Do-it-yourself charities
We all like to think we're charitable, but for some the philanthropic instinct goes further than the odd donation. Bong Miquiabas meets the good souls behind five local do-it-yourself causes and discovers why they couldn't just walk on by.
Charities exist because there is inequality in society, but even among charitable organisations there are princes and paupers. While some philanthropic causes benefit from celebrity support, mammoth databases, and glitzy black-tie soirees, others scrape by on meagre funds, ad hoc donations, and – most of all – the sheer will of their staff.
But lack of funds needn’t mean lack of hope, as the following interviews with members of five of Hong Kong’s lesser-known charitable enterprises illustrate. While their causes are diverse – from animal welfare to helping the learning disabled – what unites these people is their faith in a project they believe in, their continuing dedication to that endeavour, and the unwavering belief that they can make a difference. These are the guys who didn’t just shake their heads and look the other way as so many of us do. Instead they knocked on every door, tapped every contact, and enlisted others to their cause with infectious optimism and conviction. These are Hong Kong’s do-it-yourself philanthropists – and they’d appreciate your help.
Michelle Temple of Hong Kong Alleycat Watch
Charlotte Hwang of Foodlink Foundation
Benedicte Benoit of Caress
Jesmond Fan of The Nesbitt Centre
Max Wong of St Barnabas Society and Home
John Wood’s guide to starting a charity
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