Report from Social Service Committee (2008 – 2010)
Co-Chairmen: Christine Fang, Monita So
As one of the Zonta mission is to help the underprivileged, in this biennium, through the concerted effort of our sister Zontians, we have donated over $600,000 to support and complete the following meaningful projects:
Elderly
For two consecutive years, we have been supporting St James Settlement to carry out minor home repairs and providing basic electric home appliances like water heater and refrigerators to the elders who live alone. Over two hundred elderly households have been benefited.
Our Zontians joined the Asia Women’s League Limited in celebrating the Chinese New Year with over 500 elders. Each elder received a red packet and New Year gift sponsored by our Club.
Women
Disabled women usually encounter physical difficulties when going for health check. To help a group of disabled women for receiving medical screening, we supported The Association of Women with Disabilities Hong Kong for sponsoring 200 disabled women for health check and conducting 5 medical talks.
We have also sponsored the Hong Kong Tin Shui Wai Women Association an empowerment programme for helping the underprivileged women to integrate into the community.
Ethnic Minority
To support and encourage the ethnic minority youths to pursue academic success, to improve their career path and to care for their own society, through the Hong Kong Unison, we have set up a three-year Zonta Scholarship, awarding four ethnic minority students each year.
Disabled
Our support to Shek Kip Mei Lutheran Blind Centre has been going on for over 20 years. In this biennium, we have sponsored the centre for upgrading their radio recording facilities, which allow their blind users to make their own radio programmes.
Children
Our care for the children goes to sponsoring of a Roulique Training Workshop for the Evangel Children’s Home. A total of 11 children participated in the Workshop.
Education
For over ten years, we have been sponsoring the Open University of Hong Kong a Zonta Club of New Territories Scholarship. The scholarship aims to help the needy female students to continue their studies and to recognize those who demonstrated academies excellence.
Our Club has also supported Marycove Girls’ Home for running the Helix project. It is a counseling programme providing a self-understanding, self-learning and self-management programme for female adolescents with family and behavioral problems.
Others
Last but not the least, we have also sponsored the Hong Kong Eating Disorders Association Limited for a seminar on Eating Disorder. Dr Susie Orbach, a well known psychotherapist from London was invited to conduct a talk to the professionals and a group of caring parents on eating disorder and mental well being.