HandsOn Hong Kong

Supporting & uniting the community through music

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.

Providing CARE DELIVERED with Operation Santa Claus in 2021

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!

HandsOn wins Spirit of Hong Kong Teamwork Award!

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:

A "Community Conversation" empowering CIS students to volunteer

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 & Feeding Hong Kong partner for OSC relief program

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.

Sandpiper helps rally volunteers during Serve-a-thon

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.

Serve-a-thon's Community Champions featured in HK01

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.

Sue at HK Podfest with #Impact

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/

HandsOn nominated for Spirit of Hong Kong Award!

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!

Supporting Hong Kong's vulnerable with care-filled care packages

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.

“What can I do to help?”

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.

Help Fight COVID Through Art

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.

Nurture a Volunteering Heart in the Young

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.

Keeping the elderly connected during COVID-19

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.

Shining a light on challenges of the non-profit sector

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.

Emergency support for charities during Coronavirus outbreak

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.

A week's worth of serving suggestions

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.

Creating a Caring Community for Volunteers of All Ages

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.

HandsOn Hong Kong celebrates International Volunteer Day 2018

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.

Serve-a-thon 2018

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!

Starting a dialogue on the power and potential of community service

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.

Talking about Volunteering on RTHK Radio 3

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.

#Impact podcast celebrating volunteers on International Volunteer Day

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!

70% of HongKongers say they intend to volunteer, but fewer than a third actually did it in the past year

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.

Nielsen launches research findings on Hong Kong attitudes to volunteering

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.

Sassy Supports family volunteer opportunities this Christmas with HandsOn

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!

HandsOn Hong Kong 2016 Annual Report

It is our great pleasure to share the HandsOn Hong Kong 2016 Annual Report so that our volunteers and supporters can see what we were able to achieve together last year! Thank you for giving your time so generously so that we could serve nearly 29,000 beneficiaries in need in 2016. Read Full

Gain brownie points while having a drink or two during Drink for Good

Foodie Magazine encourages its readers to step out for drinks any (or every!) Wednesday this October to support HandsOn Hong Kong's annual fundraising initiative, Drink for Good. Participating venues will donate 5% of sales each Wednesday to run HandsOn programs for children with special needs. Read Full

Optimizing corporate community engagement

Inspired by all of the wonderful support of our corporate volunteer teams during Serve-a-thon—Hong Kong's first community service marathon —our Executive Director, Sue, shares her thoughts on the benefits to business when they engage their employees in social issues. Read Full

Serve-a-thon in the Hong Kong Economic Times and Sing Tao Daily

Serve-a-thon Hong Kong was featured in the Hong Kong Economic Times and Sing Tao Daily yesterday, including interviews with our Executive Director, Sue, and several of our volunteer leaders. So exciting to see Hong Kong coming together this week in the name of community service! Read Full

Talking about all things Serve-a-thon on RTHK Radio 3

Check out our Executive Director, Sue, talking to Karen at RTHK Radio 3 about Serve-a-thon right before its weekened launch! Click on the link above and scroll down to 'Part 2' of the interview (Sue's part begins at 04:40). Read Full

SCMP Junior Reporters humbled by their volunteer experience during Serve-a-thon

SCMP's Young Post junior Read Full