Report from Service Committee (2012 – 2014)
Co-Chairmen: Eunice Chan, Petrina Tam, Anne Chen
During the biennium, we have continued to help the elderly, the young, the underprivileged and the handicapped but with a particular focus on women projects. We have donated over HK$1,500,000 during the past 2 years and supported and actively participated in over 12 meaningful projects with details as follows:
Women
The Barnabas Project
In order to enhance the ability of young women after drug rehabilitation to fit back into the society and to find a job, our Club has sponsored the Barnabas Charitable Service Association Ltd by providing new computers, projectors and other equipment to their halfway house in Ma On Shan. Computer, graphic design, Chinese typing and Putonghua classes were also arranged to train them on various skills which were followed by the sitting of various examinations to help them get professional qualifications. Our members also helped placed some of the young women to a job after their graduation from the halfway house.
The Crafts Studio Project
To help the ethnic minority women from low income families to enhance their skills and sell their products to earn additional income for their families, our Club has worked with the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong Diocesan Pastoral Centre for Workers (Kowloon) to train the ethnic minority women on material sourcing, stitching, tracing, sewing, ironing and planning and budgeting, resulting in the production of high quality products for sale.
Through the project, not only have they learnt new skills, they have also learnt the importance of consistency and the up-keeping of high standards and to challenge their potential, resulting in the enhancement of their level of confidence and sense of achievement from their proven capabilities at the end of the project.
The “Zonta Says No” to end “Violence Against Women” Project
To raise the awareness and to increase actions to end violence against women and girls in Hong Kong, our Club is working with the Tung Wah Groups of Hospital CEASE Crisis Centre to support the production of an educational kit including a video game and some scenario videos to help educate the mentally retarded women as well as their carers to understand the issues and how to prevent and handle situations in order to help minimise sexual harassment or violence against them.
Scholarships for the Ethnic Minority University Students
Our Club has continued to sponsor Hong Kong Unison in supporting 4 academically excellent ethnic minority young women students to pursue their university studies.
Children
The Children Resources Corner Projects in NT East
Our Club has sponsored Heep Hong Society towards the setting up of 2 Children Resources Corner, one in Ma On Shan and one in Tin Ping Estate. The donation went to the renovation of the 2 Corners as well as the provision of training facilities and equipments. The Corners provide timely treatment and training for children aged from birth to six with autism and other development problems who are on the central waiting list for government’s subsidised services. The services at the Children Resource Corners include children training programmes, counselling, parent groups and talks and family activities. There will also be a resource library.
This timely training very often was able to help the problematic child to become normal and enter a normal school. It also helped to relieve the frustration of the family members resulting in more happiness and harmony in many families.
Evangel Children’s Home
We continued to stay in touch with Evangel Children’s Home and have visited and organised a fun party for the children from low-income families.
Elderly
The “Home Sweet Home Project”
As over 800 elderly benefitted from this project every 2 years, our Club has continued to support St James’ Settlement in a further 2 years project to carry out home renovation and improvement for home security for the home alone elderly. The project also included the purchase of heaters and refrigerators and repairs and maintenance services for them.
Education
Scholarship and Bursaries for female students of Open University
The Club has continued to sponsor Scholarship and Bursaries to students nominated by the Open University.
Best Improved Student Award for Primary Schools
The Club continued to give on-going support for several primary schools including the Wah Fu Precious Blood School & Shum Shui Po Ka Ling Primary School.
Disabled
24 hours Hotline Service for the Blind
The Club continued to sponsor the Shek Kip Mei Lutheran Centre for the Blind for purchasing equipment and the maintenance of the telephone hotline. The computerization services were extended to the visually deficient sector globally through the Internet.
Others
Our Club has sponsored UNESCO HK Association in the Peace for All Programme for 60 schools to promote international peace, cultural diversity, and encourage cultural exchange. We supported a booth at the Carnival at Science Park with the theme of “Gender Equality Around the World”.
Last but not the least, we have sponsored the printing of a book with essays from an Essay Writing Competition on the topic of “Facing Death of Close Family Members and Friends”. This book will be given to all high schools and public libraries in Hong Kong for free.
