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.
Sharks. The very word can conjure images of fear thanks to Hollywood. But the reality is, these creatures are often greatly misunderstood, and they are undeniably vital to the sustainable health of our marine ecosystems. Here in Hong Kong, we have a unique opportunity to impact shark conservation on a global scale and Hong Kong Shark Foundation is leading the charge.
Hong Kong Shark Foundation is a Hong Kong registered NGO dedicated exclusively to shark conservation. Our mission is simple, yet powerful: to raise awareness about shark conservation and educate people to stop the unsustainable consumption of ALL shark products, particularly shark fins.
Now, you might be asking, why sharks? Why should we care about saving sharks? Well, sharks are apex predators. That means they sit right at the top of the marine food chain. They play a crucial role in maintaining the balance and overall health of our ocean. When shark populations decline, it has a cascading effect throughout the entire marine ecosystem. Think of it like a giant jenga game - removing too many of the wrong blocks and the whole structure becomes unstable. Also, removing top predators such as sharks affects the ocean's ability to capture carbon and regulate our climate.
The demand for shark products, especially for shark fin soup, has led to a drastic global decline in shark populations. It's a truly shocking situation. Over 100 million sharks are harvested each year just for their fins, and incredibly, more than half of these fins are traded in, or through Hong Kong.
It’s estimated that we have lost 70% of the shark population in just the last 50 years. And now, one-third of sharks are nearing extinction. These numbers are unsustainable and should be a wake-up call for all of us.
So, what is HK Shark Foundation doing to address this critical issue? We focus on several areas.
Education is a huge part of our work. We engage with youth, individuals, and companies, providing meaningful ways to get involved in saving sharks. We conduct school talks, reaching over 10,000 students a year, teaching them about shark and ocean conservation.
HK Shark Foundation also runs an educational “Shark Ambassador” program to raise awareness about shark conservation, teaching students to look at the negative impact of shark finning, and focuses on SDG #14LifeBelowWater. Our Shark Ambassador program teaches students to become stewards and advocates for sharks and the ocean.
What about businesses? How can they get involved? Hong Kong Shark Foundation has a "Shark-Free Company" CSR/ESG initiative where we encourage businesses to pledge not to serve or consume shark fin
products at corporate banquets and events. It’s a powerful way for companies to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability. And I’m thrilled to say that HK Shark Foundation has also been recognized and officially listed on the Hong Kong Government's Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and Education Bureau (EDB)’s websites to further these initiatives in our community.
And for couples planning their big wedding day, we also offer a "Shark-Free Wedding" campaign which encourages couples to celebrate their wedding sustainably - without shark fin soup on the menu.
So, what can you do, right now, to help? There are many ways to get involved….
First, educate yourself and others about the importance of sharks and the threats they face. Spread the word in your community. Say NO to shark fin soup!
Second, make conscious choices about the food you consume – avoid shark fin soup and other shark products.
Third, support restaurants and businesses that have pledged to be shark-free.
You can also invite Hong Kong Shark Foundation to speak at your school or even at your workplace as a “Lunch n Learn” talk which are very popular CSR/ESG community engagement activities.
Finally, you can donate to HKSF or volunteer your time. Every action, no matter how small, makes a difference.
We are 100% funded by kind, compassionate individuals like YOU in HK and are not government funded.
If you want to find out more, please visit our website at hksharkfoundation.org or check out our social media on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Weibo.
Hong Kong Shark Foundation is a truly inspiring organization and I encourage you to support our work in any way you can.
Together, we CAN plant the seeds of change through education and make a difference for our sharks, our ocean and our planet.
