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.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Financial Education Programme is an initiative designed to empower upper primary students with essential financial competency they need for financial well-being and lifelong success.
Financial capability is more than just a skill—it’s a life necessity. It determines whether young people can navigate adulthood with confidence, achieve financial stability, and avoid pitfalls like scams or poor financial decisions. While Hong Kong ranks highly on global financial literacy indices, younger individuals often exhibit lower scores and express dissatisfaction with their financial situations.
Regardless of socio-economic background, all young people face financial decisions that can shape their long - term well-being. Unfortunately, most existing initiatives and after-school activities often fall short of providing a comprehensive, scalable solution. This gap underscores the urgent need for a structured, impactful programme like the one we’re discussing today.
Aligned with curriculum reforms in primary school Humanities subjects and supported by the Education Bureau, this programme is a collaborative effort initiated and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust . Partners include The University of Chicago Financial Education Initiative , The Education University of Hong Kong , the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society , CoCoon Foundation , and Solomon Learning Group .
At its core, the programme seeks to strengthen financial literacy as a future-ready skill. By equipping students with essential knowledge, the right mindset, and critical decision-making abilities, it aims to help them achieve long-term financial well-being and personal fulfillment. Students will learn to judge right from wrong in financial matters, avoid scams, and make informed choices, these are skills indispensable in today’s fast-paced digital economy.
What distinguishes this initiative is its holistic and sustainable design. By collaborating with local educators and global experts, the programme delivers high-quality learning materials and professional development support. Its integration into the formal curriculum ensures longevity, while its focus on experiential learning and community engagement makes it uniquely impactful.
The programme adopts a holistic approach, engaging three key stakeholders: students, teachers, and parents.
Central to the programme is a culturally relevant, age-appropriate curriculum tailored for upper primary students. Developed in alignment with the Hong Kong Financial Competency Framework and researches from the University of Chicago’s Financial Education Initiative, the curriculum integrates financial education into formal lessons, particularly in Humanities subjects. This ensures sustainability and creates a lasting impact within the school system.
To reinforce classroom learning, experiential activities such as marketplaces and inter-school competitions allow students to apply decision-making skills in real-life scenarios. These activities foster critical thinking, practical decision-making and problem-solving skills, helping students build confidence in assessing risks, and making sound judgments.
Teachers are pivotal to the programme’s success. To support them, professional development training and certification are provided, equipping educators with the tools and expertise needed to teach financial education effectively. Additionally, Communities of Practice will be established, bringing together teachers from different schools to co-create resources, share experiences, and foster collaboration. This network ensures that best practices are shared and scaled across participating schools.
Parents play an equally vital role in shaping their children’s financial habits. The programme offers parent-child workshops and public talks, providing expert advice and practical strategies for modeling sound financial behavior. Parents will also learn how to guide their children in recognising and avoiding financial scams which is a growing concern in today’s digital age. By involving parents, the programme creates a supportive ecosystem that reinforces financial education both at home and in school.
To ensure effectiveness, the programme incorporates an evidence-based evaluation design. This approach assesses student learning outcomes and provides valuable insights for continuous improvement. Data-driven feedback loops enable the programme to adapt and evolve, ensuring maximum impact.
Over the course of its implementation, the programme will benefit:
17,800 students , 240 teachers , and 1,500 parents across 70 schools.By targeting these groups, the programme creates a ripple effect, fostering a culture of financial literacy in school system.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Financial Education Programme represents a critical step toward preparing young people for the future. By equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and mindset to make sound financial decisions, we are nurturing a generation of confident, financially responsible citizens.
Financial education is not just about numbers, it’s about empowerment, resilience, and opportunity. Together, we can create a brighter future for our children and our communities.
06/04/2025 - Daniel Lai - Programme Director of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Financial Education Programme
