Listen to #Hashtag Hong Kong every Sunday morning at 8.15
Focusing on issues affecting civil society, we'll hear from representatives of NGOs, associations, statutory bodies, and non-profit groups.
(Sundays 8.15am - 8.25am)
Good morning everyone!
Hong Kong is home to over 340,000 migrant domestic workers. They are the backbone of our households, caring for our children, supporting our elderly, and keeping our homes running smoothly. Yet, many face financial pressures, recruitment debt, and even fraud.
Enrich exists to change that story. I think of Eka, a migrant domestic worker from Indonesia who has lived in Hong Kong for more than 20 years. When she first arrived, she faced enormous financial pressures and struggled to manage her income. Like many women, she carried the weight of supporting her family back home while navigating life in a new city.
Eka joined Enrich’s financial and empowerment workshops, and she describes the experience as life changing. She learned how to budget, save, and plan for the future. Over time, she built the confidence to take control of her finances and even began to dream of starting her own business.
What inspires me most is her determination. Eka told me that before Enrich, she didn’t know how to manage money. Now she feels confident and knows that she can build a better future for herself and her family.
Her journey reminds us that true empowerment goes beyond statistics—it's rooted in dignity, hope, and rekindling the capacity to dream. Eka’s story reflects the resilience of so many migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong, and why Enrich’s mission matters.
Through financial and empowerment education, we help women learn to budget, save, and plan for their futures. We also provide workshops on communication, well being, and entrepreneurship. Since 2007, tens of thousands of women have joined our programmes, and many have told us how these tools gave them hope, confidence, and control over their lives.
People often ask me why I chose to lead Enrich. The answer is simple: because empowerment is transformative. When a woman learns to take charge of her finances, she doesn’t just change her own life; she changes the lives of her children, her family, and her community back home. Education is the most sustainable form of support we can offer, and I am proud to be part of an organisation that invests in women who, in turn, invest in the world.
At Enrich, we were deeply saddened by the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court. Our hearts go out to all those affected, especially the migrant domestic workers who lost their homes and belongings, and the families that lost their sisters, daughters, and mothers. In the days that followed, we witnessed the generosity of the Hong Kong community, but we also saw opportunists trying to exploit the tragedy. That is why we dedicated our Giving Tuesday donations directly to those impacted, with a special focus on migrant domestic workers.
This March, we will celebrate International Women’s Day with one of our biggest events of the year: “Empowering MDWs: Resilience, Wellbeing & Pathways Forward.”
Today, we celebrate the resilience of migrant domestic workers and support those affected by the tragic Tai Po fire. Together with our co host, the Social Innovation Team at the Knowledge Transfer Office of the Chinese University, we will welcome migrant domestic workers and the wider community to InnoPort in Sha Tin. We chose this venue to reach more workers living and working in and around Tai Po.
The event will feature:
- Booths offering practical support, from mental health counselling and women’s health resources to financial consultation, legal aid, and upskilling opportunities.
- Interactive sessions covering financial literacy, fraud prevention, safety awareness, women’s wellbeing, and entrepreneurship.
- Wellness and art activities, such as Piloxing, artwork creation, and breathing exercises, to refresh and inspire participants.
- Booths showcasing migrant domestic worker groups and NGOs with business ideas and skill demonstrations.
This event is about more than services. It is about community, empowerment, solidarity, and pathways forward for migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong.
Reflecting on my journey with Enrich, I realize that empowerment starts with listening—listening to voices that are often overlooked and recognising their strength, resilience, and dreams. Hong Kong is a city of opportunity. Let us ensure that opportunity is shared. Let us invest in the women who invest in us every day.
I invite you to join us on International Women’s Day to stand with migrant domestic workers, celebrate their resilience, and help build a future where every woman has the tools to reach her goals.
Thank you for listening, and I hope you can support Enrich HK in some ways. Together, we are making a meaningful difference.
Good morning! Inspiring Girls Hong Kong, is the local chapter of an international charity. Founded in the UK in 2013, Inspiring Girls has grown to 40 chapters worldwide and will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year.
Together with my cofounder Natasha King, we launched the Hong Kong chapter in 2020, on a mission to empower girls aged 14 to 16, especially those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Our goal is to bridge gender and cultural gaps that can negatively impact a girl’s future and promote social mobility by breaking the chains of intergenerational poverty through creating opportunities to pursue sustainable work.
We believe in breaking down internal limitations by showcasing success stories from relatable role models. Our vision is to show girls the limitless possibilities in their future careers and encourage them to aim high because that is their right.
Inspiring Education: A diversity and inclusion workshop for co-ed schools helping both boys and girls understand how gender bias can limit their future. This program emphasizes that careers have no gender and encourages students to believe they can achieve anything.
We have three keys programs
Inspiring Girls: Builds self-confidence and resilience in girls, exposing them to various careers through corporate learning experiences. We organize company tours to help girls understand different industries and work environments, collaborating with HSBC Asset Management, Google, TransUnion, Shanghai Tang, and many more.
Inspiring Education: A diversity and inclusion workshop for co-ed schools helping both boys and girls understand how gender bias can limit their future. This program emphasizes that careers have no gender and encourages students to believe they can achieve anything.
EmpowerHer Future: An innovative career and financial literacy program powered by UBS and Operation Santa Claus, which reached 1,500 underprivileged schoolgirls last year. This program helps girls build self-confidence and a positive attitude towards money, navigating their career paths and financial choices knowledgeably.
Statistics reveal that 1 in 5 girls say stereotypes hold them back in school, and it is projected to take 131 years to close the gender gap. Additionally, 35% of girls experience a drop in confidence between the ages of 13 to 18. These numbers are startling and highlight the urgent need for initiatives like Inspiring Girls.
Moreover, Recent statistics reveal alarming mental health challenges among youth in Hong Kong. A 2023 study from the Chinese University of Hong Kong indicated that 24.4% of children and adolescents experienced at least one mental health issue in the past year, with 8% of secondary students contemplating suicide. The suicide rate for those aged 15-24 reached 12.2 deaths per 100,000 in 2022, nearly double from 6.2 in 2014.
Key stressors include academic pressure, financial concerns, challenges in building social networks, and learning environments. Studies reveal that many students experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy, which can hinder their confidence and aspirations for the future. Research indicates that character strengths, such as resilience and social intelligence, are crucial for coping with these challenges and achieving positive outcomes in education and career.
Statistical evidence underscores that mentorship can significantly boost confidence and career aspirations among young women. Thus, our future initiatives will concentrate on structured mentoring programs, workshops on resilience-building, and character development, ensuring that girls not only dream of success but also have the necessary support to realize their potential.
You can contribute to creating a more equitable future and ensure continued access to quality education for all girls in Hong Kong by:
Recruiting role models to volunteer with us.
- Offering a learning experience for the girls to come to your office and learn about your industry.
- Sponsoring a program as an organization.
- Giving a girl your time by speaking with her, inspiring her to dream big and aim high—
Join us in this mission to empower the next generation of female leaders in Hong Kong. Together, we can make a difference!
