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    #Hashtag Hong Kong

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    GIST

    主持人:Jenmon Jenkins

    Listen to #Hashtag Hong Kong every Sunday morning at 8.15

    Focussing on issues affecting civil society, we'll hear from representatives of NGOs, associations, statutory bodies, and non-profit groups.

    (Sundays 8.15am - 8.25am)



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    Nanki Luthra, Project Manager of the Ethnic Minority Well-being Centre, The Zubin Foundation
    09/02/2025
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    Nanki Luthra, Project Manager of the Ethnic Minority Well-being Centre, The Zubin Foundation

    Good morning everyone. The Zubin Foundation is an integrated service provider for the ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. We are a registered charity that seeks to improve the lives of ethnic minorities.

    In 2019, we started a pilot project to develop native language counselling for low-income ethnic minorities by qualified counsellors. In 2024, the project became an initiative of the Health Bureau of the Hong Kong government but continued to be operated by The Zubin Foundation.

    The Ethnic Minority Well-being Centre has now expanded to all non-Chinese Hong Kong residents who are 18 years of age and above offering free one-to-one counselling services in English, Hindi, Urdu and Nepali. In the last 5 years, over 400 people have received the counselling support from our centre. Indian, Pakistani, Nepali and Filipino are currently the largest ethnic groups that come for counselling.

    Over 60% of our clients score severe or extremely severe in one of the scales of depression, anxiety and stress when they first approached us for counselling. Many of them have suffered from mental health issues for years but have not talked to anyone about their issues before. There is a need to raise the awareness of mental health in the ethnic minorities’ community and address some barriers they face as seeking mental health support.

    In our outreach work, we see many individuals have accepted their sadness, anxiety and excessive stress as a normal part of their lives. Often times, unlike dealing with their physical health symptoms, they do not see a need to address them even if they have been suffering for a long time.

    Usually even if they become aware that they need help, many are concerned about the stigma surrounding mental health in the community; worrying that people will perceive their mental health issues as being crazy, violent or weak.

    Sometimes ethnic minorities are concerned that their personal issues will become known to others in their community, resulting in shame, loss of honour or loss of ‘face’ not only to themselves but also to their families, which further hinders them from seeking support.

    Language and cultures are other barriers for Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities in seeking help for their mental health. Many of the mental health practitioners in Hong Kong are ethnically Chinese and do not speak the native languages of the ethnic minority communities in Hong Kong.  

    This can create challenges for mental health practitioners to be able to fully understand the situation of the clients and the possible underlying cause. For example, many go to the doctor stating they are experiencing fatigue, not sleeping well, getting headaches or having stomach ache and not realizing that there may be underlying mental health causes or issues. The practitioner may therefore focus on treating these physical causes without being fully aware of the person’s situation.

    While use of translators can help address the language barriers, some ethnic minorities may be concerned to speak about their personal issues in front of the translators as they can be from the same community.

    The most common presenting symptoms we find from our clients at the Ethnic Minority Well-being Centre are anxiety, depression, stress, self-harm tendencies, low self-esteem and anger management.

    But what causes these issues? Triggers include family conflicts especially intergenerational conflicts such as differences in values between traditional parents and children who are born and brought up in Hong Kong. Other factors include differential treatment between boys and girls, lack of communication or even forced marriage. The differences can create conflicts like the way the children should dress, compliance to religious practices, values towards education and work and views on marriage.

    We also see many clients coming in marital conflicts. This is due to power imbalances, as many cultures are still patriarchal. The responsibility of the children and household falls on the mother while providing financially falls on the father, and he is also the main decision maker. Sometimes conflicts arise because of different views of household finance and raising children. The responsibilities of managing large families can also be a contributing factor towards mental health concerns. Sometimes these conflicts can get more evolved and lead to domestic violence.

    Also notably being a minority in Hong Kong, we do see clients struggling with discrimination at work, their studies or even their daily lives.

    We may all be facing different challenges in lives. For those who have been suffering low mood or issues of managing their emotions for a prolonged period of time, we encourage you to consider talking to a professional. It provides you with a safe space for you to talk about your issues, understand yourself and the situation bothering you, and it helps you think about ways to cope with your issues and manage them better. 

    If you are a non-Chinese, Hong Kong resident, 18 years of age or above, comfortable with speaking English, Hindi, Urdu or Nepali and would like to consider counselling, call or WhatsApp us at 96823100 or visit our website at emwbc.zubinfoundation.org to find out more about our service.

    This morning I would like to dedicate a song called “Love You Zindagi”, which is a Hindi language song and is sung by Amit Trivedi, Jasleen Royal and Kausar Munir. “Love you Zindagi” translates to love you life. It is a song that talks about ups and downs in life and how to embrace it with a smile because you know that tough times don’t last forever and there is always a way out. Also this song is from a movie where the main character seeks counselling and understands that her childhood’s trauma has led to many decisions that she is leading in her current life. 

    09/02/2025 - 足本 Full (HKT 08:15 - 08:30)

    09/02/2025 - Nanki Luthra, Project Manager of the Ethnic Minority Well-being Centre, The Zubin Foundation

    重溫

    CATCHUP
    12 - 02
    2024 - 2025
    香港電台第三台

    09/02/2025

    Nanki Luthra, Project Manager of the Ethnic Minority Well-being Centre, The Zubin Foundation

    02/02/2025

    Michael Lau, Founder, Hong Kong Wetlands Conservation Association

    26/01/2025

    Steph Ng, Founder and Executive Director of Body Banter

    19/01/2025

    Jenmon Jenkins, Community Director - the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Hong Kong

    12/01/2025

    Ivy Leung, Executive Director, CarbonCare InnoLab

    05/01/2025

    Mabel Lo, Executive Director, TREATS

    29/12/2024

    Shirley Yeung, the Integrated Community Centre for Mental Wellness, ICCMW

    22/12/2024

    Gabrielle Kirstein, Founder, Feeding Hong Kong

    15/12/2024

    Cindy Ng, Senior manager, Program and Services of KELY Support Group

    08/12/2024

    Dr. Patrick Cheung, Chairperson, Against Child Abuse
    X

    Jenmon Jenkins, Community Director - the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Hong Kong

    主持人:Jenmon Jenkins

    For over 104 years, the SPCA has stood as the largest and oldest animal welfare organisation in Hong Kong. Every single day, we dedicate ourselves to ending animal cruelty, alleviating suffering, and protecting the health and well-being of all creatures—both wild and companion animals, whether they have homes or not.

    Though Hong Kong is small, its bustling population means that countless animals live among us. The last census in 2019 estimated over 400,000 pets, but more recent studies from 2023 reveal a staggering surge to over a million. These million souls are voiceless in our society, and at the SPCA, we passionately advocate for their welfare. But there are concerning trends that we must address together.

    Did you know that our animal legislation dates back to 1935? It’s time for a crucial update from the Legislative Council so we can adequately protect these vulnerable animals from abuse and neglect. We need stronger laws, like updates to the Duty of Care legislation, to empower law enforcement to prosecute those who mistreat our furry friends.

    This is why we tirelessly promote responsible pet ownership. Caring for a pet is a lifelong commitment. Unfortunately, we’ve seen a troubling rise in pet abandonment—especially among cats. In 2024 alone, we’ve witnessed an alarming 11% increase, with some days seeing up to 14 cats left behind, often entire families abandoned at streets or refuse centers.

    Too often, owners fall prey to unscrupulous breeders who care more about profit than the well-being of animals. Many pets come to us sick, sometimes with severe health issues that their new owners are unprepared to manage. This leads to heart-wrenching abandonment, further straining our resources as we care for these vulnerable creatures.

    Despite our new 93,000 sq ft center in Tsing Yi, we often find ourselves at full capacity, caring for sick animals whose recovery takes time. Every adoption creates an opportunity for another animal in need, and with over 400 animals currently in our care, your choice to adopt can save lives.

    We encourage you to “Adopt, Don’t Shop.” Our four adoption centers are open every day, with no appointment necessary. Last year, we even launched an app that lets you swipe to find your future furry companion—just like a dating app!

    As a proud mongrel owner, I can personally attest to the immense joy and well-being pets can bring into our lives. Yet, we recognise that pet ownership can be challenging in a bustling city like Hong Kong. While we celebrate the growth of pet-inclusive spaces and parks to over 200, we know there’s much more to be done.

    That’s why we’re committed to educating everyone on the importance of pet inclusivity. We’ve trained staff at banks and shopping malls to welcome our furry friends and even hosted dog-friendly movie screenings. We aim to foster understanding and respect between pet owners and non-pet owners, emphasizing safety and hygiene.

    Our workshops, like those on socializing city dogs, help ensure that everyone can enjoy public spaces harmoniously. We’ve also launched initiatives like “Bring Your Dog to Work,” encouraging companies to embrace the presence of pets in the workplace. The benefits for mental wellness and collaboration are profound, and we’re excited to help more organizations adopt these policies.

    We’re also making strides with transportation providers to allow pets on public transport, with exciting developments like affordable pet tours launched by KMB in 2024. Stay tuned for more good news in 2025!

    It’s important to note that we only receive 1% of our funding from the government. We rely heavily on the generosity of public donations and the revenue from our veterinary services to support our mission. Imagine caring for over 400 animals every day—your support truly makes a difference. You can support us by participating in our events, using our veterinary services, purchasing from our online and offline retail store or donating to us help make an impact in animal welfare.

    From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all our donors and volunteers who help us improve the welfare of our rescue animals. I look forward to meeting more prospective adopters and passionate pet owners in 2025. Together, let’s ensure that all animals are treated with the compassion and respect they so richly deserve.

     

    香港電台第三台

    19/01/2025 - 足本 Full (HKT 08:15 - 08:30)

    19/01/2025 - Jenmon Jenkins, Community Director - the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Hong Kong