The subject Conference was successfully held on 12 Sept. The Conference was supported by 7 corporations, including Citi, CPA Australia Hong Kong China Division, HSBC, Microsoft Hong Kong Limited, MTR Corporation, Siemens Ltd and Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited, and 2 media partners, the Hong Kong Economic Times and the South China Morning Post.

Besides, we were honoured to have 3 government officials and some 15 representatives from large, small corporations and the professional sector being speakers, 300 participants to attend the event. For snapshots of the event, please visit the conference website www.caringcompany.net/conference.

Environmental protection is an important component of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). u0022Caring for the Environmentu0022 has been newly added into one of the Caring Company criteria this year to encourage participation in environmental work for the community by the business sector. A luncheon was organised on 25 July 2007 at the Medical Association Restaurant and representatives from two social enterprises linking to environmental care were invited to introduce their green businesses. This was a good opportunity for the business sector and the social enterprises operated by NGOs to explore possibilities for developing u0022green partnershipu0022.

The two speakers for the luncheon included Ms Deborah WAN, Chief Executive Officer, New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association and Mr Frederick LAI, Service Head, Youth and Community Service u0026amp; Community Development Service, Caritas Hong Kong. Ms Wan introduced their New Life Organic Farm and Eco-tour project which have adopted the social enterprise model. Mr Lai introduced the u0022City Farmersu0022, a new co-operative project for the unemployed in Tin Shui Wai district. There were 35 participants from business sector and social service organisations attending the luncheon and shared their ideas of further collaborations.

Social Enterprises operate with business models that help enhance the self-reliance of the disadvantaged. The partnerships between the business and social service sectors not only foster environmental care, but raise the competitiveness of the vulnerable groups.

Download the powerpoint (Chinese version only)
New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association
Caritas Hong Kong
Photo Album

Ms Deborah WAN, Chief Executive Officer, New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association

Mr Frederick LAI, Service Head, Youth and Community Service u0026amp; Community Development Service, Caritas Hong Kong

Highlights of the Luncheon

Tin Shui Wai district was regarded as a community with high unemployment rate and severe family problems. The Hong Kong Council of Social Service invited 13 Caring Company representatives to a community visit to social service organizations in Tin Shui Wai on June 28. The participants would be able to increase their understanding of middle-aged people of how they rebuilt their self-esteem and self-enhancement through participating in community projects with the assistance of social service organisations.

The participants first visited the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions Education Foundation – Women’s Movement (a job retraining programme) in Tin Shui Wai. Tin Shui Wai was a remote area where there were a large number of women residents. They were lack of work skills and the employment opportunities. Facing the inadequate training resources, the CTU Education Foundation launched different supportive services and training programmes, namely, training courses on home helpers, personal care workers, security guards and computer and language usage, etc. Furthermore, the Foundation also mobilized the women to use their past working experiences to contribute to the community. Through organising and implementing different projects, the women could improve their capability and self-confidence and to be well-prepared for employment in the job market. The Foundation also liaised with the companies to explore job vacancies for the women. Caring Companies were welcome to offer any kind of employment and training opportunities for the women to develop their potentials.

Participants visited the City Farmers – Organic Farm Co-operative Project. This project was a new employment initiative of Caritas – Hong Kong in Tin Shui Wai district. With the support of the Government and the business sector, a organic Mushroom Growing Project was started in Dan Kwai Tsuen in Yuen Long. The project aimed at providing job opportunities for the unemployed, low-income and poor residents. The trainees saved the transport fees, learned the production skills and knowledge and increase capabilities. The visit enabled the participants to know more about the work status of the Tin Shui Wai residents. In return, the participants also offered different co-operation initiatives and advice on the operation mode. We look forward to more cross-sectoral joint venture between the business sector and the non-profit organisations to raise the competitiveness of the vulnerable groups.

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Women living in Tin Shui Wai shared their experience on developing community project.

A group photo of the participants and the women living in Tin Shui Wai.

The City Farmers and their harvest.

The City Farmers shared their experience on operating the farm.

The ability of mentally challenged people is lower than the normal intellectual capacity. If they strive to learn, they can develop their potentials and integrate into the community. It is crucial to solicit support from parents, family members and the social welfare agencies which provides professional services for mentally challenged people. Can the business sector contribute to help mentally challenged people? The Hong Kong Council of Social Service arranged the representatives of the Caring Companies to visit two rehabilitative agencies in Tuen Mun on 1 June 2007. The objective of the visit was to further the participants’ understanding of services provided by rehabilitative organisations so as to inspire them with more ideas of collaborations between the business and social service sectors.

The participants visited the Fu Hong Society Shan King Adult Training Centre first. The Centre was situated in Shan King Estate in Tuen Mun. They provided various specially designed small group training for moderate to severe grade of mentally challenged people. Training services include self-care, social skills, recreational activities, vocational skills, art, multi-media training, family support and other community services to enhance the living skills and to develop the potentials of mentally challenged people. On the day of the visit, the participants paid visit to the training room for the autistic people and the multi-sensory room services and the group training activities. They found that the training services were designed according to the individual needs of the service users. The Centre also arranged mentally challenged people to demonstrate handicraft making and appreciate their percussion music performance. The performance showcased their music talent.

Participants visited the next social service agency at Tsing Lun Road in Tuen Mun, namely u0022Rainbow Rendezvousu0022. The project was operated by The Parents’ Association of Pre-school Handicapped Children (PAPHC). PAPHC is a self-help organisation formed by a group of parents with children in disability. u0022Rainbow Rendezvousu0022 was a special project to provide supportive services like after school care service for the mentally challenged children, training and support services for parents, interest classes and hostel services.

Participants enjoyed the refreshments prepared by the trainees and parents. We should mention that the Association also provides hostel facilities rental services. Companies can consider booking the hostel services. As the Association heavily relies on the public donation, the booking charges will go to help subsidize the operation cost of the Association.

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Members with mental challenge of Fu Hong Society demonstrated handicraft making.

Fu Hong Percussion Music Team which is organised by the mentally challenged gave a demonstration for the participants.

Participants were greeted by the youth with mental challenge of the Parents’ Association of Pre-school Handicapped Children.

Public organisations and professional bodies have been actively participating in community services and developing partnerships with social service organisations with their unique expertise and experience to serve the community. A tea gathering – u0022Partnership Day for Cross Professional Collaborationu0022 was organised on 27 April 2007 in Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, with honorary guests from The Hong Kong Police Force and CPA Australia Hong Kong China Division to share their experience on cross-sectoral partnerships. A number of participants from businesses, public organizations and professional groups and shared with each other their experience of partnering with social service organisations.

The Hong Kong Police Force has been awarded the u0022Total Caring Award – Organisation 2006/07u0022. The organisation promotes the culture of u0022Building a Caring Workforceu0022 to over 30,000 disciplined and civilian staff in the Force through organising varieties of community activities and incorporates the caring spirit in its organisational culture.

CPA Australia Hong Kong China Division has been one of the awardees for the Caring Organisation Logo in 2006/07. It has been encouraging 9,000 members with finance and business professions to participate in community activities, to care for the children in deprived families and enhance the corporate governance of NGOs.

Ms Christine Fang, the Chief Executive of HKCSS appreciated the efforts paid by public organisations and professional bodies to work with social service organisations in bringing care to communities in need and enhancing management efficiency of NGOs. The experience of The Hong Kong Police Force and CPA Australia Hong Kong China Division has set good examples for reference.

Ms Christine Fang, Chief Executive of HKCSS

Mr Raymond Mak, Superintendent of The Hong Kong Police Force

Mr Derek Lai, Chairperson of CPA Australia Hong Kong China Division

Highlights of the Tea Gathering

Presentation of Souvenirs to Two Guests

The Hong Kong Council of Social Service organised a community visit on 24 April 2007 for some twenty representatives of the Caring Companies. They visited the Youth Employment Start-up Program (YES Program) and a series of diversified youth enrichment programmes of Youth Outreach, namely u0022The Hang-outu0022, u0022School of Hip Hopu0022 and u0022City Challengeu0022 adventure training.

Through the visit, the participants were able to understand how the social service organisation intervenes and provides service to support the youth-at-risk. The participants were inspired to initiate collaboration ideas with social service organisations.

During the visitation, Mr Benjamin Chan, Deputy Executive Director of Youth Outreach explained how they intervene into the cases of the youth, and arranged the trainers and the trainees of u0022City Challengeu0022 and u0022School of Hip Hopu0022 to demonstrate abseiling and hip-hop dance respectively. The trainers of these projects had crisis growing stage, and their lives were transformed after Youth Outreach intervened with correct guidance.

Besides, the participants visited the 24-hour drop-in center u0022The Hang-Outu0022. They understood how the youth operated the project and established the culture of u0022No Cigarette, No Alcohol, No Foul Languageu0022.

Through the visit, the participants were able to understand the needs from the youth-at-risk, and our positive responses may help transform the lives of more young people.

Introduction of Youth Outreach
Youth Outreach was established in November 1991 as a crisis intervention center for youth. It provides different types of services, e.g. outreaching services, crisis centre, counseling hotline and employment training programs, so as to empower the ability of the youth to resolve problems and to develop their potential. The organisation has more collaborations with the business sector in recent years.

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Trainers of u0022City Challengeu0022 demonstrated abseiling

Trainees of u0022School of Hip Hopu0022 demonstrated hip-hop dance

The trainees chatted with the participants

Participants visited the 24-hour drop-in center u0022The Hang-Outu0022

It has become more popular to talk about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) among businesses with all sizes. In particular, SMEs have been making use of their advantage in flexibility to partner with social service organisations to fulfil CSR.

However, many SMEs still find it difficult to take on the road to CSR and to find suitable social service partners because of their resources constraint. In view of this, The Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) and HSBC co-organised two luncheons, namely u0022SMEs luncheon: Know More About Corporate Social Responsibilityu0022 on 14 March 2007 (Wednesday) and 29 March 2007 (Thursday) for SMEs in order to give them insights and real-life cases to inspire their participation.

Over 50 SMEs from different industries, such as Food and Beverage, Marketing Promotions, Elderly Service, Accountancy, Environmental Protection, Management, etc, participated in the event. They shared and discussed how they could make use of their competitive edges to serve the community, but still remained cost-effective.

Ms Christine Fang, Chief Executive of HKCSS, Mr Cliff Choi, Business Director (Sector Development and Partnership) of HKCSS, and Mrs Virginia Lo, Vice President External Affairs, Group Public Affairs of HSBC, welcomed all participants and thanked them for their enthusiasm in serving the community. Participants were also encouraged to do more for the betterment of society.

Representatives from City Cut Hair u0026amp; Beauty Salon and Salon-Go-Ahead were also there to share their experience in partnering with social service organisations. Both companies were the award winners of the u0022SME Community Participation Awardu0022 of the Caring Company Scheme and the u0022Emerald Awardu0022 of the HSBC Living Business Award.

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The HSBC Living Business Award is now inviting for applications. Would interested SMEs please submit your applications to HSBC on or before 20 April 2007. For social service organisations, please don’t hesitate to nominate your SME partners for this Award, and to recognize their achievements in Corporate Social Responsibility.

Please contact 27843936 for more details or visit the website of the HSBC Living Business Award

Promote the Community Involvement of SMEs

Please Nominate SMEs to Join this Award
Deadline of Application: 20 April 2007

Ms Christine Fang, Chief Executive of HKCSS

Mrs Virginia Lo, Vice President External Affairs, Group Public Affairs of HSBC

Mr Wilson Leung, the owners of City Cut Hair u0026amp; Beauty Salon

Mr Charlie Luciano, CEO of Salon-Go-Ahead

Luncheon on 14 March