Hong Kong team for inviting #HandsOnHongKong to celebrate the 19 unsung heroes recognized for making a difference in our city in 2021! ❤️ It was such an honour to be part of the evening and to look back at our Spirit of Teamwork award from last year—an incredibly special recognition for all of us. Watch the 1-minute HandsOn Spirit of Hong Kong clip from last year here.
We couldn’t be prouder of our 26 #YouthEmpowered volunteer leaders and ALL the other Hong Kong teens who’ve stepped forward for the community this past year 💪🏻❤️ So grateful to the SCMP's Laura Westbrook for #ShiningALight on just how inspiring our city’s young #changemakers are! 🙏🏻✨ Read this excellent article here.
Without the support of the #HandsOn community—our charity partners, volunteers and sponsors—Serve-a-thon would not be possible. The participation of our 2 Community Champions Johnson & Johnson and Marriott Bonvoy was vital in bringing these 9 days of service to life, mobilizing thousands of volunteers for the good of the community. HK01 marks Serve-a-thon and celebrates our partners here.
Big thanks to the ever-supportive Noreen Mir on RTHK Radio 3, for championing our mission to empower Hongkongers to volunteer during Serve-a-thon and year-round. You can listen to Catherine's interview on RTHK's podcast of the interview here.
Local DJs Dave Swei and Derek Chung took the season of giving to heart in December, deciding to give back to a community that's given them so much. With everyone at home and most venues closed, they planned a live-stream show as a way to use music to virtually unite people and spread some joy. They also used their "Rock The Bells: The Giveback" as a way to raise funds for HandsOn relief efforts supporting those affected by the pandemic [watch a highlight clip from the show]. Their live-stream raised an incredible HK$32,000 to support our work! We are beyond grateful to them and their generous viewers for uniting for the community. Check out DJ Swei and DJ Derek C.
HandsOn will be kicking off the new year with CARE DELIVERED, a joint-relief project with Feeding Hong Kong that will see thousands of volunteers deliver food packages straight to the doorsteps of Hong Kong's most vulnerable. Thanks to Operation Santa Claus donors, some of the city's most destitute households, including those of impoverished elderly, people with disabilities and low-income families, will receive one full year of volunteer-powered food assistance that they can count on rain or shine.
Watch this video for more about CARE DELIVERED!
What an incredible honour to have the #HandsOn team receive the Spirit of Hong Kong Award in the teamwork category! 2020 has been such a challenging year but as a team we vowed to keep pressing forward TOGETHER with our mission to empower everyone in Hong Kong to volunteer. We are so grateful to the South China Morning Post for this recognition and to the non-profit partners, volunteers and corporate supporters who make our work possible.Watch the 1-minute HandsOn Spirit of Hong Kong clip here:
Our Executive Director, Sue, was delighted to recently be part of an uplifting “Community Conversation” alongside five other CIS parent volunteers (including Anita Ma from our partner non-profit, Playright). They each shared the impact that community service has had, and continues to have, on their lives. Watch the video here to hear how they each encourage compassion and a spirit to serve and in their own children.
HandsOn is thrilled to be a beneficiary of Operation Santa Claus (OSC) 2020 alongside so many other wonderful charities. Our own Cath was honoured to be part of the launch of the fundraising campaign through their fantastic ‘Caring Community, Caring Christmas’ video. Please help to support this fantastic initiative benefiting communities in need, by watching and sharing this video with your family and friends. Huge thanks to OSC for making possible a FULL year of substantial food packages, delivered directly to the doorsteps of our most vulnerable by caring volunteers. Thrilled to be partnering with Feeding Hong Kong on this critical relief program.
The team behind the communications consultancy, Sandpiper, have supported Serve-a-thon since its launch. They re-joined in 2020 to help encourage Hongkongers to volunteer virtually or in-person in support of the city’s most vulnerable citizens—as well as their own well-being—at such an unprecedented and challenging time. Check out this year's coverage in etnet (HKET), SCMP, Sassy Mama and Little Steps.
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Without the support of the HandsOn community—our charity partners, volunteers and sponsors—Serve-a-thon would not be possible. The participation of our 3 Community Champions Johnson & Johnson, Marriott Bonvoy and Zurich, is vital in bringing our week of service to life, particularly at a time when so many frontline charities and vulnerable communities are facing financial hardship. Hk01 marks Serve-a-thon in this fantastic article and celebrates our partners.
Throwback to 2019 when Sue joined our dear friend Regina Larko for a LIVE episode of #Impact as part of HK Podfest! Sue spoke about the HandsOn mission to empower everyone in the city to volunteer and how each of us has the potential to support the needs of the local community in an impactful way. Watch the LIVE podcast: http://www.hashtagimpact.com/events/
The HandsOn team is beyond thrilled to be nominated for SCMP's Spirit of Hong Kong Award in the Teamwork category. This incredible recognition of how our organization has supported the community during the COVID-19 pandemic is a lift for our entire team. Read more about our nomination here and don't forget to vote for us later this month!
We are thankful for Topick’s coverage of our partnership with Nuskin HK which saw dozens of vulnerable elderly receive Care Packages delivered by “hands-on” volunteers from their team. NuSkin also generously donated enough hand sanitizer to support over 5,500 individuals in need. Together, we were able to bring relief items straight to the doorstep of Hong Kong’s most vulnerable communities, bringing sparks of joy and warmth despite the onset of COVID-19.
Click here to read the full article.
We are delighted to see Jennifer Wannenmacher and our friends at Sassy Mama signposting some of the ways that people can contribute to COVID-19 relief efforts! This feature helped to share volunteer opportunities for families and individuals asking themselves: “What can I do to help?”. Thank you for calling out for volunteers, by highlighting HandsOn service programs that support Hong Kong’s vulnerable elderly and low-income households. We are proud to be included.
Click here to read the full article.
If you love modern and contemporary art, then “UNSCHEDULED” — our collaboration with the Hong Kong Art Gallery Association (HKAGA) — is for you. The Value featured our collaborative effort in opening art fairs across Hong Kong to breathe life back into the city’s art market. Not only are you paying to appreciate some of Hong Kong’s newest pieces, but a proportion of ticket sales also contribute to the COVID-19 relief efforts here at HandsOn.
Click here to read the full article.
We are delighted to see Tickikids feature HandsOn Hong Kong as a family-friendly organization dedicated to empowering and mobilizing volunteers! Not only do we have many volunteering opportunities for adults, but we also offer plenty of child-friendly, family-oriented programs. Sign up for one today to make a difference as a family and nurture a caring, giving mindset in today’s youth!
Click here to read the full article.
Proud to be part of this eye-opening article on how charities are keeping elderly connected during COVID-19 to combat their loneliness and isolation. So special to be included alongside our long-time partner, the Good Neighbourhood Network who we collaborated with for our phone call support and home delivery programs. Photo credit: Winson Wong
Click here to read the full article.
So many Hong Kong businesses have been severely impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak, not least of all local charities supporting the city's most vulnerable. A recent survey of 102 local non-profits, serving more than 1 million people, showed that all had reduced their services and 2/3 suffered a drop in revenue of at least 30%. We understand this all too well at HandsOn with most upcoming fundraising events and programs cancelled or postponed. We are grateful to Laura Westbrook for shining a light on the challenges smaller Hong Kong nonprofits are facing.
Click here to read the full article.
If you are looking for ways to help Hong Kong's most vulnerable during this crisis, please pick up any of the items listed below and deliver directly to your listed local non-profit. Thank you in advance for your support. Photo credit: Nora Tam, SCMP.
Click here to view the full list of emergency supplies needed.
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This fantastic SCMP article rallies Hongkongers to volunteer ahead of Serve-a-thon and highlights findings from our study with Nielsen on how volunteering supports mental health. Thanks to our Volunteer Leader, Tay, for taking part!
Click here to read the full article.
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Hands On Hong Kong and our efforts to enable family volunteering in HK were covered by Points of Light this week--the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service.
Click here to read the Points of Light article.
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HandsOn Hong Kong marked International Volunteer Day 2018 by launching the findings of a Hong Kong-wide study examining the impact of volunteering on individual's mental health and welness, as well all that of teams. This original study was launch with our research partner Nielsen who collaborated with us for this pro bono Hong Kong-wide volunteer study for the second year.
Download the research findings here as presented by Michael Lee, MD of Nielsen. You can also download slides here on Hong Kong's social needs and volunteerism from Caspar Tsui, Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare Bureau.
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Serve-a-thon 2018 took place from May 5th to 13th. Volunteers across Hong Kong came together to donate their time—more than 6,000 hours—to serve 18,099 people in need in just one week. These outcomes reinforce to us that Hong Kong really welcomes this moment in time each year that we all come together to serve!
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Volunteering brings out the best in human nature, helps achieve self-fulfilment and fosters social cohesion and harmony." We were excited to have started a dialogue on the power and potential of community service through the volunteerism study we undertook with our partners at Nielsen ! Click here to read the SCMP article.
Our Associate Director, Catherine, spoke about the result of the Hong Kong wide volunteerism study we undertook with our Partner Nielsen to understand our citizens' attitudes to volunteer with the Backchat team at RTHK Radio 3. Click here and scroll down to the 9:20 time slot to hear Catherine's interview from that morning.
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Our wonderful friend Regina Larko at #Impact put together a special podcast episode to celebrate the work of HandsOn and the power and potential of volunteers the world-over, using highlights from our Internatioal Volunteer Day breakfast event. Listen to the podcast here!
We were delighted to see the SCMP write a detailed profile on the findings and implications of the Hong Kong wide study we undertook with our partners at Nielson to understand citizens' attitudes to volunteering. Read the article.
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HandsOn Hong Kong marked International Volunteer Day 2017 by launching the findings of a Hong Kong-wide study examining the public's attitudes and views towards giving their time to volunteer. This original research—initiated by HandsOn Hong Kong and conducted pro bono by Nielsen—was launched by Michael Lee, MD of Nielsen, as the opening of our International Volunteer Day celebration on Friday December 1st. Download the reserach findings.
We spoke to Sassy Mama about how Hong Kong families can instill a spirit of giving, empathy and compassion in their children by volunteering with them this festive season. We talk about what it means to be "the NGO that serves other NGOs" and how we do our work to serve the local community. The article ends with a list of some of the wonderful volunteer activities taking place over the holidays. Read on!
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