Club takes initiative to "Empower" Hong Kong's ethnic minorities and boost social integration
9 May 2009
Hong Kong is an international metropolis, with around 5% of its population comprised of ethnic minorities. In order to enhance these minorities' ability to plan programmes for their own groups and promote social integration, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has proactively approached Christian Action and donated HK$3.43 million through its Charities Trust to launch a three-year comprehensive training programme entitled EMpower. This leadership and organisational development programme for ethnic minorities was officially launched today (9 May) by the Club's Executive Director, Charities, William Y Yiu; Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam; and Executive Director of Christian Action, Cheung Ang Siew Mei.
Given the language and cultural barriers, ethnic minorities tend to form their own social groups. Often, they miss valuable opportunities to apply for funding and organise successful events due to a lack of sufficient relevant knowledge or skills. In addition, many social services for these groups are focused on job skills training, employment assistance and counselling services, while only limited resources are allocated for training in leadership and organisational skills. The Club has therefore approached Christian Action, an agency experienced in working with ethnic minority groups, to design a programme called EMpower that will address this issue.
Speaking at today's launch ceremony, Mr Yiu noted that the Club, as the largest community benefactor in Hong Kong, had long been committed to contributing to the well-being of people from all walks of life. While processing funding applications from ethnic minority groups, he explained, the Club had realised that many applicants had limited knowledge and experience of applying for funding and organising social services programmes, despite their obvious passion for helping their compatriots. "We hope that by providing them with training and practical opportunities, we can now empower Hong Kong's ethnic minority leaders with sufficient organisational and leadership skills to better serve their own groups, and ultimately promote social integration among our city's different races."
The EMpower programme has already been under way since October 2008 with the support, guidance and supervision of Christian Action. A resource library has been set up and consultations and workshops on organisation, programme development and funding application are also being held. Minority leaders who require further training in skills can attend an intensive leadership training scheme. It is expected that approximately 60 ethnic minority leaders will be trained, following which 15 will be selected to participate in a three-month practicum where they will lead community programmes. Ethnic minority groups can also apply to the programme for grants to organise community projects on their own. The first approved community project will be aimed at preventing drug abuse among the local ethnic minority population through karate training and education activities, an initiative that will also foster social integration between the South Asian and local Chinese communities.
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Photo 1:
The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director, Charities, William Y Yiu hopes that through training and practical opportunities, the city's ethnic minority leaders will be empowered with the organisational and leadership skills to better serve their own groups, which will ultimately promote social integration among the different races in Hong Kong.
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Photo 2:
The Club's Executive Director, Charities, William Y Yiu (centre) is joined by Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam (right) and Executive Director of Christian Action Cheung Ang Siew Mei at the launch ceremony of EMpower.
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Photo 3:
Executive Director of Christian Action Cheung Ang Siew Mei says the EMpower programme will help enhance the organisational and leadership skills of ethnic minority leaders.
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Photo 4:
Experience sharing by the ethnic minority leaders and representative from Holy Carpenter Church Community Centre. The Centre will provide the ethnic minority leaders a three-month practicum.
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Photo 5:
Photos 5/6:
The ethnic minority groups perform on stage to show their talents.
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Photo 6
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