Changing Young Lives Foundation is a charity in Hong Kong that offers a variety of free services to children and youth from ages 0 to 18.

The foundation began operations in the 1950s as part of Save the Children UK but became independent in 2006.

One of the things we like about Changing Young Lives is the range of services they offer towards children and the youth. 

The foundation conducts outreach programs, provides in-centre education for preschoolers, and conducts programs to encourage young people to participate in sports, arts, and storytelling.

The charity also offers scholarships to youth that want to develop their talent further and youth leadership programs to empower the younger generations to be more socially involved.

We also liked the foundation’s transparency with the people it helps, as the charity puts their statistics online. From 2021 to 2022, Changing Young Lives has helped 30,000 young people.

To accomplish its goals, the foundation sells books, accepts donations, and recruits volunteers. However, not much information regarding volunteer work is given, which we believe could be a slight inconvenience to interested helpers.

We had the chance to talk to volunteers and beneficiaries of Changing Young Lives, and they said they liked how lively the centre is and how caring the people behind the establishment are.

Some also praised the quality of the speech therapy games and other activities run by the institution.

Justice Centre Hong Kong is a non-profit organisation that has been serving since 2007. Justice Centre is one of the few charities in Hong Kong that focus primarily on giving legal assistance and support to asylum seekers and other minorities.

One of the things we like about the Justice Centre is its range of services. The institution provides pro-bono legal consultations, assistance, social welfare services, counselling, and other services that refugees might need.

The organisation also provides specialised assistance to minorities, including the LGBTQ and other groups that may have a more difficult time getting back on their feet.

However, as the work surrounding the charity is full of legal technicalities, they do not offer volunteer opportunities except for law students and legal professionals willing to put in time and effort.

Another thing we like about the Justice Centre is its transparency. To be accountable towards their stakeholders, the charity offers annual reports and audited financial statements for the public to see how they spent the donations they have received.

We had the chance to talk to people that had experience with the Justice Centre before, and they praised the NGO for its effective advice and brilliant work in helping refugees and asylum seekers.

PathFinders is one of the charities in Hong Kong that primarily caters to migrant domestic workers and their children. Since PathFinders’ establishment in late 2007, it has helped over 3,000 children and women get access to necessary services.

One of the things we like about PathFinders is its range of services. What the charity does encompasses social welfare, justice, healthcare, education, shelter, and crisis prevention. 

As such, migrant workers and their children can rest assured that the charity can help them have a decent life in Hong Kong.

To provide these services, PathFinders works with numerous healthcare, education, and service providers, including big hospitals and corporations.

Volunteers and donors can also pitch in their time and resources by getting in contact with the organisation. However, PathFinders does not offer much information on the roles of volunteers during their activities.

In addition, PathFinders also participates in research, engages with employers, and creates activities that boost social awareness regarding issues involving the human rights and needs of migrant domestic workers.

We had the opportunity to talk to some people that PathFinders had helped in the past. They told us that the charity offers excellent, life-changing services that gave them hope during dark times.

The Crossroads Foundation is a charity in Hong Kong that not only focuses on local outreach but also extends its services to the international community. Since its establishment in 1995, the foundation has been helping the needy in Hong Kong and other countries.  

One of the things we like about Crossroads is its range of services. The foundation hosts donation drives and volunteer programs to help people worldwide, including victims of war and calamity, such as Ukraine and Pakistan citizens.

We also appreciate how easy Crossroads makes it for donors to give to their cause. Through the GoodCity app, you can show Crossroads the item you wish to donate, arrange its transportation, and confirm its delivery without leaving your home.

To fund the charity’s activities, Crossroads partners with over 2,000 businesses and 8,000 individuals, including Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Disneyland, and IBM. 

We appreciate how the charity issues annual accomplishment and financial reports to help keep itself transparent and accountable to the public. These reports are especially important due to the size of the foundation.

We had the chance to talk to volunteers and other people that worked with Crossroads, and they said that they like the charity not only for its direct action but also for its efforts in raising awareness for local and international issues.

Habitat for Humanity is an organisation that began in 1976 in the United States. Since then, it has spread to other countries, including setting up a branch of the charity in Hong Kong in 2004.

One of the things we like about Habitat for Humanity is its services, which encompass both homes and schools. The organisation offers deep cleaning, renovation, repair, and modification services for the homes of vulnerable people like the elderly and the disabled.

The organisation also remodels and repaints schools, especially those in more underserved areas. 

To accomplish these tasks, Habitat for Humanity works with social workers, NGOs, and volunteers to identify the people in need and provide them with the assistance necessary to maintain their homes.

However, due to the nature of the charity and the work, there are only a few volunteering opportunities.

We had the chance to talk to the volunteers, and all they had were praises for the charity. They said that Habitat for Humanity empowered them to contribute to a worthwhile cause and that the team was great and inclusive.