2023 Winning Projects
A total of 28 social projects by our 30 participants from the 2023 Cohort were presented on the Final Pitching Day on 22 September 2023.
The projects covered a variety of topics, ranging from children, women, refugees, domestic workers, ESG, family, elderly, mental health, etc.
Two participants were selected by the judging panel as the UBS Champion and Wofoo Champion, each received $400,000HKD funding for their winning project;
Two other participants were awarded the Audience Choice Awards which were selected entirely by the audience’s votes.
UBS Champion
Winner: Ms. Ines Gafsi from Inspiring Girls Hong Kong
Project title: EmpowerHer Future: Girls Social Mobility
Project summary:
In Hong Kong, female poverty has reached an all time high and one in five women are living at the poverty line. Fueled by our passion to rewrite this narrative, Inspiring Girls is on a mission to impact 1,500 girls aged 14 to 16 across 10 schools from underprivileged families. Our initiative will focus on supporting Hong Kong’s poorest districts through an in-school program that gives girls the opportunity to learn through real-life stories shared by female role models who are accomplished professionals, as well as arming them with critical financial management skills through an innovative career and financial literacy program.
To achieve our goal of creating generational financial stability and freedom, we require HKD 400,000 to deliver the program effectively and sustainably through teacher training, role model management and resource creation.
Wofoo Champion
Winner: Mr. Dan Cheung from Asia Pacific Youth Development Foundation Limited & Mr. Till Kraemer from Inter-cultural Education
Project title: D-Generation: Impact Career Programme (D-Generation programme)
Project summary:
AYF is a regional talent hub that aims to advance youth’s future by narrowing down the opportunities gaps of youths from different social ladders. ICE is a social enterprise that aims to nurture global citizens by providing a safe platform for cross-cultural dialogue, 21st century skills development and global learning. In the past 10 years, ICE prides itself in delivering real cultural exchange by working with trainers and volunteers from more than 100 different countries and regions and has impacted 40,000+ youths in Hong Kong. The team is now working together to develop the D-Generation programme, a regional impact career platform that offers all-in-one solutions to empower underprivileged but motivated youths aged 18-24 who are non-university students (e.g. currently in associate degree programmes or vocational trainings) to gain access to intensive career development through training, network building and practical work experience, gradually returning the concerned youth to an impactful career.
Audience Choice awards
On the left: Dr. Shahani Amjah from Karen Leung Foundation
Project title: KLF POP-UP CLINIC
Project summary:
KLF was founded in memory of Karen who died at age 35, due to cervical cancer. During her last days, Karen was determined not to let other women suffer her fate. Therefore for us at KLF, cancer prevention and preventive health play an important role. Every two days, one woman dies of cervical cancer in HK. Our vision is to help eliminate cervical cancer and bring the number of deaths to 0.
Inconvenience/embarrassment are the top two reasons preventing women receiving primary health care which includes cervical screening. To overcome these two major barriers, we decided to take screening to the women within their communities in Hong Kong, through the concept of pop up clinics with an option of self-testing.
On the right: Ms. Zoe Mau from InspiringHK Sports Foundation
Project title: 運動心膚Club / Skinflex Club
Project summary:
This pilot project addresses a prevalent Asian taboo that discourages children with eczema from exercising due to concerns about skin irritation. By introducing exercise as a tool to promote better mental health, this project targets the declining mental health of children with eczema aged 6 to 11. The project aims to create a supportive network for their caretakers as they navigate this journey together. We hope to shift the narrative around eczema and exercise, and promote a holistic approach to managing the condition. Children with eczema are a common sight in our society and in the programmes we organise. However, there has never been a programme specifically designed to meet their needs. Below is a new student from our TOUCH RUGBY Inspires! Primary programme who suffers from eczema. He is usually seen wearing his jacket, whether indoors or outdoors, unless he cannot stand the heat. The rashes on his knees cause him to wear bandages for better coverage (see photo on the left).
